Brunei: Visit of Lama Guru Mr Chewang Gurung to British Forces Brunei - 1 – 6 July 2025 and 21 – 26 July 2025

Visit of Lama Guru Mr Chewang Gurung to British Forces Brunei

Mental Health. The Lama Guru will deliver group and individual counselling, meditation, and Puja over the period. Service personnel or family requiring counselling or family rituals will be centrally coordinated by the UWO. Request should be made through CoC to the UWO, or SP and families can arrange directly with the Lama Guru.

BUDDHIST RELIGIOUS TEACHER [LAMA GURU] VISIT - JULY 2025

Lama Guru Chewang Gurung is schedule to visit the BFB from 1 – 26 July 2025.

Visit Aim:

1. Support the moral component of the fighting power.
2. Pastoral care/ Spiritual support to the greater Garrison and 1RGR.
3. Support the BFB Comd’s intent and direction on mental health education and resilience.
4. Re-establishing the pattern of Lama Guru’s routine visit to BFB Buddhist and other communities.

Visit Duration – 1 - 6 July 2025 and 21 - 26 Jul 2025. Please note he will be on leave from 7-20 July 2025.

Service personnel or family requiring counselling or family ritual’s request should be made through CoC to the UWC 1RGR, or SP and families can arrange directly with the Lama Guru. Lama Guru can be contacted on directly 8330265.

Brunei: On Government Service (OGS) Stamp and Special Pass

ON GOVERNMENT SERVICE (OGS) STAMP AND SPECIAL PASS

1. All permanently assigned service personnel, UKBC and MOD contract civilian staff (including family members) require a valid On Government Service (OGS) Stamp in their passport. 

2. It is the responsibility of the head of household to ensure that new applications, extensions, Special Pass, Special Pass extension and OGS cancellations are submitted to the LEC Pay & Personnel Office (LPPO) for him/herself along with their family members. All service personnel (including family members) must submit through the Regimental Admin Office (RAO) first. 

3. The Brunei Immigration Office requires the following paperwork to be attached before processing OGS stamps: 

a. Assignment Order or letter of extension/application/cancellation, stamped by the Unit. 

b. A copy of marriage certificate for new applications for married personnel.  

c. A copy of birth certificate for new-born babies in Brunei enclosed with the original “Special Pass”. 

d. For Special Pass - 1x PP size photo and Passport front page and OGS
page of head of household. Personnel and family members issued with
“Special Pass” are to ensure to renew their “Special Pass” one week before
expiry date.

4. Anyone being posted out must ensure their OGS is cancelled but is valid till their departure date, as this could result in a delay in your posting. Cancellation of OGS must be done one-week prior departure date. Cancellation of OGS at the very last minute will jeopardise the reputation of BFB at the Immigration Department.

5. If you are sending your passport away for renewal, please note that that the special pass needs to be applied before sending it away as staying in Brunei without a passport is considered as the contravention of immigration law of Brunei. A passport size photo of the passport holder is required when submitting request for special pass. In addition, the Special pass must be obtained before the Passport’s OGS validity expires. Please note that if your new passport hasn’t arrived, the Special pass must be extended every month until your passport arrives, and the OGS is endorsed on your passports.

6. Five working days must be given for all routine OGS requests. Only requests accompanied with compassionate or medical documentation will receive urgent priority by Brunei Immigration Department, with no exceptions. 

7. No individuals are to approach admin office or LPPO staff for any personal requests as personal requests will not be entertained. Individuals must not make any direct approaches to the Immigration Department. Those found to have contravened this notice will be dealt with accordingly.

8. There have been repetitive instances whereby the head of household/family members have allowed their OGS stamp or Special Pass to expire. If the OGS or Special Pass validity date has expired, the Immigration require a full explanation in letter. Moreover, the Senior Officer will require the Passport holders themselves to go to KB Immigration and explain the full detail to the Senior Officer.

