Caring monarch praises fortitude of officer cadets

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: An aura of mixed emotions ran high during the graduation ceremony of the 8th Intake at the Officer Cadet School (OCS) yesterday as His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), consented to deliver a Titah in conjunction with the event, Borneo Bulletin reported.

Addressing the graduates in a very emotional and heart-wrenching Titah, His Majesty congratulated them for successfully completing the training to become an officer cadet.

“It is not easy to picture the various experiences one would garner during training but these challenges were essential to achieve victory. The invaluable experiences will play an influential role and foster a spirit of friendship amongst the cadets. As they prepare to leave the school and begin their careers, they will definitely remember their training and time spent at the OCS.

“But as we celebrate their achievements, let us also remember the 12 officer cadets and army Officers who lost their lives during operation training,” His Majesty said and paused briefly to regain composure while guests could be seen trying to hold hack their tears.

“Their loss was very much felt as the officers were among the best and brightest in their respective fields. May Allah the Almighty view them as praiseworthy in his sight. The struggles and sacrifices contributed to the nation Is a right that cannot be underestimated but it is high and holy in the sight of Allah. The persistence and support of parents and family is a source of strength and inspiration to continue defending the country’s sovereignty.

“No doubt, a career in the Armed Forces is the mainstay of national defence notwithstanding their roles or positions. I hope all cadets who completed their training will prove this through their sincere service to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces,” said the monarch.

The benevolent ruler also welcomed the presence of 48 officer cadets from the 9th intake at the gathering saying that their determination and spirit of patriotism is an example that should be followed by youths who have the qualifications to serve and even more importantly, are those who have been awarded scholarships by His Majesty’s Government to achieve the highest qualifications.

“Naturally we must give credit to parents who have blessed their children’s involvement in the field of defence. We hope that all safety aspects and well-being in particular will be given due attention to ensure that officer cadets will pursue their dreams of becoming an army officer. To this end, research and initiatives to reduce injury should continue as there is initial training or preconditioning to enhance the level of physical endurance and safety of prospective officer cadets,” said the monarch.

The ceremony proceeded with the presentation of awards to excellent students at the Officer Cadet School, followed by a get-together session with the graduates and invited guests.