View source for Vanuatu Mobile Forces

{{Short description|Paramilitary police force}}
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
| unit_name              = Vanuatu Mobile Forces
| image                  = Flag of Vanuatu Mobile Forces.svg
| image_size             =
| alt                    =
| caption                = Flag of Vanuatu Mobile Forces
| dates                  ={{start date and age|1980}}
| country                = Vanuatu
| agency                 =[[Law enforcement in Vanuatu|Vanuatu Police Force]]
| type                   =
| role                   =
| ops_juris              =
| command_structure      =
| headquarters_label     =
| headquarters           = 
| coordinates            =
| motto                  =
| motto_translated       = 
| common_name            = 
| abbreviation           = 
<!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander      =Colonel Astrophile Mwele
| notable_commanders     = 
<!-- Notables --> 
| programs               = <!-- or | programmes = -->
| significant_operations = 
| anniversaries          =
| awards                 = 
<!-- Equipment -->
| vehicles               = 
| boats                  = 
| aircraft               = 
| animals                = 
<!--Website --> 
| website                = {{URL|https://police.gov.vu/about-us/vanuatu-mobile-force|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanuatu Mobile Force |url=https://police.gov.vu/about-us/vanuatu-mobile-force |website=Vanuatu Police Force |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref> 

==History==
In 1994, VMF deployed 50 officers to [[Papua New Guinea]], as their first peacekeeping mission.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://police.gov.vu/about-us/history |website=Vanuatu Police Force |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web | title=Vanuatu (1980-present) |url=https://uca.edu/politicalscience/dadm-project/asiapacific-region/vanuatu-1980-present/ |website=Dynamic Analysis of Dispute Management (DADM) Project |access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>

==List of commanders==
* Colonel [[Ian Arthur Naunton Cook]] (1980–1984)
* [[Sato Kilman]] (1984–1986)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Isno |first1=Vira |title=Members of Parliament |url=https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/members?start=15 |website=Republic of Vanuatu |publisher=Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu |access-date=12 September 2018 |date=20 January 2015 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705064705/https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/members?start=15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* James Aru (?–?)<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 Vanuatu report urges police revamp |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/196094/2007-vanuatu-report-urges-police-revamp |website=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=12 September 2018 |date=22 March 2011}}</ref>
* Colonel [[Seule Takal]] (? - 1996 - ?)
*Lieutenant Colonel [[Harold Thompson (military)|Harold Thompson]] (? - 1999 - ?)
*Lieutenant Colonel [[Apie Jack Mari Kempo]] (? - 2002 - ?)<ref>{{cite web |title=Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OI-AQAAIAAJ |publisher=Perth Corporation |language=en |date=2002}}</ref>
*[[Joshua Bong]] (? - 2004) 
*Lieutenant Colonel [[Willie Vira]] (2004–2010)<ref name="commander2010">{{cite web |title=New Commander for Vanuatu paramilitary police force |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/192531/new-commander-for-vanuatu-paramilitary-police-force |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz |date=13 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Admin |title=VANUATU SECURITY FORCES HEAL RIFT THROUGH |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2010/01/22/vanuatu-security-forces-heal-rift-through |website=Pacific Islands Report |publisher=Pacific Islands Development Program |access-date=12 September 2018 |date=22 January 2010 |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928234245/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2010/01/22/vanuatu-security-forces-heal-rift-through |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Lieutenant Colonel [[Aru Maralau]] (2010–?)<ref name="commander2010" />
*Lieutenant Colonel [[Job Esau]] (?–2015)<ref name="Colonel-Iavro">{{cite web |author1=Joshua, Jane |title=Colonel Iavro lands top VMF job |url=http://dailypost.vu/news/colonel-iavro-lands-top-vmf-job/article_a7acfc70-0eeb-590d-b287-66ae84574331.html |website=Vanuatu Daily Post |access-date=12 September 2018 |date=27 November 2015}}</ref>
*Colonel [[Robson Iavro]] (2015–22 October 2019)<ref name="Colonel-Iavro"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Willie |first1=Glenda |title=Iavro’s appointment as Acting Police Commissioner extended |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/iavro-s-appointment-as-acting-police-commissioner-extended/article_2a9c5382-0806-11ea-afb7-e39066fe9729.html |access-date=13 November 2023 |publisher=dailypost.vu |date=16 November 2019}}</ref>
*Lieutenant Colonel Kalshem Bongran (22 October 2019–?) ''acting''
*Colonel Astrophile Mwele (?-present)<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLearnon |first1=Ryan D.  |title=Ceremonial Exchange of Possible WWII Remains |url=https://www.clwp.navy.mil/Pacific-Partnership/PhotoGallery/igphoto/2003507189/ |website=Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific  |access-date=21 August 2024 |date=17 July 2024}}</ref>

==Equipment==

'''Infantry weapons'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name 
!Image!! Origin !! Type !! Notes
|-
| [[Beretta 92]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanuatu Police Force |url=https://www.facebook.com/VanuatuPoliceForce/photos/pcb.1828539114103568/1828538440770302/?type=3&theater  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1468944803396336/1828538440770302 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|website=www.facebook.com |access-date=24 January 2020 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 
|[[File:Beretta 92S.jpg|155x155px]]|| {{ITA}} || [[Semi-automatic pistol]] || Standard sidearm
|-
| [[Sterling submachine gun]] 
|[[File:Sterling SMG2.JPG|155x155px]]|| {{GBR}} || [[Submachine gun]] ||
|-
| [[FAMAS]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://modestclub.com/wp-content/themes/thematic/lib/vanuatu%20daily%20newspaper-74754.html |title=Vanuatu Daily Newspaper |work=modestclub.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104191621/http://modestclub.com/wp-content/themes/thematic/lib/vanuatu%20daily%20newspaper-74754.html |archive-date= 4 November 2013 }}</ref> 
|[[File:FAMAS Assaultrifle FRA noBG.png|155x155px]]|| {{FRA}} || [[Assault rifle]] || Standard issue
|-
| [[L1A1 SLR]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Under the gun : the small arms challenge in the Pacific |year=2003 |publisher=Victoria University Press in association with the Peace and Disarmament Education Trust |isbn=978-0864734532 |pages=63–66}}</ref> 
|[[File:FN-FAL belgian noBG.png|155x155px]]|| {{GBR}} || [[Battle rifle]] || Used in training
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Military of Oceania}}

[[Category:Military by country|Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Military of Vanuatu]]


{{Asia-mil-stub}}
{{Vanuatu-stub}}