Sultan of Brunei Highlights Importance of Practical Exposure for Armed Forces Personnel

Bandar Seri Begawan, The Gulf Observer: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, emphasized the importance of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) personnel actively participating in complex integrated operations. His remarks came during the Sovereign’s Parade Ceremony for the 23rd Intake of the Officer Cadet School (OCS) at the Defence Academy, RBAF, on Thursday.
His Majesty highlighted the necessity of complementing academic excellence and lifelong learning with practical field exposure. Citing notable examples, His Majesty referred to the Badai Taduh humanitarian mission, the Independent Decommissioning Body Verification, Monitoring, and Assistance Team (IDB VMAT) in the Philippines, and Brunei’s contributions to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Praising the Faculty of Military Studies at the Defence Academy, His Majesty acknowledged its role in fostering lifelong learning and producing well-educated officers in alignment with Brunei Vision 2035. He also stressed the need to combine academic success with operational involvement to enhance RBAF’s professionalism.
The Sovereign Parade marked a milestone for OCS, which has trained 862 officers, including cadets from Malaysia and Singapore. His Majesty noted the inclusion of cadets from Indonesia and Thailand in the 24th intake, reinforcing OCS’s reputation as a regional hub for officer training.
His Majesty also expressed confidence in the modernisation of RBAF, supported by partnerships such as the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Defence and Universiti Brunei Darussalam, ensuring that the armed forces adapt effectively to evolving security challenges.