MUARA NAVAL BASE, Wednesday, 22 March 2023 – Ten (10) executive officers were awarded certificates following the completion of the first Commanding Officer Designate Course 2022 at a closing ceremony held at Dewan Nakhoda, Naval Training Centre, Royal Brunei Navy (RBN).
Present as the Guest of Honour was Captain Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Fleet Commander of RBN. Also present was the Commandant of Naval Training Centre, Senior Officers, Commanding Officers, a representative from Judge Advocate General’s Office and RBN instructors.
In the Fleet Commander’s Opening Remarks, he highlighted the importance of remembering their duty towards the nation’s interest by instilling the core values: Taqwa, Loyalty, Courage and Professionalism. In recalling the excerpts of His Majesty Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s
Titah during His Majesty’s visit to the Ministry of Defence on the 31st of March 2021, which asserted:
“The importance for all levels of leadership to be responsible and keeping high integrity for the country’s sake; to practice and empower the spirituality of every personnel based on RBAF’s core values, and the importance of maintaining RBAF’s assets’ usability at a high level of capacity and readiness”
As a keynote, the Fleet Commander emphasized a Commanding Officer’s duty of shouldering the full responsibility of safety and the lives of the sailors under their Command, to never stop learning, to step outside their comfort zone in stretching their boundaries and having the courage to take calculated risks when necessary.
The ceremony proceeded with the presentation of the token of appreciation to the Guest of Honour and was concluded with a closing prayer.
The course was conducted for five-weeks which was divided into theoretical lessons and practical sea phase. Training objectives of the course focused on the importance of maritime operating concepts, command philosophies, navigational safety, ship defects and maintenance, ship operational and disciplinary law, and ship handling. The final two-weeks of the course, focused on exercising the ability to take charge as Officer Conducting the Serials, whilst tactically manoeuvring and communicating with the consort.
