KUALA LUMPUR, 13 August – The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters (USINDOPACOM) are organizing the Exercise Keris Aman II 2023 to build up skills to participate in United Nations (UN) missions around the world.

The Public Affairs Division of the Joint Forces Headquarters (J7) in a statement tonight informed that the exercise through the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) program involved 847 participants from 26 countries starting yesterday until 26 August, in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

“This exercise can improve the readiness and skills of Malaysian Contingent MALBATT 850-11 who will carry out the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon this October,” according to the statement.

The program adapts the UN peacekeeping operation scenario at the operational and tactical level which is divided into three aspects which are officer training events (STE), field training events (FTE) and Critical Enabler Capability Enhancement (2CE).

The opening ceremony of the exercise was completed by USINDOPACOM Joint Training and Exercise Director (J7) Brig Gen Michael R. Drowley at the Army Training and Doctrine Command Headquarters Parade Ground, Port Dickson.

Also present were the Assistant Chief of Staff J3 of the Joint Force Headquarters Maj Gen Datuk Nur Hafis Abdul Karim and the 1st Brigade Commander Brig Gen Mohmad Noorlizam Shamsuddin.