Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces

The Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (JFHQ RBAF), known in Malay as Markas Angkatan Bersama Angkatan Tentera Diraja Brunei (MAB ABDB), is a combined military command established to oversee all joint operations activities of the service branches of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). It coordinates at least three services: the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), and the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF). The JFHQ is headquartered on the second floor of the Ministry of Defence Building at Bolkiah Garrison in Brunei. The JFHQ traces its origins to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Joint Operations Command (RBAF JOC), which was established in 1997 for a major joint exercise and subsequently served as the primary Command and Control (C2) hub. As RBAF commitments grew and operations became longer, the need for a permanent, fully staffed joint headquarters became apparent. On 14 December 2007, the JFHQ RBAF was formally established, aligning with the vision of the Defence White Paper Update 2007. The JOC was upgraded to a JFHQ with permanent staff, operating 24 hours a day to monitor military actions and prepare for larger-scale missions. The JFHQ's roles include assisting the Joint Force Commander (JFC) and component commanders in organising, leading, and executing tactical-level actions; serving as the RBAF's main point of contact for other government ministries and agencies, as well as allied and foreign joint operations headquarters; and, under a fully operational JFHQ, receiving delegated responsibilities from the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces for all RBAF mission planning and execution, operational-level command and control of joint and combined operations and exercises, and the use of allotted RBAF assets. Service Commanders focus on raising, training, and maintaining assets for operational readiness, while the JFC handles employment and deployment of allotted forces. The JFHQ is structured with a Joint Force Commander (JFC), Deputy Joint Force Commander (DJFC), Chief of Staff (COS), and staff sections J1 through J9 covering personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, planning, communications, training, finance, and legal affairs, along with a Head Joint Doctrine & Warfare Centre (Head JDWC) overseeing joint doctrine and joint warfare. The RBAF, through JFHQ, participates in numerous bilateral and multilateral training exercises with friendly nations including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Indonesia, and New Zealand. Notable exercises include 'Maju Bersama', 'Flaming Arrow', 'Dragonball', 'Bold Castle', 'Bold Sabre', 'Pelican', 'Airguard', 'Brumal Setia', 'Malbru', 'Mertak Bersatu', 'Hornbill', 'Garuda Shield', 'Setia Kawan', 'Azam Bersama', 'Mallee Bull', and the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) manoeuvres. Every two years, the RBAF conducts its largest countrywide exercise, Exercise Hikmat Bersatu, involving all services including JFHQ, RBLF, RBN, RBAirF, the Special Forces Regiment, the Royal Brunei Malay Reserve Regiment, and the British Armed Forces Second Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

The Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (JFHQ RBAF) was established on 14 December 2007, succeeding the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Joint Operations Command (RBAF JOC). The RBAF JOC had been established in 1997 for a major joint exercise and subsequently served as the primary Command and Control (C2) hub for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. It was designed to combine all elements of the RBAF for military operations or exercises. Over time, the JOC's duties grew to accommodate the RBAF's commitments, with a focus on unified command for operations. It was determined that in order to provide unified C2, the JOC needed to be upgraded to a JFHQ with permanent staff. The then-current JOC, which lacked permanent and properly trained staff, had been effective; however, as Royal Brunei Armed Forces commitments increased and operations became longer, it became necessary to revise its core principles to align with the Defence White Paper Update 2007's vision and to make use of existing technology to respond quickly to evolving circumstances. Reorganisation was necessary due to the RBAF's increased dimension in order to create a permanent JFHQ that would command the assigned force from the JOC and have full staff duties for joint planning and execution of operations. The JOC would be staffed 24 hours a day to monitor all military actions by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and to be ready for larger-scale missions. As a result, on 14 December 2007, the Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (JFHQ RBAF) was established, and it is now housed on the second floor of the Ministry of Defence Building at Bolkiah Garrison. The JFHQ is structured with a Joint Force Commander (JFC), Deputy Joint Force Commander (DJFC), Chief of Staff (COS), and staff sections J1 through J9 covering personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, planning, communications, training, finance, and legal affairs, along with a Head Joint Doctrine & Warfare Centre (Head JDWC) overseeing joint doctrine and joint warfare. The RBAF, through JFHQ, continues to conduct cooperative drills with friendly countries' armed forces, including those of Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others. Exercises with the Singapore Armed Forces include 'Maju Bersama', 'Flaming Arrow', 'Dragonball', 'Bold Castle', and 'Bold Sabre' for the Royal Brunei Land Force; 'Pelican' for the Royal Brunei Navy with the Republic of Singapore Navy; and 'Airguard' for the air forces. With the Malaysian Armed Forces, drills include 'Brumal Setia', 'Malbru', 'Mertak Bersatu', and 'Hornbill'. Under the US Pacific Command-funded Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative, the RBAF and Indonesian counterparts participate in 'Garuda Shield' at the Infantry Education Centre in Cipatat, Bandung. Additional exercises are carried out with the British Armed Forces in 'Setia Kawan', New Zealand in 'Azam Bersama', Australia's 'Mallee Bull', and the United States military's annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) manoeuvres. Every two years, the RBAF conducts its largest countrywide exercise, Exercise Hikmat Bersatu, involving all services including JFHQ, RBLF, RBN, RBAirF, the Special Forces Regiment, the Royal Brunei Malay Reserve Regiment, and the British Armed Forces Second Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

• 2007

  Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (JFHQ RBAF) established on 14 December, succeeding the RBAF JOC.

• 1997

  Royal Brunei Armed Forces Joint Operations Command (RBAF JOC) established for a major joint exercise.

Combined military command for joint operations of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces

1. 1Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Joint Force Headquarters, Royal Brunei Armed Forces - Wikidatawikidata.org