The visit started at the one-room Museum located within the Bolkiah Garrison. Unfortunately, my as yet poor understanding of the workings of the military led to a diminished appreciation of the numerous military badges and insignias on display. I was significantly more impressed by the large wall display of guns and artillery depicting the weapons used in Brunei’s early days.  Equally impressive was the excellent collection of photos showcasing Brunei’s short but vibrant military history.  It provided an excellent introduction to what promised to be a fun-filled, educational day.

 From the museum, all scholars were invited to have an audience with the Honourable Deputy Minister of Defence, Pehin Datu Singamenteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar.  It was indeed a real honor for all scholars to meet the Deputy Defense Minister.  We are extremely grateful for his time spent welcoming us into our prospective careers with MINDEF and RBAF.

Our tour of Military Facilities continued on to the Royal Brunei Naval port in Muara, where we boarded the KDB Waspada, one of three similar class patrol boats.  I was allowed to move around freely within the tight confines of the boat, sampling life as a naval officer.  Located in the stern were two exocet missiles similar to the one that sank the HMS Sheffield during the 1982 Falkland war.  I gazed in awe at this weaponry with such destructive power. We were then treated to a meal at the Navy Officers’ Mess.

 From Muara, our group proceeded to the Berakas Garrison where we learned more about the land forces and their future plans.  We were feted to our second lunch (was the first really only a navy-sized snack?) less than two hours after our last. If this is anything to go by, then life in the armed forces is definitely for me. After lunch, we were shuttled in Armored Personnel Carriers to a field where we boarded the famed Black Hawk helicopters which flew us to the Rimba Air Base of the Royal Brunei Air Force. The flight in the Black Hawks was a most unforgettable experience for me. This surely was the highlight of the day.  At the hangar of the air base, we examined the various aircraft put on display, including a CN-235 military transport aircraft. The tour ended with brief visits to the ‘soon to be commissioned’ IT office, the futuristic-looking Military Court, and MINDEF’s very own library. This library has an excellent collection of books and journals mostly about warfare.

Throughout our tour, we had plenty of opportunity to interact with military as well as civilian officers. Over lunch, an officer spoke to me about his time at the RMA Sandhurst. I also had the privilege of speaking to current scholars who managed to confirm that (gasps!) what I’ve heard about solo camping in the Belalong forest is true. As a result, I am now even more hopeful of participating in similar activities that were held for current MINDEF scholars earlier this year.

 I still have much to learn about the military. The opportunity to briefly sample military hardware, and speak to MINDEF/RBAF officers for a day has definitely incited my interest in military science, organization and history. My sincere thanks to all involved at MINDEF/RBAF for putting together a fantastic and memorable day.

by Charlene Bong