Retried staff general / Abdul Aziz Bin Mohammed Bin Abdul Mohsen AL-Al-Sheikh is a former officer and former member of the Shoura Council.
His name is engraved in the memory of the Armed forces or The Saudi Arabian Army, the name closer to his heart. Leaving his mark at every location or work station, he is a firm, committed commander devoted to the service of his homeland and armed forces. When his name pops up it induces a torrent of praise and respect. Itching to interview him, we finally got his approval and visited him at his residence in Riyadh. We really enjoyed his company, leaving his home in the small hours of the morning,far exceeding the time allocated for the visit. The full interview runs as follows:
Q. Tell us about your upbringing and early stages of education:
A. I was born in Riyadh in 1357H and both my parents died while i was still a child. I completed the elementary stage in 1371H shifting between Makkah and Riyadh. I also completed my intermediate and secondary education and after graduating as an officer I attended the first university year as an external student.
Q. how did you decide to enter the military life, knowing that you have attended the military school in Taif?
A. I was motivated to join the military school in Taif by the stories of my father’s participation in the kingdom’s unification army under the command of King Abdul Aziz, as well as the military parades in Makkah and the warm discussions among students about joining the military service. Add to this the visit of HRH Prince Mesha’l Bin Abdul Aziz, the then Minister of Defence ,to the national school during the final examinations of the elementary stage in 1371H.
Q. Describe to us the study environment at the military school, recalling the names of some of your colleagues?
A. I was 15-years old when i joined the military school along with a number of young graduates of the elementary military schools in Abha, Riyadh and Al-Qaseem. The school is situated within an ancient fortress dating back to the era of the Ottoman state. Called Al-Qashla, it also contained the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence and Aviation, the army and supplies command, the military workshop, the clinic, the warehouses and the officers club. It actually contained all the army facilities except the military sectors which were located in separate camps or in other regions of the Kingdom. I spent three years in the school and the teaching staff was comprised of Saudi and non-Saudi officers and civilian teachers, including the commander of the school who was a captain from Pakistan. During the first year, a number of students were selected to complete their study at the Egyptian military college. Also the school was moved to a camp that was the residence of the English training mission known as the “cottages”. Numbering 27 officers, our entry was the last to graduate from the military school in Taif in 1374H.
Q. Do you still contact or see them?
A. We were one united family, albeit coming from various parts of the Kingdom. We were in constant contact with each other, particularly during the immediate period of our service as officers in the army units in Taif. Our graduation ceremony ,under the patronage of HRH Prince Mesha’l Bin Abdul Aziz, was held in the office of the director of Riyadh airport, Major Homoud Al-Khalaf.
Q. What about the immediate stage after graduation? Where was your first appointment and did you immediately receive further qualification in your special corps and field of work?
A. After graduation, I joined the army squadron under the command of Captain Rasheed Al-Balaa’. I also joined a command course at the cavalry corps school. The teaching staff was made up of Egyptian officers as the Egyptian military mission was responsible for training at the army corps schools. Then I was moved to the reconnaissance detachment of the 8th squadron and its 2nd contingency in Al-Kharj. Then I moved with the squadron to Tabouk under its commander Saadoun Al-Hussein. Then I returned to Al-Kharj to join the armoured detachment and attended a course at the armour school in 1378H. Afterwards I was appointed as operations staff officer, cavalry corps ,with the rank of first lieutenant. In 1961, I joined an advanced course in the U.S.A. before completing the signal officers course at the same school. In 1965, I attended a command and staff course at the staff college in Pakistan. In 1966, I returned to work for three months with the Pakistani armoured units. After returning from Pakistan, I worked as an officer with the army’s project for the development of the maintenance corps. Three years later and in 1389H, Iwas appointed as commander of King Abdul Aziz military academy.
Q. We would be grateful if you shed light on your assumption of the command of King Abdul Aziz Military Academy while you were an officer with the rank of captain? How did you receive the news?
