KAMPONG TANAH JAMBU, Thursday 12 October 2017 – The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Captain (Retired) Dato Paduka Abd Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar was the guest of honour at the Graduation Ceremony for 30 participants of the 7th Royal Brunei Armed Forces Command and Staff Course (RBAF CSC 7) this afternoon at the Defence Academy of the RBAF.
The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from Al-Quran by Major (Udara) Haji Mohammad Rahimin bin Haji Ismail, one of the course participants from the Royal Brunei Air Force.
Various awards were also presented by the Permanent Secretary. Lieutenant Colonel Ng Yen Meng of the Republic of Singapore Navy received The RBAF CSC Commendation Award whilst Major Justin A. Hooker of the United States Marine Corps was presented with the RBAF CSC Overall Excellence Award. Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand, on the other hand, presented the Massey University’s Academic Excellence Award to Major Keiran Vidal of the Australian Army.
Present at the ceremony were, Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force, Services Commanders, Deputy Director of the Internal Security Department, High Commissioners and Ambassadors, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Commandants, Directors, senior RBAF officers and family members of the graduates.
Graduating today with 15 officers of the RBAF were an officer from the Royal Brunei Police Force, an officer from the Internal Security Department of the Prime Minister’s Office and 13 international participants from Australia, The People’s Republic Bangladesh, The People’s Republic of China, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sultanate of Oman, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Singapore, Thailand and the United States of America.
The Command and Staff Course is a 40-week course delivered in partnership with New Zealand’s Massey University that aims to broaden the professional and academic knowledge, develop command, analytical and communication skills of mid-level officers in order to prepare them for higher command and staff appointments.
