The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has introduced many changes in a number of posts at various sectors including the ministries of culture and information, health and education as well as the judiciary and the Shoura Council. The changes are part of ambitious and sincere plans being made by those in charge of authority to develop the homeland and serve the citizen. The changes extended to the military sectors, including the chief of the general staff. General Hussein Bin Abdullah Al-Qubail has been appointed as deputy to H.E the chief of general staff. Exerting strenuous efforts at one of the armed forces’ most important sectors, he will continue his distinguished achievements assisting H.E the chief of the general staff in service of his religion, King and homeland.
The changes also promoted staff major general Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Al-Morshid to the rank of staff general, appointing him as commander of the Saudi Royal Land Forces. The appointment is not unusual for a man with the stature of Al-Morshid who made distinguished contributions during his recent job as chief of the Armed Forces intelligence and security organ.
H.E’s distinguished achievements and qualities make him worthy of the Royal confidence and the assumption of responsibilities. He has been renowned for his good sense of command and refined dealings
It is only superfluous to say that during his Armed Force’s service, an officer always leaves his mark at each and every stage of such service, refining his personality and making him an effective leader in society. As a result he undertakes positive roles to serve his homeland, in general and the Armed Forces, in particular.
Ever since the appointment of staff general Abdul Rahman Al-Morshid as commander of Saudi Royal Land Forces, Al-Bariyah magazine has been keen to interview him, shedding light on the various aspects of his eventful life and highlighting his vision for the future of the Saudi Royal Land Forces. The interview, having materialized, runs as follows:

Q. At the outset we congratulate your Excellency on this appointment.

A. thanks, and may Allah all bless our efforts and lives.

Q. what is the significance of this appointment for you?

A. I am immensely proud of the Royal confidence. Looking forward to the future, I stressed that my colleagues in the Land Forces and I always strive to live up to the standard of preparedness required by our leadership ,showing loyalty and seriousness in the service of the homeland.

Q. How did you receive the news of the promotion and appointment?

A. I received the news through the media. Firmly believing in Allah and loyal to my leaders, i asked Allah to help me and my colleagues to live up to this great responsibility.

Q. Gleaning from your biography, you have assumed several important and sensitive posts. To what extent has this contributed to the development of your character, preparing you to assume the command of the Saudi Royal Land Forces?

A. Assuming any national post is a valuable addition to the character and administrative experience. In the Armed Forces’ sector it is renewable knowledge, the sense of belonging, the ability to cope with work pressure, the will to change and crisis management. This provides the Armed Forces’ personnel and officer’s with the opportunity to learn, train and gain operational experience, discipline, devotion and loyalty. As a result of my extended service, I have gained experience and acquaintances, particularly in the land forces’ sector.

Q. It is well known that the Land Forces are the Armed Forces’ largest in terms of numbers and equipment. Also, assuming the command of these forces is not an easy job, what are your priorities in this respect?

A. I am a small individual in a massive group discharging its assignments as part of a comprehensive institutionalized organization. I will complete the work started by the previous commanders of the Land Forces and whoever assumes the command after me will work according to the plans made by our wise leadership. However, it is important to bolster the Land Forces, ensuring qualitative supremacy, focusing on training and development and treating the soldiers and officers as the effective component to enhance the defence preparedness of the land forces in terms of numbers, equipment, discipline and loyalty. This is in addition to boosting moral and personal abilities in line with directives and incessant support given by HRH the Crown Prince ,Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, HRH the Vice Minister and HRH the Assistant Minister of Defence for Military Affairs.

Q. Will you accord special importance to training?

A. HRH the Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation for Military Affairs, Prince Khaled Bin Sultan said in this regard: “training for the Armed Forces is a peaceful battle that requires careful planning”. Nothing more could be added to this wise directive. Training may be equated with education and military schools even give training priority over education as it ensures continuous updating, increased efficiency, enhanced skills and keeping abreast of technological and administrative advances with a view to achieving perfect performance.

Q. The Land Forces’ personnel were markedly pleased with your appointment. Will you strive to realize their aspirations as regards increasing the number of residences at the military and other regions?

A. When I graduated from the military academy in 1385 the army had no housing projects and there were no services other than the officer’s meagre salary. But today we have cities and complete facilities including housing as well as health, education and recreation services. With the continued growth of the army and the spiralling numbers of soldiers (Land Forces included) the need for housing will continue as long as there is a need for development to achieve security and prosperity. So, I will submit my recommendations to the supreme leadership in a way that achieves the objectives.

Q. It has been noticed that some commanders, after assuming senior posts, make changes among the higher and medium ranks of the Land Forces. Will the upcoming period see such changes?

A. the Land Forces follow an institutionalized approach not linked to individuals and the change is not an objective for its own sake but should rather be linked to the comprehensive organizational infrastructure of the military establishment. As I have just said, I will build on the work of the previous commanders of the Land Forces. Also I am well aware of the potentials of the present commanders at the various administrative and field levels and we shall join hands to realize the directives of the wise leadership.

Q. You have participated in the Kuwait-liberation war and grasped the lessons learned there from. Do you have certain vision for making amendment as a result of the lessons learned from that war?

A. Small crises and regional wars produce major lessons. We were compelled and did not seek to join the Kuwait liberation war. The leadership of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince, the perfect planning by HRH the Minister of Defence and Aviation and HRH the Vice Minister of Defence as well as the field directives of HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan were all characterized with wisdom and follow up before, during and after the war. Verbal and written comments on the Kuwait liberation war heaped praise on the Saudi political and military stances. Our Armed Forces have enough experience and they derived their strength from their firm belief in Allah, the wisdom of their leadership and the courage and sense of belonging of their personnel.

Q How do you view calls for increasing the numbers of persons admitted to the Land Forces’ colleges and institutes?

A. According to plans ,admittance is commensurate to actual needs. Therefore, increasing the numbers of admitted persons hinges on the availability of job opportunities of the field formations for the graduates of colleges and institutes. The policy of public and private universities calls for the numbers of their graduates to be commensurate with the requirements of the public and private sectors. The same applies to the Land Forces’ colleges and institutes where admittance hinges on the availability of opportunities at its various locations. The policy of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques calls for putting the right civilian or military person at the right place.

Q. You are a multi-facetted person, and the Land Forces’ personnel would like to know, among other things, your approach with regard to encouraging officers and soldiers to excel?

A. I reiterated that I am a small individual in this massive group and the Land Forces is a united working team operating as a group. The role of the Land Forces command is to provide a suitable environment for innovation and outstanding performance. Our colleges have been renowned for their distinguished performance throughout the history of the Land Forces ever since the formation of the nucleus of the regular Saudi Arabian army more than 80 years ago (1344H). Incentives and encouragement are linked to accomplishments, and my approach is to pursue the established method of giving attention first to human being, the prime mover of military operations.

Q. what is your concluding statement to the Land Forces personnel?

A. I am immensely proud of my colleagues in the Land Forces and highly honoured to work with them. I will always be at their sides, visiting them at their various locations, listening to them and benefitting from their advise. We have the same means and objectives, adhering to our firm belief in Allah, loyalty to our leadership, sense of belonging to the homeland and sincerely serving the citizens.