Freddy Tora, a 30-year-old from Nailaga, Ba, has achieved remarkable success, overcoming financial hardships and personal challenges. From his humble beginnings diving for mussels in the Ba River, he has risen to the rank of Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (ABM) in the United States Navy, a position he never imagined possible.
With maternal ties to Visama, Nakelo, Tailevu, Tora faced many obstacles after graduating high school, including financial difficulties that hindered his aspirations. Determined to improve his circumstances, he joined the U.S. Navy, undergoing rigorous training at the Navy boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, where he completed three months of basic training.
Tora expressed gratitude to a higher power for his achievements, noting, “It took three months of basic training to prepare someone to be a great leader and a better sailor. The toughest aspect was mental preparation.” He recalled how certain training phases, such as the swimming test, reminded him of his childhood experiences diving for mussels in the Ba River, which helped him during his navy training.
The second youngest of four siblings, Tora was raised in Ba and attended both Ratu Rusiate Nabuta Memorial School and Ba Methodist High School. In 2014, he chose to repeat Year 13 at Dilkusha Methodist High School to improve his scores. After enrolling at Fiji National University in 2016 to pursue a degree in Human Resources Management, financial challenges forced him to pause his studies as he helped support his family through various self-employed ventures.
In 2019, Tora completed his studies at the University of the South Pacific before moving to the U.S. in 2022, where he attended Pratt Community College, earned a certified nursing assistant license, and worked at a hospital for a year. In 2023, he relocated to California and later moved to Florida to attend Aviation School (A-School), where he awaits further assignments.
Tora has credited his motivation to his family and the friends he made along his journey. He aspires to enroll in a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing program in the future, driven by his desire to care for others and pursue a meaningful career.