Lyna Mohamad
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Military Cadets marked its golden jubilee with a parade at the Training Institute RBAF (TI RBAF) in Penanjong Garrison on Friday.
Commander of RBAF cum guest of honour Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat was welcomed at the Parade Square by Commanding Officer of the Royal Brunei Malay Reserve Regiment (RBMRR) Lt Colonel Muhd Suradzin bin Haji Muhd Yusof and RBAF Military Cadets’ Golden Jubilee Ceremony Co-Chairman Muhammad Norilham bin Haji Jais.
The morning parade saw the involvement of 250 military cadets comprising Cadet Force Officers (CFO), supervising teachers and cadets from secondary schools, colleges and higher institutions.
Accompanying the parade were the RBAF Band, Pipes and Drums Platoon of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), RBMRR Band and RBAF Military Cadet Band Team – led by CFO Lieutenant Nor Muhammad Iqzal bin Abdul Hamid from Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Masna Secondary School Military Cadets.
After receiving a general salute and inspecting the parade, the guest of honour pointed out that Military Cadets role is to shape youth and create responsible and disciplined individuals.
“This is where the RBAF plays a role, supporting the whole-of-nation approach to shape the personalities of the youth by means of programmes and basic military training.
“Military Cadets activities will also cultivate a patriotic spirit, and help cadets understand the meaning of being Bruneian, and stepping forward to contribute towards national development.
“The Army Cadet’s is also able to attract and inspire youth to pursue a career in the RBAF. The skills and experience gained can be applied when they embark on a career as a fully disciplined and professional soldier in the future.
“In conjunction with the 50-year establishment of the Military Cadets, it is very appropriate to celebrate it with the theme ‘Youth Readiness in Achieving the National Vision’, which calls on the Army Cadets to jointly get involved and contribute to the development of the country to achieve the national vision,” Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah said.
The commander reminded that efforts and contributions should always be accompanied by high spirituality to gain blessings from Allah the Almighty.
The commander also expressed gratitude to vice chancellors of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Rector of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Ra’es of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), institutions of higher learning, principals of colleges and schools as well acting director of co-curricular education for cooperating in the implementation of the Army Cadet programme over the years.
This cooperation shows the mutual agreement in the whole-of-nation approach to form the identity or human capital of the youth for the benefit of future generations, the commander said.
Services Commanders, Joint Force Commander, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Strategy) at the Ministry of Defence (MinDef), Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education (MoE), directors at MinDef, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Youth and Sport) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) as well as vice chancellors, rectors and Ra’es of higher educational institutions, senior MoE officers and school leaders also attended.