His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, witnessed Exercise Sunda Patrol 2023 at Training Area ‘B’, Andulau Forest Reserve in Sungai Liang, Belait District.
His Royal Highness was welcomed on arrival at Air Movement Centre, Rimba Air Force Base by Royal Brunei Armed Forces Commander Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Royal Brunei Land Force Commander Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, Director of Intelligence at the MinDef Colonel (U) Haji Muhammad Muluddin bin Awang Haji Latif and British Defence Advisor Captain Jonathan Caple, Royal Navy before leaving for the training area onboard a Puma helicopter from Royal Air Force’s 230 Squadron.
The delegation landed at Kargu Dam Landing Point and they were welcomed by British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam John Virgoe and British Forces Brunei (BFB) Commander Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Stanford-Tuck.
His Royal Highness attended a briefing on the exercise and witnessed a live river crossing drill presented by First Battalion of Royal Gurkha Rifles (Support Company 1RGR) Commanding Officer of Support Company Major Som Thulung followed by a photo session.
Next stop was the Jungle Base Camp using 4X4 off-road vehicles where His Royal Highness was welcomed with a Maala garland and attended a briefing on BFB by Lieutenant Colonel Stanford-Tuck.
His Royal Highness then visited Jungle Survival Stand where His Royal Highness presented certificates of appreciation to members of the organising committee and joined a photo session.
His Royal Highness then attended a luncheon, joined by Commander 4 Brigade of British Armed Forces Brigadier Rob Singleton, resident defence advisors and attaches to Brunei. His Royal Highness signed a guest book, received a pesambah and joined a photo session before leaving the training ground.
The inaugural Exercise Sunda Patrol is a patrol competition hosted by BFB from October 2-6 for British forces units from the 1st (UK) Division to challenge their skills such as survival skills, routine patrolling, riverine operations and close target reconnaissance (CTR) in the jungle or close country tropical environment (CCTE).
Next year, the exercise will expand to include participation from invited international teams.
