RIMBA CAMP, Monday, 9 December 2019 – The annual exchange programme between Brunei Cadet Force (BCF) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) Singapore commenced from 2 to 9 December 2019. This programme is a progression from International Cadets Exchange Programme (ICEP), which was held from 11 to 20 November 2019 in Singapore. The objective of this programme is to foster goodwill and camaraderie through participation in adventure camp activities and cultural interactions.
The delegation consisted of twelve NCC cadets including two teacher officers. Upon their arrival at Rimba Camp, an introductory briefing was held and led by Captain Mohd Hanis Fakhri bin Haji Bakri, Officer Commanding of Brunei Cadet Force. The programme was officiated with an opening ceremony on the 3 December 2019. Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suradzin bin Haji Muhammad Yusof, Commanding Officer of the Royal Brunei Malay Reserve Regiment, welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude towards the delegation. Since the last programme in 2017, the number of participants has increased and he hoped for this said programme to stay active for years to come. This year, 21 representatives from Brunei Cadet Force was combined with the NCC cadets to form a platoon.
The jungle exercise was executed on the 4 December 2019, and the BICEP platoon, along with BCF officers, Cadet Force Officers, and instructors, as well as the support platoon departed for the exercise site in Kampong Litad. This jungle exercise was carried out for three days and two nights. Amongst the activities carried out during the exercise were field-craft lessons which included introduction to rations, recognising the types of flora and fauna, hut building, identifying hidden objects and recognising sounds, camouflage, and a brief explanation of Close Target Reconnaissance (CTR). The participants of BICEP also had the opportunity to experience a Visual Night Signal Lesson during a night walk. The highlight of the night was the demonstration of the use of signal kit, trip flares and pyrotechnics.
During the remaining period of their stay, the NCC cadets toured around Bandar Seri Begawan. They visited national landmarks such as the Royal Regalia, Kampong Ayer Heritage Gallery and Istana Nurul Iman as part of the first day of leisure. The NCC cadets were also invited to Aman Camp, the Singaporean military training establishment base. They also attended the Bandarku Ceria on Sunday, 8 December 2019, where His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam graced the opening for Brunei December Festival. Both the Bruneian and Singaporean cadets also had the opportunity to meet His Majesty personally on that day.
The closing ceremony and appreciation dinner marked the end of their stay in Brunei Darussalam.
In attendance as the guest of honour was Colonel (U) Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Director of Personnel at the Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam, and invited guests which included the Assistant Defense Adviser to the Singaporean High Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Donovan Chao. The guest of honour highlighted in his speech that he hoped for the number of participants, inclusively of the NCC Cadets and the BCF Cadets to increase for the programme in the near future. The one week duration has made a positive impact to the Bruneian and Singaporean cadets as they showcased their performance of the rendition of the famous Singaporean song, Geylang Sipaku Geylang. This lyrics of the song was edited to reflect the experiences gained by all of the participating cadets.
Following the success of the programme, the NCC cadets departed Brunei Darussalam on 9 December 2019, and a recitation of Doa Selamat was led by PW1 (KT) Amran bin Jalil to bless their journey back to Singapore.
BRUNEI INTERNATIONAL CADET EXCHANGE PROGRAMME 2019
KEM RIMBA, Isnin, 9 Disember 2019 – Latihan Dua Hala di antara Pasukan Kadet Tentera ABDB (PKT ABDB) dan
National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republik Singapura berlangsung pada 2 hingga 9 Disember 2019. Latihan BICEP ini merupakan kesinambungan daripada International Cadet Exchange Programme (ICEP) yang berlangsung di Republik Singapura pada 11 hingga 20 November 2019. Tujuan latihan ini ialah untuk mengeratkan hubungan silaturahim di antara ahli-ahli PKT ABDB dan NCC Singapura melalui aktiviti-aktiviti lawatan sambil belajar, acara riadah, sukan, kebudayaan dan latihan dalam hutan.
