In conjunction with the closing of the 10th Brunei International Skill At Arms Meet (BISAM) yesterday, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to visit the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Training Simulation Centre (tsc), a newly-established training facility for the Brunei's military that houses three of the latest simulation technology in Small Arms and Mortar Simulation Training located inside Penanjong Garrison.

Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and General of RBAF.

Upon arrival, His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were welcomed by Acting Chief Executive Officer of RBTS, Hjh Rosmawati Hj Manaf together with Ruben Fang, Manager of the Training Simulation Centre.

The RBAF Training Simulation Centre is wholly managed, operated and maintained by Royal Brunei Technical Services (RBTS) staff.

Shortly upon arrival, His Majesty signed the Royal Parchment located at the entrance of the centre.

His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince viewed several demonstrations whilst at the centre, beginning with the Mortar Training Simulator. This training is conducted in CGI mode whereby it has 360-degree closed-loop training capabilities. It is the largest simulation room at the training centre designed to train, test and enhance the skill proficiencies at all levels and different roles of the military men that make up a standard Mortar section.

His Majesty was then brought upstairs to the two main training rooms for a demonstration of the Small Arms Training Simulator (SATS). There, His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince picked up wireless Sigh Sauer P226 handguns and were shooting at designated targets inside the simulator.

SATS provides training in three main modes: Marksmanship Training Mode, Judgmental Training Mode, and Tactical Leadership and Team Training Mode.

Highly applicable for military recruits, the Marksmanship Training Mode focuses on basic marksmanship and weapon handling skills using targets and scenes captured from actual live firing ranges.

The marksmanship courses are tailored to those being conducted by the Training Institute of Royal Brunei Armed Forces at the Binturan Shooting Range.

RBTS will soon send its operation staff for training, whereby existing courses may be further customised and new courses added.

To date, the RBTS Operations Team has conducted over 90 Small Arms Training Sessions across 10 RBAF Units, amounting to over 300 recruits and other military personnel.

This mode may also be used by experienced military personnel that wish to refresh and sharpen their marksmanship skills using the simulator's comprehensive diagnostic and assessment tools to analyse every second of each fired-shot made.

Meanwhile, the Judgmental Training Mode is designed to train enforcers on how to engage hostile encounters in various situations. This training is conducted using videos whereby the aggression level of the suspect or enemy is completely controlled by the system operators of RBTS.

Equipped with over 45 various scenarios, from Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) missions to counter-terrorism operations, this training mode allows trainees to prepare themselves for real-life situations, should they occur, and to understand when and how to respond to the various situations and challenges that could be entailed in a mission.

The Tactical Leadership and Team Training Mode leverages on Computer Graphic Imagery (CGI) technologies that will allow trainees to practise their tactical planning of offensive and defensive missions, their actual movement through unfamiliar and hostile territories, executing and achieving mission objectives and identifying commands and team communications in various scenarios.

In CGI mode, the simulators can produce any sort of map terrain, emulate day and night missions, control weather and climate and generate over 300 different types of targets.

Ruben Fang was quoted saying that the training simulator service is currently for the country's military from RBAF but RBTS will be extending the service to government security agencies in Brunei as well as in the region.

His Majesty concluded his tour to the centre with a group photo with RBTS staff. A 'pesambah' was also presented by RBTS to both His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. - Borneo Bulletin (29th January 2012)