U.S., Malaysia Exercise Peacekeeping Skills During Keris Strike

Malaysian and U.S. Soldiers are working together to enhance peace support and stability operations skill sets during exercise Keris Strike, which began July 13 in Malaysia.

The exercise, sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and hosted by the Malaysian Army, is a combined brigade level staff exercise based on a United Nations peace enforcement scenario.

Keris Strike allows the combined, U.S. Army – Malaysian Army staff to work through the military decision making process together, ultimately increasing understanding and interoperability, while building important relationships.

Hawaii-based 9th Mission Support Command is leading the U.S. Army’s participation in the exercise.

U.S. Pacific Command’s strong military-to-military relationship with Malaysia includes a number of annual exercises such as Keris Strike, the recently concluded Malaysia phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), routine ship visits, as well as military-to-military discussions and professional forums.

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Southeast Asia Exercise Series Seeks to Enhance Cooperation

The first phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), a three-month series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore, began this week in the Philippines.

CARAT, which is anchored by a four-ship U.S. Navy task group, is focused on enhancing maritime skills and operational readiness in a variety of areas, including maritime interception. While the operational training in each phase varies based on the desires of the host nation, common to each phase is an emphasis on information sharing, and collaboration during planning and execution.

Indonesia participates in a similar exercise, a Naval Engagement Activity (NEA).

Each phase of CARAT includes a number of outreach projects in local communities by Sailors and Marines and their exercise counterparts. Some phases include medical, dental and engineering assistance.

As reported by the Cebu Daily News and the Philippine Information Agency, routine medical and dental assistance will be provided in a number of areas in Cebu during the Philippines phase.

The CARAT Task Group consists of USS Harpers Ferry, USS Chung Hoon, USS Chafee, and USS Crommelin. USS John S. McCain, USS Russell, and USNS Safeguard will participate in designated phases.

In its 15th year, CARAT is an enduring example of U.S. Pacific Command’s emphasis on a cooperative approach to addressing common challenges and threats, such as maritime security.

Keep up with the exercise series on the CARAT website.

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