Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander, on Monday presided over a military parade staged at Al Sumoud Ground of the Sultan’s Special Force on the occasion of the 54th Glorious National Day.
The event saw the participation of symbolic units representing the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), the Sultan’s Special Force (SSF) and the Royal Oman Police (ROP), in addition to the ground and mounted military music bands.
Upon His Majesty the Sultan’s arrival at the parade ground, he was received by HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office, Vice Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al Raeesi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and Maj Gen Musallam bin Mohammed Jaaboub, Commander of the Sultan's Special Force (SSF).
When His Majesty the Sultan ascended the Royal Dais, columns of the parade performed the military salute. The joint corps of military bands played the Royal Anthem, while the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery fired a 21-gun salute to His Majesty the Sultan.
Then, the parade commander stepped forward to the Royal Dais, requesting His Majesty the Sultan to signal the start of the military parade.
The joint corps of military music bands representing the SAF, the RGO, the ROP and the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) played sundry tunes as they marched in slow and normal pace before the Royal Dais.
Then, columns of the Protocols Guard joined the parade and performed ceremonial gestures to the accompaniment of melodies from the joint corps of military music bands—performing the military salute to His Majesty, the Supreme Commander.
His Majesty the Sultan watched a musical show staged by mounted bands representing the RGO cavalry and the Royal Cavalry. They passed before the Royal Dais, performing the military salute to His Majesty the Sultan.
Later, the columns of the parade performed an ensemble of cheers that proclaimed “Faith in Allah, Loyalty to the Sultan, Sacrifice for the Nation”. They chanted thrice “Long Live His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander”.
Then, the joint corps of military music bands played the Royal Anthem, while the columns of the parade performed the military salute marking the conclusion of the military show.
Then, His Majesty the Sultan left the parade ground.
The military parade was attended alongside His Majesty the Sultan by Royal family members, sayyids of Al Busaidi family, ministers, advisers, commanders of the SAF, commanders of military and security services, heads of the diplomatic missions of the Arab and foreign countries accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, members of the State Council and Shura Council, undersecretaries, senior military and security officers, retired officers and citizens.
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