RIMBA, Friday, 25 September 2015 – With the consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Royal Brunei Air Force has received a new commander. The change of command ceremony for the Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force was between Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi bin Haji Abdul Latip and Colonel (U) Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah.
The change-over ceremony took place this morning at the Parade Square of the Headquarters of the Royal Brunei Air Force at Rimba Air Base.
The ceremony was attended by foreign Defence Advisers in Brunei Darussalam, Senior Officers and their spouses, Officers, Airmen, Airwomen and non-uniformed personnel of the Royal Brunei Air Force.
The ceremony started with the outgoing Commander inspecting the Guard of Honour mounted by the Royal Brunei Air Force personnel prior to delivering his final speech and signing the certificate with the newly appointed Commander. The newly appointed Commander then proceeded to inspect the Guard of Honour and also delivered a speech before ending the ceremony.
Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi bin Haji Abdul Latip, was appointed as the 12th Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force with effect on 7th December 2012. He joined Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) as an apprentice in Boys Company from 1982 to 1983. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 1984 upon successfully graduating from a prestigious Air Force Academy, the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, United Kingdom. He started his flying career as a student pilot at No.3 Squadron Basic Flying Training School (BFTS), in the Training Wing of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) from 1984 to 1986. On Successful completion of his flying training he was posted to No.1 Squadron (Sqn), Operations Wing (Ops Wg) of RBAirF as a co-pilot on the Bell 212 Helicopter.
In his 31 years of service, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi has held various key command and staff appointments in the RBAF and the Ministry of Defence.
On 24 May 2013, by the consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam he was promoted to Brigadier General. Throughout his service, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi has attended several local and overseas courses. He has also attended various seminars, conferences, workshops and symposiums on area of humanitarian and disaster relief operation, peacekeeping operation and search and rescue operation.
Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi was awarded with several decorations which include SMB, PJP KDYMM, PJP ABDB, PKLPB, PKmdkn, GSM, PCM (PLA Commemorative Medal). He was also awarded with honorary pilot wings by the Indonesian Air Force (1997), Republic of Singapore Air Force (2013) and Royal Malaysian Air Force (Sept, 2013). Subsequently he was awarded the PCM during his tour as Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Beijing Republic of China for his contribution towards enhancing the bilateral relationship between Brunei Darussalam and people Republic of China. In 2014, he was conferred with Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) [or Meritorious Service Medal (Military)] in recognition of his significant contributions in fostering excellent defence ties between the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). On 4 December 2014, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi was awarded the Honorary Malaysian Armed Forces Orders for Valour (First Degree) – Galant Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
On 14 August 2014, His Majesty’s bestowed the Darjah Pahlawan Negara Brunei Yang Amat Perkasa Darjah Pertama (PSPNB) which carries the title Dato Seri Pahlawan to Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi.
Meanwhile, the new commander, Colonel (U) Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah assumed the command as the 13th Commander of the Royal Brunei Airforce. Colonel (U) Shahril Anwar was enlisted into the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in January 1986. In October 1986, he graduated from the Initial Officer Training (IOT) at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell, the United Kingdom. After completing his basic flying training, he started his operational flying career at the No 1 Sqn, Operations Wing. In 1997, he was transferred to the No.4 Sqn holding the appointment of Flight Commander Operations. In 1999, Colonel (U) Shahril Anwar attended the Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) course, in the United Kingdom.
In July 2000, Colonel (U) Shahril Anwar attended the 4th Advanced Command & Staff Course (ACSC) at the Joint Services Command & Staff College, United Kingdom. On his return to Brunei in August 2001, he held the post of Squadron Commander for No. 4 Sqn before holding the appointment of Staff Officer Grade 2 (SO2) Operations in the Royal Brunei Air Force.
In 2006, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer (CO) of Training Wing in the Royal Brunei Air Force. In 2010, Colonel (U) Shahril held the appointment as the Defence Adviser of Brunei Darussalam to Malaysia. In 2012, he attended the Australia’s Centre of Defence and Strategic Studies (ADDSS) at the Australian Defence College. Upon completion of this course in December 2012, he was posted to the Directorate of Force Capability Development, holding the post as the Director.
TENTERA UDARA DIRAJA BRUNEI MENERIMA PUCUK PIMPINAN YANG BARU
RIMBA, Jumaat 25 September 2015 – Atas Titah perkenan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam, Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei hari ini telah menerima Pucuk Pimpanan yang baru.
Upacara serah terima tugas bagi Pemerintah Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei adalah di antara Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi bin Haji Abdul Latip dan Kolonel (U) Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah.
Upacara berlangsung pagi ini di Padang Kawad Pangkalan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei, Rimba.
