KOTA BELUD: Malaysia is advancing efforts to establish itself as a regional military training hub through Exercise Keris Strike Serial 31/2026, which will validate the proof of concept for a Regional Combat Training Centre in the country.
To be held in Sabah for the second time from July 13 to 27, the multinational exercise brings together the Malaysian Army, the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), with support from the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Centre-Exportable (JPMRC-X).
A total of 2,845 military personnel are taking part in the exercise, comprising 362 officers and 2,483 other ranks from the three participating forces.
Malaysia Eastern Field Commander Lieutenant General Datuk Mohd Sofi Md Lepi said one of the exercise’s key objectives is to conduct the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Centre during Exercise Keris Strike Serial 31/2026, validating the proof of concept for a Regional Combat Training Centre in Malaysia.
He said the annual exercise continues to strengthen operational cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding among the participating forces.
“What began as a bilateral military exercise has evolved into a premier platform for strengthening operational cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and promoting regional stability through meaningful military engagement,” he said at the opening ceremony of Exercise Keris Strike, here, Monday.
Mohd Sofi said the exercise also aims to promote enduring multilateral military engagements, strengthen partnerships and foster goodwill to improve and sustain joint operations and procedures.
He said participating forces would undertake a brigade-level Staff Exercise (Staffex), Field Training Exercise (FTX), integrated long-range precision fires and aviation operations, while enhancing interoperability, leadership development and cultural understanding through combined arms training.
He said the exercise reaffirmed the participating nations’ shared commitment to maintaining capable, professional and credible armed forces that are prepared to respond effectively to future operational challenges.
Meanwhile, Australian Assistant Defence Advisor Lt Col Glenn Sheridan said the exercise offers Australian soldiers a rare opportunity to train in Malaysia’s challenging operational environment, particularly its jungle terrain and tropical climate.
“It’s an opportunity to train in a different environment. Malaysia has some significant challenges which we don’t have in Australia due to the complex terrain with the jungle and the heat. So, it’s an excellent opportunity for our soldiers to really challenge themselves and see something different,” he said.
Sheridan said the exercise also enables Australian troops to strengthen interoperability with their Malaysian and United States counterparts through combined training and joint operations.
Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard, Brig Gen Karen Watson, said the exercise marked Guam’s first participation in Keris Strike, describing it as a valuable opportunity to train alongside partner nations on a scale rarely available to its troops.
“The opportunity to work with our partner nations, partner countries, it’s huge for us. We don’t often get a chance to train at this large of a scale. Being able to bring all these capabilities together for my soldiers in the Guam National Guard, that’s just going to be a really amazing capability,” she said.
Watson also thanked the Malaysian Army for its hospitality, professionalism and dedication throughout the exercise, saying the experience had been “very impressive.”
