Sayyid Theyazin graces RAFO annual day ceremony, cadets' graduation

Muscat: HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, today presided over the Royal Air Force of Oman’s (RAFO) annual day celebration, which falls on 25 January every year, and the graduation of officer cadets, limited service officer cadets and university officers, who all completed the respective training courses. The ceremony took place at the military parade grounds at Ghala Base and Sultan Qaboos Air Academy.

On this auspicious occasion, the RAFO performed a military parade that demonstrated the skill of its personnel and highlighted the great attention accorded to the RAFO by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander.

Upon the arrival of HH Sayyid Theyazin to the celebration ground, the graduates gave the military salute and the RAFO band played the Royal Anthem. Then, HH Sayyid Theyazin inspected the front column of the graduates’ column.

After that, the front column of the graduates presented an infantry parade—headed by the Sultan Qaboos Air Academy’s banner, passing in front of the dais, to the accompaniment of bands playing military music. Then, the column moved forward in the parade formation.

Then, HH Sayyid Theyazin handed over the Sword of Honour to Flying Lieutenant Al Waleed Khalid Al Maamari, who won the overall first place at the Basic Officer Candidates Course. He also honoured Air Lieutenant Yaqoub Khalfan Al Riyami, who won first place at the level of the Course for Limited Service and University Officer Recruits.

This was followed by protocols of the Sultan Qaboos Air Academy’s banner handover from the graduating batch to the batch currently undergoing training, whose members swore to keep the Academy’s banner fluttering high.

Then, the graduating officers chanted the anthem of the Royal Air Force of Oman, took the oath of loyalty, pledged allegiance and proclaimed thrice: “Long live His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander.”

Then, a number of fighter aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Oman presented an airshow in the sky of the celebration square, demonstrating RAFO’s high level of modernization, its armament, training and human capabilities. The overall display reflected the great attention accorded to the RAFO by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander. Then, the RAFO band played the Royal Anthem.

After that, the commander of the graduates’ column asked HH Sayyid Theyazin permission to dismiss. The graduates’ column quitted the parade ground, passing in front of the dais. Then, the RAFO Band played a variety of military melodies that reflected the perfect musical performance that distinguishes its members and the modern musical equipment and instruments with which it has been equipped.

At RAFO’s annual day celebration and the graduation of officer candidates, HH Sayyid Theyazin posed for a commemorative photo with the graduates.