Abidin Ahmad | |
---|---|
عابدين احمد | |
4th Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces | |
In office 30 September 1997 –3 July 1999 | |
Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah |
Preceded by | Husin Ahmad |
Succeeded by | Shari Ahmad |
1st Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force | |
In office 1982 –1986 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Jocklin Kongpaw |
Personal details | |
Born | Awangku Abidin bin Pengiran Ahmad [1] Brunei |
Education | Mons Officer Cadet School [2] |
Occupation | Military officer |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Brunei |
Branch/service | Royal Brunei Air Force |
Years of service | 1965–1999 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands | Air Wing RBMR |
Pengiran Abidin bin Pengiran Ahmad [3] is a Bruneian airman and military officer who served as the fourth Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) from 1997 until 1999.
As one of the first pilots in the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF),him and Jocklin Kongpaw have indirectly contributed to the growth and advancement of RBAirF,where their dedication and open sacrifice have become one of the sources of motivation and inspiration for all RBMR members,especially RBAirF,to carry out the tasks and missions required by RBMR and the nation. [4]
On 11 September 1966,Junior Lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin returned to Brunei Darussalam,after undergoing a two month Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Crew Selection course at RAF Biggin Hill,Westerham. [5] Later on 6 August 1968,the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) experienced a very significant moment when Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was pleased to present the Pilot Badge for the first time to two local officers,Second lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin,after completing all domestic and foreign flight training. [6] For the AMDB,this ceremony has also gone down in history as the first time that two local military pilots were successfully produced. At that time,a flight display employing a Bell 206B helicopter at Istana Darul Hana further enhanced the presenting ceremony. The two local pilots demonstrated a very high degree of proficiency and efficiency. [7]
When the two pilots were dispatched to British Executive Air Services Limited at Kidlington,Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom,for basic flight training on 14 August 1967,RBAirF made history. The two officers also undertook flying school in Sabah,Malaysia,to earn a pilot's licence prior to attending training in the United Kingdom. Following basic training,Major Herbert Marshall,commanding officer of the Helicopter Platoon,RBMR,oversaw the two pilots as they conducted 90 hours of Advanced Flight Training in a Bell 206B helicopter. Abidin Ahmad and Jocklin Kongpaw have both served as officers,and have flown a variety of Royal Brunei Air Force (TUDB) aircraft in a variety of positions. [7]
In 1982,Lieutenant Colonel Abidin also became the first local officer to be appointed as the first commanding officer of the Air Branch,RBMR;later handing over the reins of leadership to Lieutenant Colonel Jocklin Kongpaw in 1986. He was also the first RBAirF officer to be promoted to Major General in 1997,and subsequently appointed as the fourth Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). [7] He attended the Asia-Pacific Defense Forum in early 1999. [8]
At the 2019 Seri Angkasa Cup,which was hosted at the RBA Golf Club,the retired members of 'The Legend' team from the RBAirF under the leadership of Abidin Ahmad successfully defended their title. [9] An iftar celebration with former RBAirF commanders was organised on 2 May 2021,at Rumah Wira Angkasa in Berakas in honour of the blessed month of Ramadan. [10]
A road within the Royal Brunei Air Force Base,Rimba was named Abidin Boulevard on 22 April 2022. [10] Examples of local and foreign honours awarded to him; [11]
Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III,the 28th Sultan of Brunei,and Raja Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit. After Brunei's independence in 1984,he became the country’s first foreign minister,serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015,alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade,Lim Jock Seng.
The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) is the air force of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. It is headquartered and mainly based at the Royal Brunei Air Force Base,Rimba,opposite the Brunei International Airport (BIA). The role of the Royal Brunei Air Force is to defend the national airspace and to provide air policing and surveillance of its land and maritime borders. As of 2024,the Royal Brunei Air Force operates twenty-two manned aircraft and five unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
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Officially known as Royal Brunei Air Force Base,Rimba,commonly known as Rimba Air Force Base,occasionally known as Rimba Airbase,and informally abbreviated Rimba AFB;it is the military headquarters and main operating airbase of the Royal Brunei Air Force. It is located near the Bruneian village of Kampong Rimba,opposite,and sharing its main runway of 3,685 metres with the Brunei International Airport (BIA),at Bandar Seri Begawan,in the Brunei-Muara District of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
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Husin bin Ahmad,sometimes spelled Hussin Ahmad,is a Bruneian nobleman,diplomat and soldier whom served as the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) from 1994 until 1997.
Shari bin Ahmad is a Bruneian nobleman and soldier whom became the fifth Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) from 1999 until 2001,and the second Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) from 1994 until 1999.
Pengiran Ibnu Basit bin Pengiran Apong or sometimes spelled Ibnu Ba'asith,is a nobleman,soldier and politician in the Government of Brunei whole formerly took office as the Deputy Minister of Defence from 1986 to 2005,and the first local officer to be the commanding officer of the Boat Sections of the Boats Section AMDB from 1965 to 1966.
Abdul Jalil bin Ahmad is a Bruneian nobleman,diplomat and retired naval officer who served as the sixth Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 1995 to 2002. In addition,he later became the ambassador and high commissioner to several other countries.
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Jocklin bin Kongpaw is a Bruneian military officer and diplomat who became the high commissioner to Canada from 1998 to 2001,and Australia from 2001 to 2004.
Mohammad Ariffin bin Abdul Wahab is a Bruneian nobleman,businessman and retired military officer,who served as the commander of the Training Institute Royal Brunei Armed Forces from 1975 to 1979. In 1976,he became one of the first two local personnel to be promoted to lieutenant colonel alongside Sulaiman Damit.
Media related to Abidin Ahmad at Wikimedia Commons