Upacara tersebut telah dihadiri oleh Penasihat-Penasihat Pertahanan di Negara Brunei Darussalam, Pegawai-Pegawai Kanan bersama isteri-isteri, Pegawai-Pegawai, anggota-anggota dan kakitangan awam Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei.
Majlis bermula dengan Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi memeriksa Kawalan Kehormatan yang terdiri dari anggota Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei dan seterusnya menyampaikan ucapan sebelum menandatangani sijil dengan pemerintah yang baru.
Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi merupakan Pemerintah Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei yang ke 12 sejak 7 Disember 2012. Beliau menyertai Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) sebagai perintis di dalam Askar Muda dari tahun 1982 hingga 1983. Beliau ditauliahkan sebagai Leftenan Muda pada bulan Disember 1984 selepas menamatkan latihan dengan jayanya di Akademi Tentera Udara, Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, United Kingdom.
Dalam tempoh lebih daripada 31 tahun perkhidmatan beliau, Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi telah memegang pelbagai jawatan di dalam ABDB dan juga Kementerian Pertahanan.
Pada tahun 2007, beliau telah dilantik sebagai Atase Pertahanan Negara Brunei Darussalam ke Republik Rakyat China. Pada tahun 2011, beliau telah memegang jawatan Pengarah Keanggotaan dan kemudiannya pada
7 Disember 2012, Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi mula menjawat jawatannya sekarang iaitu sebagai Pemerintah Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei.
Dengan Titah Perkenan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam, pada 24 Mei 2014, beliau telah dinaikkan pangkat kepada Brigedier Jeneral.
Sepanjang perkhidmatan beliau, Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi telah menghadiri pelbagai kursus tempatan dan luar negara. Beliau juga telah menghadiri pelbagai seminar, persidangan dan bengkel serta simposium di dalam bidang operasi bantuan kemanusiaan dan bencana alam, operasi pengaman dan operasi mencari dan menyelamat (SAR).
Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi telah dianugerahkan dengan menerima sebilangan pingat yang termasuk SMB, PJP KDYMM, PJB ABDB, PKLPB, PKMdkn, GSM, PCM (PLA Commemorative Medal). Beliau juga telah dianugerahkan lencana juruterbang kehormat dari Massey Air University New Zealand (1995), Tentera Udara Indonesia – Angkatan Udara (1997) dan Tentera Udara Republik Singapura (2013). Semasa perkhidmatan beliau sebagai Atase Pertahanan kepada Negara Brunei Darussalam di Bejing, Republik Rakyat China, beliau telah dianugerahkan pingat PCM sebagai penghargaan terhadap usaha beliau dalam menguatkan hubungan dua hala di antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Republik Rakyat China. Dalam tahun 2014, Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Wardi telah dikurniakan Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) dalam sebagai pengiktirafan terhadap sumbangan penting beliau di dalam memelihara dan mempertingkankan lagi hubungan pertahanan di antara Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei dan Tentera Udara Republik Singapura.
Sementara itu, Kolonel (U) Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah mengambil alih pucuk pimpinan sebagai Pemerintah Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei yang ke 13. Kolonel (U) Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah mejadi Timbalan Pemerintah, Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei. Semenjak 19hb Disember 2014. Beliau menyertai Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei pada bulan Januari 1986. Beliau ditauliahkan sebagai Leftenan Muda pada bulan Oktober 1986 selepas menamatkan latihan di Akademi Tentera Udara, Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, United Kingdom.
Selepas menamatkan latihan asas penerbangan, beliau memulakan kerjaya penerbangan operasi di No.11 Sqn, No.1 Wing. Pada tahun 1997, beliau telah dipindahkan ke No.14 Sqn memegang jawatan Penerbangan Operasi Komander. Pada tahun 1999, Kolonel (U) Shahril Anwar menghadiri kursus Jurulatih Helikopter Berkelayakan (QHI) di United Kingdom.
Pada bulan Julai 2000, Kolonel (U) Shahril Anwar menghadiri 4th Advanced Command & Staff Course (ACSC) di Joint Services Command & Staff College, United Kingdom. Sekembalinya ke Brunei pada Ogos 2001, beliau memegang jawatan sebagai Komander Skuadron No.14 Sqn sebelum memegang jawatan Pegawai Turus Operasi dalam Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei.
Pada tahun 2006, Beliau telah dilantik sebagai Pegawai Pemerintah No.7 Wing. Pada tahun 2010, Kolonel (U) Shahril dilantik sebagai Penasihat Pertahanan Negara Brunei Darussalam ke Malaysia. Beliau telah menghadiri Australia’s Centre of Defence and Strategic Studies (ADDSS) di Australian Defence College. Setelah tamat kursus pada bulan Disember 2012, beliau ditugaskan ke Direktorat Pasukan Pembangunan Keupayaan, memegang jawatan sebagai Pengarah.