A. After serving as manager of the army equipment project for three years, a Royal order was issued appointing me as commander of king Abdul Aziz Academy on 1.6.1389H. At that time I held the rank of Major and was promoted to Captain. I considered my appointment for the post, succeeding major general Mohammad AL Al-Sheikh, as an appreciation from our leadership. Allah Al-Mighty helped me discharge my functions as commander of the academy. My colleagues and I enjoyed the support and encouragement of HRH Prince Sultan the Minister of Defence and Aviation and the Chief of Staff general Hamad Al-Shemaimri as well as the approval of the Academy’s higher council of a number of projects. These included the syllabus development, the academy’s system, a separate budget and the provision of qualified officers. I spent ten years in the academy graduating scores of entries and appointing university graduates to teach at the academy. This is in addition to sending staff members on scholarships to obtain higher degrees and return and teach the academic syllabus.
I am grateful to all officers, soldiers and teachers who contributed to the development of the academy during my tenure.
Q. You have effectively contributed to the relocation and establishment of King Abdul Aziz military academy in Al-Oyayna. Kindly shed more light on this important stage?
A. the academy was located on King Abdul Aziz road since its establishment in 1372H. New buildings were added to serve certain urgent requirements. But the growth of Riyadh city, particularly on the western side of the academy led to the relocation of the firing range. Another inconvenience is that the buildings of the officers housing project have completely surrounded the academy’s land. On the directives of HRH Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, the search began for a suitable site to serve the academy’s present and future functions. A committee comprised of myself, academy officers and the director of military works department, Captain Nasser Al-Farhan selected the academy’s current site overlooking the town of Al-Oyayna and extending to Sadoos and Salbookh. Following Royal approval, we visited several military academies in America, Korea, Pakistan and Egypt. We determined the academy’s facilities and housing requirements to accommodate 1,500 students in the first stage. The U.S corps of engineering was selected to supervise the execution of the project and the facility was inaugurated in 1404H.
Q. Do you consider your service at the academy a watershed development in your career? i.e. has it enriched your experience and positively affected your career?
A. The 10-year management of a facility for preparing the Saudi Arabian army’s future commanders is a major source for acquiring educational and administrative experience. Also working with fellow commanders at the academy, participation in the Armed Forces development committee,
my work in the maintenance corps development, receiving higher defence studies at the defence studies college in Britain as well as visiting a number of countries enriched my military and administrative experience. However, each post I have assumed in the Armed Forces command had its own specificities, adding more experience to my career up till the moment of my retirement.
Q. Your associates say you have a certain philosophy in discharging your work or commanding your unit. Would you please elaborate on this point?
A. I have always attributed any success in the handling and management of the posts I have assumed to Allah’s help and the encouragement of our leaders represented by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and the chiefs of the general staff. It is also due to coordination with fellow officers and soldiers. I am not sure if I had a special philosophy in handling these assignments. But, after Allah Al-Mighty, I have mostly relied on the commanders and staff officers who worked with me at the academy, the Armed Forces intelligence and security organ or the North-western Region’s command or elsewhere. Add to this the periodical meetings of the academy’s council or the weekly meeting with unit commanders. We refer work improvement proposals to the higher command. We also urge creativity and performance upgrading to achieve objectives coupled with necessary follow-up. The issuance of orders and instructions without the necessary follow-up and periodical evaluation will not ensure success. Collective work and informing the leadership of intended actions will ensure success.
Q .What about your family life?
A. serving the state for 47 years, I am immensely delighted with my contribution in this field. But my devotion to the military service has taken most of my time at the expense of my family commitments. I am not satisfied with my performance in this domain and advise my colleagues to act justly towards all parties.
Q. do you support polygamy, and how many sons do you have?
A. nothing stands in the way of polygamy. The messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, asked us to marry the most amiable and child-bearing among women to boast about that on the Day of Judgment. I have 17 sons and daughters and I praise Allah when I hear them remember and glorify Allah Al-Mighty. However, one should not marry more than one woman without a convincing reason.
Q. Has anyone of your sons joined the military service?
A. Only one of them did and I wish him every success in serving his homeland. The others are either government employees or university students. Some of my daughters have graduated from the university while the others are attending the various levels of educations.
