By Sim YH –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, OCT 10 – In the face of increasingly complex security challenges, continuous professional development is essential for leaders.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Second Minister of Defence, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (B) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof emphasized the matter while speaking at the Closing Ceremony of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Staff College Course (ABDB) 14 which took place at the ABDB Defense Academy, today.
He also expressed pride in the achievement of increasing the Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) of Cohort 14.
In addition, he took note of the improvement in next year’s program by introducing a transition to the Master’s Program, which will increase the status and dignity of ABDB Staff College through collaboration with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), in line with the need for lifelong learning.
Also present at the ceremony were members of the Defense Executive Committee and ABDB, the Royal Brunei Police Commissioner, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), heads of foreign delegations, advisers and defense attachés who reside and do not reside in Brunei Darussalam, directors, commanders, faculty members from UBD and senior officers of the Ministry of Defense.
Yang Berhormat Pehin in his speech expressed his joy at the participation for the first time from the Royal Cambodian Army, making the total participation from friendly countries increase to 19 countries since the establishment of the ABDB Staff College.
“This confirms how important the role of defense diplomacy is in strengthening international friendly relations and regional security cooperation,” he stressed.
A total of 37 local and international officers received certificates of completion of the 14th ABDB Staff College Course presented by Yang Berhormat Pehin.
At the ceremony, four recognition awards were given to course participants with Awards Overall Excellence given to Major Cai Chengyi from the Republic of Singapore who also received the Award Academic Excellence.
Meanwhile, the RBAF Award Commendation was awarded to Lieutenant Commander Muhamad Adib Izzuddin bin Haji Ramli, TLDB, who represented AP ABDB and the Award Commandant presented to Awang Mohammad Hazwan bin Mohammad Azani also from AP ABDB.
The participants of the 14th ABDB Staff College Course consisted of officers from the Ministry of Defense and the ABDB, other security agencies such as the Royal Brunei Police Force (PPDB) and the Department of Internal Security as well as 18 international military officers from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States.
The 40-week course, conducted in collaboration with UBD aims to expand professional knowledge in practical and academic terms as well as disciplines to study the current strategic environment and its impact on their tasks in the field of defense and security.
