Vanuatu Mobile Forces Explained

Unit Name:	Vanuatu Mobile Force
Country:	Vanuatu
Role:	Peacekeeping
Size:	300
Command Structure:	Vanuatu Police Force
Colours:	-->
Colours Label:	-->
Current Commander:	Colonel Robson Iavro^[1]
Identification Symbol:	Military ranks of Vanuatu
Identification Symbol Label:	Ranks

The Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) is a small, mobile corps of 300 volunteers that makes up Vanuatu's military. Its primary task is to assist the Vanuatu Police Force. However, should Vanuatu be attacked, then the VMF will act as the first line of defence.^[2] In 1994, VMF deployed 50 people to Papua New Guinea, as their first peacekeeping mission.^[3]

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.^[4]

List of commanders

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

Equipment of Vanuatu Mobile Forces

Infantry weapons

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Notes
Beretta 92^[12]				Standard sidearm
FAMAS^[13]				Standard issue
L1A1 SLR^[14]				Used in training

Notes and References

1. Web site: Willie . Glenda . Another 44 officers retire . Vanuatu Daily Post . 12 September 2018 . 29 December 2017.
2. Web site: Vanuatu Mobile Force . Vanuatu Police Force . 12 September 2018.
3. Web site: History . Vanuatu Police Force . 12 September 2018.
4. Web site: Vanuatu (1980-present) . Dynamic Analysis of Dispute Management (DADM) Project . 10 September 2022.
5. Web site: Isno . Vira . Members of Parliament . Republic of Vanuatu . Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu . 12 September 2018 . 20 January 2015.
6. Web site: 2007 Vanuatu report urges police revamp . Radio New Zealand . 12 September 2018 . 22 March 2011.
7. Web site: Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook . Perth Corporation . en . 2002.
8. Web site: New Commander for Vanuatu paramilitary police force . RNZ . en-nz . 13 September 2010.
9. Web site: Admin . VANUATU SECURITY FORCES HEAL RIFT THROUGH . Pacific Islands Report . Pacific Islands Development Program . 12 September 2018 . 22 January 2010 . 28 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928234245/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2010/01/22/vanuatu-security-forces-heal-rift-through . dead .
10. Web site: Joshua, Jane . Colonel Iavro lands top VMF job . Vanuatu Daily Post . 12 September 2018 . 27 November 2015.
11. News: Willie . Glenda . Iavro’s appointment as Acting Police Commissioner extended . 13 November 2023 . dailypost.vu . 16 November 2019.
12. Web site: Vanuatu Police Force . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1468944803396336/1828538440770302 . 2022-02-26 . limited. www.facebook.com . 24 January 2020 . en.
13. Web site: Vanuatu Daily Newspaper . modestclub.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104191621/http://modestclub.com/wp-content/themes/thematic/lib/vanuatu%20daily%20newspaper-74754.html . 4 November 2013 .
14. Book: Under the gun : the small arms challenge in the Pacific . 2003 . Victoria University Press in association with the Peace and Disarmament Education Trust . 978-0864734532 . 63–66.