AUSTRALIA, Monday, 02 December 2024 - The OBOE Endeavour Academic Excellence Programme that was held from 01 December to 05 December 2024 began with a visit to HMAS Waterhen in Sydney, the Royal Australian Navy’s primary mine warfare base. The participants were welcomed by the Commanding Officer of HMAS Waterhen and was then given a brief about the organisation, and plans to enhance mine countermeasures (MCM) with advanced autonomous systems, improving safety and effectiveness. The tour highlighted cutting-edge diving equipment and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), showcasing HMAS Waterhen’s key role in housing state-of-the-art MCM technology.
On the following day, participants visited Forces Command of the Australian Army at Victoria Barracks, Sydney. The visit highlighted Forces Command’s focus on adopting a strategy of denial to strengthen Australia’s land domain defence. The key discussions included innovations in training systems aligned with Army G7 development priorities, capstone projects such as enhanced air defence systems and planning for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 where Brunei will be joining for the first time. The visit concluded with a tour of the Army Museum, providing insights into the rich history of Australia’s land forces.
During the final day, participants were given the exclusive opportunity to explore Parliament House in Canberra; learning about its history and Australia’s legislative processes. At Russell Offices, briefings from Special Operations Command, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force representatives highlighted engagements with Brunei Darussalam. The visit continued with a roundtable discussion with Mr David Bolton, Director of Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei. The discussion focused on issues in the Indo-Pacific and maritime security. The day concluded with a visit to the Australian War Memorial, reflecting on the Australian Defence Forces’ contributions and sacrifices in WWI and WWII, including Borneo operations, where the participants had the privileged to join the Last Post Ceremony to honour Australia’s fallen heroes.
The OBOE Endeavour Academic Excellence Programme serves as a platform for future defence leaders from Brunei Darussalam to meet with peers from Australia. Since its inception in 2018, 35 Ministry of Defence and RBAF officers have been awarded.
