Diggers show their mettle in Malaysian jungle

As the waves crashed along the coastline of Sabah in East Malaysia, three nations gathered to mark the conclusion of Exercise Keris Strike 2024.

CAPTION: Soldiers from Rifle Company Butterworth exit a US Army Chinook during the field training exercise during Exercise Keris Strike in Sabah, Malaysia. Story by Lieutenant Chloe Reay. Photo by Evangelos Wilson.

In a first for Australia, personnel from Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) 144 joined counterparts from the United States and Malaysia for three weeks of trilateral training, including air movement operations and a field training exercise.

For Private Samuel Bond of the 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, it was his second overseas deployment in three years, a testament to the battle rhythm of the battalion and 1st Brigade.

Personnel from the three nations conducted urban operations training, close combat shooting, medical training, and section- to platoon-level attacks.

“I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the diversity in tactics and drills among the three nations. It was a great opportunity to display our own skills while assimilating American and Malaysian drills into the scenarios we conducted,” Private Bond said.

CAPTION: Australian soldiers receive a brief from the 7th Royal Malaysian Regiment prior to conducting section-level attacks. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Air mobile insertions into the field training exercise used US Army Black Hawks and Chinooks.

Training in a harsh and unforgiving jungle environment was what his fellow Darwin-based soldiers on RCB 144 yearned for, according to Private Bond.

“Operating in the Malaysian jungle felt familiar, yet different,” he said.

“The heat, sweat and humidity reminded me of Mount Bundey Training Area, but the shade, wildlife and mud made it clear that you were in the jungle.

“The best advice I could give to someone going into the jungle for the first time would be to get a floor sewn into your mosquito net, pack light, and get used to being wet. The sooner you’ve accepted that you’ll get wet, the easier the jungle will be.”

Despite being the smallest force on the ground, the American and Malaysian leadership commended the Australian contingent for its resilience and lethality in the field environment.

CAPTION: Rifle Company Butterworth on parade during the closing ceremony for the exercise. Photo by Lieutenant Chloe Reay.

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