CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Far from their South Pacific island homeland, 55 members of the Tonga Defence Services are training under the Marines at Camp Pendleton for duty in Iraq.

The Tongans will assume security duties at Camp Victory, near the Baghdad airport, the Los Angeles Times reported.

To the Tongans will go the responsibility of guarding the Multinational Coalition Force command center at Al Faw Palace -- an inviting target for insurgents -- as well as the rest of the sprawling base, according to The Times.

A constitutional monarchy, Tonga is located roughly midway between Australia and Tahiti, has a population of about 110,000 and a military numbering about 450 troops. The United States is paying much of the expense of sending, equipping and maintaining Tongan troops in Iraq, according to The Times.

Tongan Capt. Tau Aholelei told the newspaper his troops were eager to get to Iraq.

"We're aware of the risks," he said. "The harder we train, the smoother it will work out when we get there."

In keeping with their cultural tradition, the Tongans enjoy singing a variety of war chants and love songs. Their days begin with prayer and end with song, The Times reported.

Tonga has a relationship with the 1st Marine Division that stretches to World War II and the battle at Guadalcanal, where Tongans fought alongside Marines against the Japanese.

In late 2004, Tongans provided security at Camp Blue Diamond, the 1st Marine Division's headquarters in Ramadi, Iraq.