Deputy Sultan officiates Officer Cadet School
By Lyna Mohamad & Azrol Azmi

His Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Deputy Sultan, yesterday consented to visit and officiate the Officer Cadet School (OCS) of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces at Sungai Akar Camp.

Upon arrival at OCS, HRH was greeted by the Deputy Minister of Defence Pehin Datu Singamanteri Col (Rtd) Dato Seri Paduka Awg Hj Mohamad Yasmin Hj Umar, Commander of RBAF Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awg Halbi Hj Md Yussof and Commandant of Training Institute RBAF Col Hj Aminuddin Ihsan Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Hj Abidin.

Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Dato Paduka Awg Hj Abd Majid Mangarshah, deputy permanent secretaries, services commanders and commandants, as well as directors from the Ministry of Defence.

The visit began at the theatre room with the recital of surah al-Fatihah and a doa selamat read by the Head of RBAF Religious Department (JAMA'AT) Lt Col (U) Hj Abd Rahim Hj Abd Karim, followed by a welcoming speech by the RBAF commander.

HRH then consented to officiate the opening of the school, marking the start of training for the first intake. This was followed by a tour of the school.

At the end of the visit, HRH signed the royal parchment and was presented with a pesembah.

A group photo session with MinDef senior executive officers, service commanders and commandants, cadet officers and members of staff was also held.

Among the objectives of OCS are to train officer cadets to become future officers of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, catering to the needs and requirements of the tri-service. This is the first phase in the development of the defence academy in line with the aspiration of the Defence White Paper Update 2007.

The construction of the Officer Cadet School began in 2007 and comprises of a School Headquarters, an Army Wing, a Midshipman Wing and an Air Force Wing.

Collectively, they aim to inculcate leadership values and forge common bonds among officer cadets of the three services.

The officer cadet course is spread over a period of 42 weeks - a 14-week tri-service term, a 22-week special to service term and a six-week final term. After undergoing the tri-service generic training term, the service term sees the army, midshipmen and air force cadets going to their respective units, from where they continue their training to be army, naval and air force officers.

For elements of this training, the cadets leave the school and are trained at their respective units/services. During the final term the cadets undergo further professional development, including military exercise tests, the final assessments and the passing out parade at which all cadets achieving the standard will be commissioned as RBAF officers. - Borneo Bulletin (27th August 2008)


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