BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Thursday 18 April 2013 – The Final Planning Conference (FPC) for the inaugural ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Medicine (MM) Exercise came to a close today.

The FPC was hosted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and held at the Rizqun Hotel, Gadong. The FPC Chairman, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abd Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Joint Force Commander RBAF in his remarks expressed his gratitude and high note of confidence as well as high level of understanding to the ADMM-Plus member nations for their excellent inputs and professional ideas they shared during the FPC which are very critical for the successful execution of the exercise in June.

In this closing session, the FPC members had listened to the back-brief by the Working Groups and exercise planners on respective areas of interests and final planning details for the successful conduct of the exercise. As emphasized by the Joint Force Commander RBAF, he said the FPC members
“have finalised on the countries’ contribution of assets and troops, the Field Troop Exercise (FTX) training activities and as well as broad programme of the exercise including the Force Integration Training schedule.”

The Joint Force Commander RBAF also confirmed that ADMM-Plus members have achieved the objectives of Final Planning Conference in producing detailed plan to support the exercise, the key one being, the Logistic Support Plan, Communication Information System Plan, Media Plan, and Exercise Safety Plan.” Other significant highlight of the FPC was finalizing the VIP/VVIP programme during the opening and closing of the exercise on 17 June and 20 June respectively.

The FPC has been a productive last three days of Working Group sessions, finalising their updates and confirmation through series of meetings and visits to key places and exercise sites to further refine the exercise details in ensuring the objectives of the FPC are met. The visits to various key places and exercise sites have been tailored to the requirement of the ADMM-Plus nations, providing vital information to finalize on respective countries’ contribution of assets and personnel and their precise involvement in the ADMM-Plus HADR & MM Exercise.

The WGs comprise of the Multi-National Coordination Centre/Command & Control WG, Engineer and Search & Rescue WG, Medical WG, Naval WG, Air WG, Logistic WG including on Real-Life Support, Communications Information System WG, Standard Operating Procedure WG, Safety WG and the Media WG.

Concluding the three-day FPC, all ASEAN Member States and the 8 ADMM-Plus countries, expressed their strong support as well as firm commitment to participate in what would be the first ever HADR and MM Exercise under the ADMM-Plus mechanism.

The Commander of RBAF, Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin also had the chance to meet and mingle with all the foreign delegates during his presence at the closing of the FPC.

As the host nation to the ADMM-Plus HADR and MM Exercise, Brunei Darussalam places paramount importance in ensuring that the fullest commitment and support pledged from participating countries will bring successful outcomes in contributing effectively towards the practical cooperation of the ADMM-Plus framework.