9. For parents of new-born babies: The Immigration Department has informed LPPO that the Head of Household should now submit the memorandum received from the hospital confirming the birth in person to the Immigration Department in KB for the issuing of their new-born babies’ special pass.

Brunei: Respite Provision (RP) Information

RESPITE PROVISION (RP)

1. Aim. The aim of Respite Provision (RP) is to contribute towards travel and accommodation costs of Service personnel and their accompanying immediate family permanently assigned to an overseas station in order to achieve overnight respite from their duty station. RP is awarded annually, irrespective of a FAD falling short of the entitlement anniversary.

2. Eligibility. All Service personnel and any accompanying immediate family who are permanently assigned to an overseas location and in receipt of permanent rates of Local Overseas Allowance are eligible for RP. The annual entitlement as at Apr 23 is £105 per person for 7 nights. RP may be combined with GYH(O) should the eligible SP so wish. Where the SP and entitled immediate family members choose this option, the RP entitlement can only be used for the accommodation element of their break from the LOA area. In this instance the travel element will be contributed to by GYH(O). Claimants are to comply with the rules and regulations of both GYH(O) and RP, when accessing both allowances for a single journey (or period). Children visiting their parents in accordance with the arrangements for School Children’s Visits are ineligible for RP.

3. Advances. Service personnel eligible to claim RP may claim an advance of up to 80% of the anticipated RP entitlement, travel and accommodation only, for themselves and their accompanying eligible immediate family members up to 90 calendar days prior to travel. The advance must be cleared by claiming for the RP costs on JPA within 31 days of the anticipated return from the period of leave for which the RP advance was paid. If not cleared by the Service person within those 31 days the advance will be recovered from the Service person’s salary.

4. Method of claim. 

a. Refunds of RP costs are retrospectively claimed through the JPA Expenses Claim system as detailed in the JPA Self Service User Guide. 

b. Claims are normally to be submitted within 14 days of completion of the journey in order to ensure that costs are attributed to the correct assignment year.

c. Respite journeys must be applied and approved including ILA (except weekends) prior to using Respite Provision.  

d. SP are required to retain evidence of travel and expenditure to substantiate their claims. 

5. Audit and Receipts. 

a. Original receipts are required for all forms of travel and accommodation. Invoices are non-admissible as they are not proof of payment. 

b. Google maps is to be used to measure distances converted to miles for MMA claims. 

c. Cash payment for any transaction is strongly discouraged.

d. Tour and Travels agencies could be used, however the claimants must provide travel itinerary and proof of stay from hotel accommodation. 

e. Claimants must retain the supporting receipts and documentation for a period of 24 months from the date of submission of the claim.

For further information, please contact your Company Clerk.

Brunei: Get You Home (GYH) Information

GET YOU HOME (OVERSEAS) ENTITLEMENT

 Reference:

A. JSP 752, Chapter 9 Section 11.

1. Entitlement. All SP who are permanently assigned to an overseas station are eligible for GYH(O). In addition, any spouse/civil partner and/or family members child(ren) accompanying the SP will also be entitled to GYH(O), less those SP claiming SCV (Para 09.1105b refers). They are entitled to one return GYH(O) journey per assignment year to the country of domicile. The assignment year commences on the SP’s arrival in Brunei and renews on the anniversary of the arrival. There must be an expectation of serving the full 12 months of the assignment year in order to qualify for the entitlement.

2. Carry Forward of GYH(O) Entitlement. In normal circumstances there will be no scope for the carry forward of GYH(O) from one assignment year to the next. Where it is considered that there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. consecutive operational deployments) a case should be submitted by the affected Service person to their unit CO for authorisation. A copy of the CO’s personal authorisation should be copied to the unit HR admin staff to authorise them to adjust the Service person’s GYH(O) journey balance on the JPA system.

3. Commencement of Entitlement. Entitlement to GYH(O) commences from the date the Service person reports for duty in the overseas country. Entitlement to GYH(O) will not commence during any period of leave taken in the overseas country prior to the assignment reporting date.