Seramai 12 ahli kadet Singapura (NCC) telah dijemput, termasuk 2 orang guru pengawas. Semasa ketibaan ahli kadet NCC Singapura di Kem Rimba, taklimat pengenalan PKT dan ABDB disampaikan oleh Kapten Mohd Hanis Fakhri bin Haji Bakri, Pegawai Memerintah PKT ABDB. Program ini dirasmikan dengan Majlis Pembukaan yang berlangsung pada 3 Disember 2019. Hadir sebagai tetamu kehormat ialah Pegawai Pemerintah Askar Simpanan Melayu Diraja Brunei (ASMDB) Leftenan Kolonel Muhammad Suradzin bin Haji Muhammad Yusof. Menurut beliau, jumlah peserta yang mengikuti program kali ini semakin meningkat dan mendapat sambutan yang baik berbanding pada tahun 2017, dan beliau berharap program ini akan terus dijalankan pada tahun-tahun yang akan datang. Pada tahun ini, seramai 21 ahli kadet tentera dari Pasukan Kadet Tentera ABDB digabungkan dengan NCC Republik Singapura untuk dijadikan satu platun.
Latihan hutan bermula pada 4 Disember 2019 di mana peserta BICEP, bersama dengan pegawai-pegawai PKT, jurulatih-jurulatih, guru pengawas serta peserta Bantuan bergerak ke tapak latihan bertempat di Kampong Litad. Latihan hutan dijalankan selama tiga hari dan dua malam. Di antara aktiviti yang diadakan sepanjang latihan hutan adalah Pelajaran Ilmu Medan Perang (IMP) seperti tatacara memasak rangsum tentera, mengenal tumbuh-tumbuhan, mengenal benda-benda tersembunyi dan bunyi-bunyian, pelajaran samaran dan pengenalan asas Tinjauan Khemah Musuh. Peserta BICEP juga diberi peluang untuk membuat latihan berjalan malam dan sekaligus mengenal pelajaran isyarat. Aktiviti yang menjadi tarikan ramai ialah penggunaan signal kit,
trip flares, dan pelajaran bahan letupan.
Semasa hari-hari berikutnya, Kadet Tentera NCC Singapura diberi peluang untuk membuat lawatan ke Bandar Seri Begawan. Di antara tempat lawatan yang dikunjung ialah Muzium Alat Kebesaran Diraja, Galeri Warisan Kampong Ayer, dan Istana Nurul Iman. Kadet Tentera NCC Singapura juga dijemput untuk lawatan ke Aman Kem, iaitu Perkhemahan Latihan Ketenteraan Singapura. Selain itu, Kadet Brunei dan Singapura beriadah ke Taman Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien untuk mengalami suasana BandarKu Ceria pada hari Ahad, 8 Disember 2019. Pada masa yang sama,
Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam berkenan untuk merasmikan Festival Disember Brunei. Kedua-dua kadet Brunei dan Singapura mendapat peluang untuk berjunjung ziarah dengan
Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.
Majlis Penutup dan Makan Malam Penghargaan menjadi titik penghujung bagi perjalanan latihan mereka di Brunei Darussalam. Hadir majlis tersebut termasuk Kolonel (U) Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Pengarah Keanggotaan, Kementerian Pertahanan selaku tetamu kehormat majlis dan Penolong Penasihat Pertahanan Republik Singapura, Leftenan Kolonel Donovan Chao. Dalam ucapan tetamu kehormat majlis, beliau mengharapkan penglibatan yang lebih ramai dari kalangan Kadet Tentera NCC Singapura dan PKT ABDB untuk program ini pada masa yang akan datang. Program ini memberi impak yang sangat positif terhadap kedua pihak, terutama sekali apabila mereka mempersembahkan lagu yang terkenal di Singapura, iaitu Geylang Sipaku Geylang. Lirik lagu diubah suai mengikut pengalaman peserta kadet sepanjang program BICEP 2019
Dengan tamatnya Latihan Dua Hala BICEP tersebut, ahli-ahli Kadet Tentera NCC Singapura kembali ke tanah air pada 9 Disember 2019. Doa selamat telah dibaca oleh PW1 (KT) Amran bin Jalil bagi memberkati penerbangan mereka pulang ke Singapura.