The Royal Army of Oman (RAO) celebrated last week the transformation of the Frontiers Force in the 11th Infantry Brigade into mechanized infantry.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Lt-General Ahmed bin Harith al- Nabhani, Chief-of-Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), in the presence of Major General Matar bin Salim al- Balushi, RAO Commander, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The ceremony, held in Thumrait Camp in the Governorate of Dhofar, started with the military parade of the Frontiers Force in slow and normal march. The chief guest and attendees watched the mobile parade of the vehicles and equipment, starting with the different means of transportation that played a prominent role in the past, until the modern military transport vehicles that entered the service recently, reflecting the level of development and modernization of RAO.

RAO Music Band staged its military parade, which included playing various musical pieces and presenting a variety of combinations that embodied the high capabilities and skills of the band’s members.

The chief guest and senior officers toured the exhibition of the vehicles, which contained modern vehicles, equipment and devices that are part of the plans of continuous modernization and development in line with the national missions undertaken by RAO.

At the end of the ceremony, SAF Chief-of-Staff unveiled the commemorative plaque of the Frontiers Force.  He was briefed on the existing projects concerned with the modernization and development of RAO, and made a tour during which he witnessed the projects that have been completed in Thumrait camp, and was briefed on them.

The occasion was attended by Major General Amir bin Salim al-Amri, Commander of the Sultan’s Special Force, Major General Salim bin Musallam Qatan, Commandant of the National Defence College, a number of senior officers of SAF and other military and security units, and a number of RAO officers, non-commissioned officers, in addition to members of RAO Frontiers Force.