4. Cessation of Entitlement. The entitlement to GYH(O) for the Service person will cease on the last day of duty in the overseas country. The immediate family entitlement will cease from the date the immediate family departs the overseas assignment location, or the date of the Service person's last day of duty overseas, whichever is the earlier.

5. Travel Arrangements. Personnel are responsible for their own travel arrangements and travel from either Miri Airport, Malaysia or Brunei International Airport is permitted. Where a direct flight is not available and a break in the journey is unavoidable, Service personnel are to book the next available connecting flight to the UK or the final country of domicile. Where possible, stopovers in the overseas destination to the country of domicile or UK must not exceed 24hrs as it is expected that a flight to the UK or country of domicile will exist within that timeframe. Requests to conduct a ‘stopover’ beyond 24hrs must be cleared through RAO BFB, through the relevant chain of command, prior to the SP entering into any financial arrangement with a travel agent or booking service. GYH(O) journey legs must be applied via JPA online self-service system (Self Service Journey Claim) and be approved before commencing GYH(O) travel. Note: SP must reach their final destination within 72hrs in order to claim MMA for terminal travel. 

6. Advances. Service personnel eligible to claim an advance of up to 100% of the anticipated GYH(O) entitlement, including terminal travel, for themselves and their accompanying eligible immediate family members up to 90 days prior to travel. The advance must be cleared by claiming for the GYH(O) journey travel costs on JPA within 31 days of the anticipated return from the period of leave for which the GYH(O) advance was paid. If not cleared by the Service person within those 31 days the advance will be recovered from the Service person’s salary.

7. Reimbursement for terminal travel. Where the terminal travel is made by rail, civil air, bus coach or taxi, or a combination of any of these forms of transport, the reimbursement limit of MMA is calculated as below:

a. Calculate MMA from RWA to airport of departure. Example: Tuker Lines to BIA for 1 pax is calculated as 61 miles x BND$0.65 x 1= BND$39.65 = BND$79.30 (return). 

b. Calculate MMA from arrival airport to final destination. Example: Kathmandu (TIA) to Pokhara (PIA) for 1 pax is calculated at 126 miles x Rs 57.71 x 1 = Rs 7271.46 = Rs 14,542.92 (return).  

c. SP are permitted to claim the cost incurred up to the reimbursement limit of MMA calculated as above. 

d. Terminal travels must be supported by receipts. 

e. Where the terminal travel is made by private vehicle, including a privately hired vehicle, the reimbursement limit of MMA will be 1 x MMA (regardless of number of family members travelling).

 

8. Audit Requirements. SPs should be aware that, if the claims be called to audit; the following evidence are to be submitted to confirm the expenditure and travel.

a. JPA Audit Front Cover - Available through HR Admin or link: Front Cover Audit Sheet.

b. JPA Claim declaration Sheet - Available through HR Admin or link: JPA 025. Note: Declaration to be typed, signed and dated.

c. Print out of JPA Journey Number page.

d. Print out of the claim details. Note: not the call to audit notice workflow

e. Receipts for payment of flight including terminal travel other than travel made by private vehicle. Note: Out of Bounds travel receipts are not accepted, and invoices are not admissible as this is not proof of payment.

f. Print out copy of flight itinerary and proof of travel (copy of passport page with departure/arrival stamp of county of embarkation and disembarkation).

GYH (O) - OUT OF BOUNDS TRAVEL AGENCIES

1. By order of the Chief of Staff Brunei Garrison, the following businesses have been placed out of bounds until further notice in relation to claims made against the MOD Get You Home (Overseas) travel scheme:

a. Century Travel.

b. Shammiz Travel - Not registered with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT).

c. Ramdhani - Not registered with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT).

d. Travel Consultant Mr Joe Gani – impersonating as employee of Pan Bright. 

