The 22nd AARM 2012

Yang Mulia, Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Yussof bin Haji Abd Rahman, the Commander of Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF) and also as the Guest of Honour (GOH), has officially closed the 22nd AARM. Upon his arrival, the GOH was welcomed by Yang Mulia Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Shafiee bin Haji Duraman, the Chairman of the 22nd AARM 2012.

Witnessing the 22nd Closing Ceremony were the other 9 ASEAN Chiefs of Army, who were the invited guests, ASEAN Defence Attachés/Advisers to Brunei Darussalam, as well as Royal Brunei Armed Forces’ Senior Officers. The closing ceremony took place at Gallery 1, Binturan Shooting Range, Penanjong Garrison.

Prior to the closing ceremony, the GOH and all distinguish guests were then taken to participate in the ASEAN Chiefs of Army Pistol and Carbine Novelty Shoot Competition for falling plates from a distance of 25 meters and 50 meters respectively, at Gallery 1. Six teams had participated during the match in which Team C emerged as the winner, consisting of Lieutenant Colonel Meas Sophearith (the Royal Cambodian Army); Major General Dedi Kusnadi (Indonesian Army); Brigadier General Dato’ Abd Samad bin Haji Yaakob (Malaysian Army); Colonel Steven Seng (Singapore Army) and Lieutenant General Narin Luckana (the Royal Thai Army).

The GOH together with the invited guests had also witnessed the Rifle Falling Plate Competition Final between the Indonesian Army and the Royal Thai Army. During the match, the Indonesian Army secured the first position with 21.30 seconds, while 1st runner up goes to the Royal Thai Army with 21.44 seconds.

Later on, the GOH and his ASEAN Chiefs of Army counterparts were invited to the grand stand to receive the general salute led by Yang Mulia Lieutenant Colonel Tarip bin Haji Karia, Parade Commander for the 22nd AARM.

The Indonesian Army, once again seized the 22nd AARM 2012 by winning most of the medals and trophies based on match categories, who also previously won the last AARM in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia.

The results of the overall matches are as follow:

• Carbine Overall Individual Championship - Sertu Habdi (Indonesian Army);
• Machine Gun Overall Individual Championship - Serda Akbar (Indonesian Army);
• Machine Gun Overall Team Championship - Indonesian Army;
• Carbine Overall Team Championship - Indonesian Army;
• Rifle Overall Individual Championship - Corporal Rodney Rizano (Philippine Army);
• Rifle Overall Team Championship - Philippine Army;
• Pistol Men and Ladies Overall Team Championship – Royal Thai Army;
• Overall Individual Championship (Pistol Ladies) - MSG Rachel/Tzer Chin (Singapore Army);
• Overall Individual Championship (Pistol Men) - 2WO Shaw Ming (Singapore Army)

The highlight of the closing ceremony was the Closing Declaration of the 22nd AARM by the GOH and lowering of AARM flag and followed by handing over of AARM flag from the Commander of RBLF to Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Army, Lieutenant General Soe Win, who will be hosting the 23rd AARM 2013 in Myanmar.

To bless the ceremony, Doa was read by Yang Mulia Lieutenant Mohd Hishamuddin bin Haji Marzoki, the representative officer from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Religious Department (JAMAAT RBAF).

Before leaving the GOH presented prizes to the winners in the ASEAN Chiefs of Army Pistol and Carbine Novelty Shoot Competition followed by a lunch session with all invited guests at the Gallery 1 Range Officer’s Mess.

Alhamdulillah, both 13th ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (13th ACAAM) and 2nd ASEAN Sergeant Major Annual Meeting (2nd ASMAM) also ended successfully yesterday, 15 October 2012 in the Sultanate.

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Army will host the next AARM, ACAAM and ASMAM in 2013.

© Mindef