HM PRESIDES OVER MILITARY PARADE

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on Sunday presided over the military parade, which was staged at the military parade ground at the command of the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO). Symbolic units representing the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), the Royal Air Force of Oman (Rafo), the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), the Sultan’s Special Force (SSF), the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) took part in the military parade. Upon the arrival of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to the parade ground, Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office, Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, Lt Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani, SAF Chief of Staff, were honoured to receive His Majesty.

Upon His Majesty’s ascension to the Royal Box, the parade columns gave the military salute, the Royal Anthem was played by the joint military musical parade band while the artillery fired a twenty-one gun salute to His Majesty. Afterwards, the commander of the parade column approached the Royal Box requesting permission from His Majesty the Sultan to start the military parade, which began with the joint military musical parade band that represents the corps of the SAF, RGO, ROP and RCA, which passed in slow and regular march before the Royal Box. Then, the columns of the Protocols Guard performed its military parade accompanied with musical pieces of the joint military music in a regular motion passing before the Royal Box, giving the military salute to His Majesty the Sultan.

After that, the joint military musical parade band staged various musical pieces from the ancient Omani heritage, as well as global musical pieces. Then, the columns of the Protocols Guard chanted the military anthem “Ya Hay Ya Qayoom”. The Protocols Guard chanted the call of Loyalty and Allegiance and proclaimed thrice long live His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. Then, the Royal Anthem was played and the columns of the Protocols Guard gave the military salute to His Majesty the Sultan, signalling the conclusion of the military parade.

Then, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos left the military parade ground. His Majesty the Sultan was accompanied during the parade by their highnesses, the chairmen of the State Council and Majlis Ash’shura, ministers, advisers, commanders of SAF, RGO, SSF, ROP and the military and security apparatuses, members of the State Council and Majlis Ash’shura, under-secretaries, governors, judges of the Governorate of Muscat, Omani ambassadors at the foreign ministry, heads of the diplomatic missions of the sisterly and friendly countries accredited to the Sultanate and walis. The parade was also attended by military attaches, senior military commanders and officers, state senior officials, shaikhs and dignitaries and commissioned and non-commissioned officers and personnel of SAF, RGO, SSF, ROP, RCA and other security services of the state. — ONA

Photos by Mohamed Mustafa and Moral Guidance