RBAF Service Commanders awarded medals

RBAF Service Commanders awarded medals

Izam Said Ya?akub

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

The Commanders of the Royal Brunei Land Forces and Royal Brunei Navy were recently awarded the Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera by Malaysia?s Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Colonel Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Rosli Pengiran Haji Chuchu, the Royal Brunei Land Forces Commander and Royal Brunei Navy Commander Colonel (L) Dato Paduka Haji Joharie received the recognition on Sunday along with other military top brass from regional armed forces. These include Australian Army Commander, Lt-Gen Peter Leahy, Royal Thai Navy Commander, Admiral Satirapan Keyanon and Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

The award, bestowed by Tuanku Mizan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces, is the highest accolade which can be conferred to Foreign Generals, Admirals, Air Marshalls or Commanders of the Military Forces.

The distinction is awarded for heroism or exceptional services in the armed forces and was instituted in 1983 by Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah al-Marhum Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Ri?ayat ud-din al-Mu?azzam Shah, the then paramount king.

Colonel Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Rosli joined the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBLF), then known as the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment in August 1980.

In 1981, he attended the Officer Cadet Course at Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom.

After graduating, he returned to Brunei and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1982. He was also the United Nations Observing Officer in Cambodia from 1992 until 1993, and in 1999 rose to Second-In-Command 3^rd Battalion RBLF, until 2000.

He was also previously Deputy Commander Royal Brunei Land Force in 2004. He was installed as the RBLF Commander in July 2005.

Meanwhile, Colonel (L) Dato Paduka Haji Joharie began his career in the Royal Brunei Navy as an Officer Cadet in 1977. Previously he was appointed as Acting Commander Royal Brunei Navy before being promoted to the rank of full Colonel and made as Commander Royal Brunei Navy in July 2003.