Q. one wonder why you haven’t steered your elder sons to join the military service?
A. It is said that when your son comes of age befriend him. The parents may advise their son but he alone should decide what he deems compatible with his desire as long as this will not adversely affect the service of the homeland and his plans for the future.
Q. What was your next post after leaving the academy?
A. I served for five years as chief of the armed Forces intelligence and security organ. Afterwards I was appointed as commander of the North western Region where I stayed for 5 years before being appointed as deputy commander of the Land Forces
Q. What is your last post in the Armed Forces?
A. my last post was advisor of the Minster of Defence and Aviation and director of the affairs of Iraqi refugees and the foreign troops that remained after the end of Kuwait liberation war. I also continued in my post of deputy commander of the Land Forces up till my retirement in 1414H.
Q. Ending your military service after the Kuwait liberation war in which the Armed Forces were involved, would you kindly elaborate on that period?
A. A Saudi command was formed comprising all the Armed Forces branches and I was appointed as deputy commander of the joined forces, working with the commander ,HRH general Khaled Bin Sultan. My scope of work included the administrative activities and supplies for the foreign forces. This is in addition to attending regular meetings and deputising for the commander of the joined forces during his absence in Riyadh. I enjoyed the full cooperation and confidence of the commander. I used to inspect the troops and the POW centres and accompany H.E the chief of general staff during his inspection tours. It was a training period for the Armed Forces officers to work with the foreign and Arab troops that participated in the defence of the Kingdom and the liberation of Kuwait. The commanders acquired added experience in war preparations and movement of Saudi troops across the kingdom during crises.
Q. Have you been surprised by the retirement news or have you taken it in your stride?
A. Any officer who spends 13 years as major general should expect the retirement decision at any time, particularly after completing 35years in service and earning the full salary of his last rank before retirement. Also after returning from my post as commander of the North eastern region and my appointment as deputy commander of the joined forces I was conscious that I had nothing new to offer and requested twice before the gulf war to be sent on retirement. I remained in service during the joint forces command operation. But after my work was confined to administrative activities, I asked for the third time to be retired. Afterward I was nominated and appointed as member of Shoura Council. If a high-ranking officer believes that he is no longer performing a fruitful job it is only appropriate for him to be retired or asked to be retired.
Q. You have recently been honoured during a graduation ceremony held by King Abdul Aziz military academy. What does that signify for you?
A. I told HRH Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz, Vice Minister of Defence and Aviation on that occasion that I consider this gesture an honour for the Armed Forces commanders and officers. I thank the commander of the academy for taking the initiative of honouring the previous commanders of the academy. Having seen the academy, its officers, instructors and cadres, I praised Allah for the success of the plans for the development of the academy. I hope that the standard of study will be upgraded and that the graduates will receive a bachelor degree in academic sciences. This will be helpful in the case of the graduate’s early retirement and raise the technical standard of the Land Forces officers ,considering that the officer attends courses in his corps specialization and others to develop his military skills.
Q. How do you pass your time after being sent on retirement?
A. I read a lot. In autumn and spring I tour the kingdom’s various regions. This is in addition to spending part of my time helping my extended family.
Q. What is your advice to officers and soldiers?
A. I advise my brother to invest their spare time while on the job to acquire more knowledge and skills and find more livelihood sources so that when they retire they continue to serve themselves, families and homeland. They have to invest part of their income to augment their retirement salary and continue their normal standard of living. They should be accustomed to reading and spend more time with their families. At this age, they should also fulfil their religious duties, reciting and memorizing the Holly Quran.
Q. What is your advice for junior officers?
A. My previous answer applies to all officers and soldiers. However, I remind the young officers to be professional soldiers while performing the military service. They should have clear plans for their place of residence after retirement, acquiring a suitable house, early marriage, shunning deviant people and avoiding corrupt channels and evil internet material. Sports and reading are valuable activities.
Conclusion:
We have to be aware that useful investment of lifetime is vital for acquiring experience. This is in addition to exerting efforts and realizing ambitions. Also, accepting changes, increasing knowledge and acquiring skills are prerequisites for attaining success. I wish members of the Saudi Arabian army and the Land forces every success.