Vanuatu Mobile Forces

Vanuatu Mobile Forces
Flag of Vanuatu Mobile Forces
Active	1980; 45 years ago (1980)
Country	Vanuatu
Agency	Vanuatu Police Force
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Astrophile Mwele
Website
Vanuatu Mobile Force

The Vanuatu Mobile Forces (VMF) is the paramilitary wing of the Vanuatu Police Force. A small, mobile corps of 300 personnel equipped with small arms, should Vanuatu be attacked, the VMF will act as the first line of defence.^[1] In 1994, VMF deployed 50 people to Papua New Guinea, as their first peacekeeping mission.^[2]

Though the armed forces in Vanuatu have never overthrown a government, members of the VMF angry about their pay detained President Jean-Marie Léyé and Deputy Prime Minister Barak Sopé on October 12, 1996 but released them just a few hours later.^[3]

List of commanders

• Colonel Ian Arthur Naunton Cook (1980–1984)
• Sato Kilman (1984–1986)^[4]
• James Aru (?–?)^[5]
• Colonel Seule Takal (? - 1996 - ?)
• Lieutenant Colonel Harold Thompson (? - 1999 - ?)
• Lieutenant Colonel Apie Jack Mari Kempo (? - 2002 - ?)^[6]
• Joshua Bong (? - 2004)
• Lieutenant Colonel Willie Vira (2004–2010)^[7][8]
• Lieutenant Colonel Aru Maralau (2010–?)^[7]
• Lieutenant Colonel Job Esau (?–2015)^[9]
• Colonel Robson Iavro (2015–22 October 2019)^[9][10]
• Lieutenant Colonel Kalshem Bongran (22 October 2019–?) acting
• Colonel Astrophile Mwele (?-present)^[11]

Equipment of Vanuatu Mobile Forces

Infantry weapons

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Notes
Beretta 92[12]		Italy	Semi-automatic pistol	Standard sidearm
Sterling submachine gun		United Kingdom	Submachine gun
FAMAS[13]		France	Assault rifle	Standard issue
L1A1 SLR[14]		United Kingdom	Battle rifle	Used in training

References

1. "Vanuatu Mobile Force". Vanuatu Police Force. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
2. "History". Vanuatu Police Force. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
3. "Vanuatu (1980-present)". Dynamic Analysis of Dispute Management (DADM) Project. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
4. Isno, Vira (20 January 2015). "Members of Parliament". Republic of Vanuatu. Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
5. "2007 Vanuatu report urges police revamp". Radio New Zealand. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
6. "Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook". Perth Corporation. 2002.
7. "New Commander for Vanuatu paramilitary police force". RNZ. 13 September 2010.
8. Admin (22 January 2010). "VANUATU SECURITY FORCES HEAL RIFT THROUGH". Pacific Islands Report. Pacific Islands Development Program. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
9. Joshua, Jane (27 November 2015). "Colonel Iavro lands top VMF job". Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
10. Willie, Glenda (16 November 2019). "Iavro's appointment as Acting Police Commissioner extended". dailypost.vu. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
11. McLearnon, Ryan D. (17 July 2024). "Ceremonial Exchange of Possible WWII Remains". Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
12. "Vanuatu Police Force". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
13. "Vanuatu Daily Newspaper". modestclub.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013.
14. Under the gun : the small arms challenge in the Pacific. Victoria University Press in association with the Peace and Disarmament Education Trust. 2003. pp. 63–66. ISBN 978-0864734532.