From the shore of Penanjong Garison to the Chesapeake Bay of Annapolis; 17959 Officer Cadet (L) Awangku Abdul Rauf Bahar bin Pengiran Haji Yusof is the first Bruneian candidate to enroll at United States Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland on June 2010. OCDT Rauf enlisted in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) from Training Institute RBAF intake 28 of Boyswing, and upon finishing his A levels at Jerudong International School, Officer Cadet Rauf was awarded the Royal Brunei Armed Forces’ Advanced and Higher Scheme to undergo his officer cadet training and undergraduate studies at USNA.OCDT Rauf underwent 4 years of military training with 1300 midshipman of the class of 2014, including 11 other international candidates from all over the world.
Midshipmen at USNA experience the life of an undergraduate and also an officer in training in the United States Navy. All Midshipmen will undergo Plebe Summer; where the first six weeks is intended to help them with the transaction from the civilian world to the military life. Moral and ethical development is fundamental to all aspects of the Naval Academy. From the Plebe Summer through graduation, the Officer Development Program, a four-year integrated program, focuses on integrity, honor, and mutual respect based on the moral values of respect for human dignity, respect for honesty and respect for the property of others. One of the goals of the program is to develop midshipmen to possess a sense of their own moral beliefs and the ability to express them. Honor is emphasized through the Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen.
Among the training opportunities available at the naval academy, OCDT Rauf had the privilege to work on several US Navy Ships during his Summer Surface Cruise and work with all the different US military branches including the US Coast Guard. He also had the opportunity to get certified as an open water diver and laser boat sailor. In 4 years OCDT Rauf had hold different position in his Company, he was a Platoon Sergeant his second year, a Squad Leader on his third and the 9thCompany Adjutant during his senior year. Cadet Rauf was awarded three distinguish awards, the United States Legion of Merit Medal, Sharpshooter medal for the US Navy weapon qualification for M16 , and an Expert medal for the US Navy weapon qualification for Pistol.
At the Academy, OCDT Rauf Majored in Mechanical Engineering with a focused on Robotics. He also had two years of basic Chinese Mandarin, basic course in Physic, Chemistry, United State Law and Government, US Naval History, Electrical Engineering and Systems Engineering. Among the core course all Midshipmen have to take are Navigation, Sailing, Swimming, Martial Arts and Leadership classes, which are spread evenly over the four years course.
OCDT Awangku Abdul Rauf graduated on the 23rd of May of 2014 with a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering
