The Royal Army of Oman

 

The Royal Army of Oman is the basic forces component of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces. It was established in 1907 as the Muscat Garrison.  Currently It has a strength of 25,000 person.

There is a great  military history for Oman and it goes back to the seventh century, it shows how strong that military is.  In 1976. In 1990, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said gave the army a new name land forces the Royal Army of Oman (RAO).  The RAO usually exercises with the armed forces of neighbor Gulf Cooperation Council nations and other strategic defense partners such as the US and UK. 

Royal Army of Oman is one of the best and most effective and strongest services in Oman. It was formed as Muscat Garrison in 1907. The Army has become an independent service that was recognized as Sultan of Oman Land Forces. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, presented the specific color to the Sultan of Oman Land Forces or Royal Oman Land Forces (ROLF). In 1990, his Majesty has issued different orders to change the title to be as it is now : the Royal Army of Oman. The army is the largest service of the different branches that includes 20,000 strength.  The Sultan’s forces at the beginning of the 20th century were ranging from 50 or 60 men who were armed to defend the Sultan against different attacks to a rather large robust military which included engineers, armored cars, a navy and a modern air force by 1975. This force developed greatly after the Sultan Qaboos took over in 1970. To become that current n modern force that is expanded, the Sultan enlisted the help of the British.
The Royal Army of Oman depends on getting modern military equipment from different areas of the world. It co-operates with different world countries to get the latest types of weapons and to train its members to reach the highest international levels of using weapons and other military techniques.

Many efforts have been exerted by the Royal Army of Oman to be at top of different military organizations in the world as there are different training organizations and programs that are cooperated with the organization such as the following ones:

• National Defence College Bayt al Falaj, Ruwi, Muscat^.
• Military Technical College near Seeb Airport.
• Sultan Qaboos Military College (KSQA) including the RAO Officer Training School based at Aydem in Dhofar.
• Sultan Armed Forces Training Regiment.
• Battle Training Centre –Saiq- Jebel al Akhdha.