2. All ranks are to be aware that JPA claims made with receipts obtained through the above-named agencies, or through a Non-Government registered agency in relation to Get You Home (Overseas) travel, will be recovered in full. Administrative or disciplinary action may be taken against those failing to adhere to this order.

3. The use of a third party individuals, who act as links between the SP and legal travel agencies, are strictly prohibited. Flight/Hotel booking for GYH(O) and Respite should be purchased online or from legally registered service provider found at link: Brunei legally registered Travel Agencies to satisfy the MOD audit requirements. 

GYH (O) - SUGGESTED GYH (O) REPUTABLE TRAVEL AGENCIES

1. A list of suitable travel agencies within Brunei can be obtained through the MCC Internal Sharepoint. All ranks are to ensure that the business by which the GYH (O) travel is facilitated must be registered with the Bruneian government or a known reputable ATOL registered online Internet agency. Suggestions are:

a. Brunei - Pan Bright Travel

b. Brunei - Freme Travel

c. Brunei - Southern Cross

d. Brunei - Anthony Tours

e. Brunei - JJ Tours

f. Internet - Booking.com

g. Internet - Expedia.co.uk

h. Internet - Royal Brunei Airlines

i. Internet - Air Asia

j. Internet - Sky Scanner

2. If Service Personnel are in any doubt as to whether the receipts are acceptable, they should contact the FSA BFB located within the main Admin Office, Tuker Lines in the first instance.

For further enquiries, please contact the RAO department.

Brunei: ISB Residence are hosting a board games event for School Year 3-6 and their parents - Saturday 28 June 2025 9.30 - 11.30 am @ Chit Chat Community Centre

Brunei: RMP - Important Notice

There has been an increase in reporting of suspicious person(s) within the Garrison SFA areas, all BFB personnel are kindly reminded to contact the RMP Duty Mobile, immediately, so that a RMP patrol can be promptly dispatched, and the offending person can be spoken to.

RMP Duty Mobile +673 833 0252

This number is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and member of the team will gladly listen to your concerns no matter the hour.

In an emergency, all members of BFB are reminded to call 993 and then inform the RMP Duty Mobile.

The A to H person description mnemonic will greatly assist you in provide an accurate description:

A – Age

B – Build

C – Clothing / Colour

D – Distinguishing Marks / Features (think big nose, bushy eyebrows, or tattoos)

E – Elevation (Height)

F – Face (Bearded, Round, pointy chin)

G – Gait (How do they walk? Liam Gallagher strut, limp, etc)

H – Hair

Your assistance is greatly appreciated. The RMP Det are desperate to speak to these individuals and ensure that they are dealt with correctly.

Brunei: RMP - Emergency Telephone Numbers

Brunei: RMP Arrivals Leaflet

Please click on the image to enlarge.

Royal Military Police

Medicina Lines

Mob: +673 833 0252

Brunei: BFB New Arrivals Induction Brief - *Next Date* Thursday, 24th July 2025, 0900 - 1230 hrs @ Main Hall, Chit Chat Community Centre

For all the New Arrivals in British Forces Brunei, please attend the Mandatory Induction Brief on Thursday, 24th July 2025 at Chit Chat Community Centre.

The session will run from 0900 - 1230 hrs. (be seated by 0855 hrs)

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Brunei: Discover Brunei

Brunei Travel Guide

Brunei Tourism

Brunei Adventures At Your Doorstep

Indoor Children's Playgrounds

Cafes and Restaurants in Seria & Kuala Belait

Belait Travel Guide

Discover Tutong

Exploring Labi Guide

Kommunihub

Indoor Activities in Local Area

Jerudong Park Playground & Water Park - Garrison Rate

Mini maps - four main areas to explore in Bandar Seri Begawan

Sightseeing in Bandar

Museums in Brunei

Brunei Energy Hub Dermaga Diraja

Kampong Ayer Walking Trail

A guide to birdwatching in Brunei

Temburong - Discover the Green Jewel of Brunei