China and Malaysia’s first-ever joint military exercise is an important strategic move

MALAYSIA is in a pivotal position, located midway between two key oceans – the Indian and Pacific. The Strait of Malacca (SOM) is the front yard of Malaysia’s security and is a vital maritime security artery for the country, especially for the movement of naval vessels from the Royal Malaysian Navy’s principal base in Lumut to other parts of the country.

The National Defence Policy of Malaysia 2010 demarcates the strait, including its entrance and exit, as geographical areas of Malaysia’s vital interests.

Philippines, Australia to conduct ‘dusk’ and ‘dawn’ Special Forces exercises

FORT ANDRES BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The armies of the Philippines and Australia will conduct two joint exercises to be held separately in both countries this year in line with their existing defense cooperation program.

Based on the Philippine Army training program for 2015, the two exercises are the Philippine-Australia Exercise ‘Dusk’ Caracha and the Philippine-Australia Exercise ‘Dawn’ Caracha.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Deploys Navy Troops to Ayungin Shoal

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has responded to China’s threatening moves around Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea by sending fresh Navy troops to replace the Marines pulled out from a grounded ship that serves as the base of Filipino troops in the disputed area.

Sources said the Marines at Ayungin Shoal have been pulled out from the grounded BRP Sierra Madrea and another unit of the Philippine Navy took over their maritime and territorial duties at the shoal.

Air Commandos Complete Teak Mint 15-1

Joint HALO jumps durings Exercise TEAK MINT 15-1 (Source: US Air Force)

SUBANG AB, Malaysia -- Members from the 353rd Special Operations Group along with members from the 36th Airlift Squadron conducted multinational and bilateral training during Joint Chief of Staff Exercise Teak Mint 15-1 in Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, Malaysia, May 26 through June 13.

“This exercise has been a great opportunity for our Airmen to learn,” said Maj. Michael S. Perry, Teak Mint 15-1 mission commander. “For the past two weeks, we had the opportunity to build a mutually beneficial relationship between U.S. and Malaysian Air Forces. Each group came here with a diverse perspective shaped by their unique history. I was happy to see how both countries took full advantage of building partnerships and learning from each other. ”

Alleged Russian Soldiers Captured in Ukraine May Have Been Fooled by Social Media

London, UK -- False information posted online may have been the reason behind the apparent capture of Russian special forces in Ukraine, according to one of Kiev’s top advisors on pro-Russian propaganda tactics.

The soldiers were seized in May in the town of Shchastya, near the line of separation. A video was then posted online showing one of the detainees stating his rank and brigade, prompting Moscow to again deny claims that Russia is sending forces into the country.

TNI to Set up Joint Special Operations Force Command

Jakarta, May 5 -- The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) plans to set up a joint special operations unit comprising elite forces of the army, navy and air force. 

"What we are going to set up is not a special force but a joint special operations command," TNI Chief General Moeldoko said after dedicating a TNI museum at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Tuesday. 

2 Navy SEALs Die in Training Accident

April 28 -- The US Navy says a second SEAL has died following a training accident in a swimming pool at a base in Virginia.

Lt. David Lloyd tells media outlets that Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Brett Allen Marihugh of Livonia, Michigan, died Sunday.

The 34-year-old Marihugh and 32-year-old Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Seth Cody Lewis of Queens, New York, were found unresponsive on Friday at the bottom of the Combat Swimming Training Facility at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Lewis died Friday.

The Virginia-Pilot reported that the two men were discovered at the bottom of the pool, which is regularly used by SEALs during training. The report said Lewis was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital; Marihugh, who had been in critical condition, died after being transferred to Sentara Virginia Beach General.

Lloyd says both sailors were members of Naval Special Warfare Group 2.

An investigation of the incident is continuing.

Marihugh and Lewis both served in the US Marine Corps before they enlisted in the Navy in 2006.

Dangers of Special Forces Trainings

The above are only the latest training accidents this year for the US Navy SEALs. Other accidents include:

March 2015

Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class Jason Kortz, 29, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado was killed in a parachute accident in Perris, California, near Riverside, a US Navy official told CNN.

Kortz joined the SEALs in September 2014 after enlisting in the Navy two years earlier. He was married, the Navy said.

Initial indications are the parachute failed to open during a jump as part of a training exercise. Kortz was part of a West Coast-based Navy SEAL team.

January 2015

William "Blake" Marston, 31, of Concord, New Hampshire, died after landing on the grounds of a DeLand airport, Central Florida where he was doing the training exercise.

A witness told DeLand police investigators that something flew off the man's parachute as he was in free fall between 40 to 60 feet above ground

He served in the Navy for six years, before completing his training in 2009.

Marston attended Stonehill College in Massachusetts and graduated in 2007. (Various sources)

SENOI PRAAQ – A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE “WAR PEOPLE” – PART 3

By M Hanif Ismail

(New generation of Senoi Praaq. Source: 3rd GOF)

Senoi Praaq – the name may sounds familiar to the local defence watchers, but outside that (small) circle, its mention may very well draw a blank.

Senoi Praaq means “War people” or “those who fight” in the Semai language. Senoi Praaq started as a special project under the British during the First Emergency (1948 – 1960), to replace the British SAS squadrons leaving the country. It was dispatched to Vietnam during the Vietnam War as part of collaboration between the British and the US intelligence to train Vietnamese indigenous people collectively known as the Montagnards.

This article will look at the activities of the Senoi Praaq after the end of Konfrontasi, its activities during the Second Emergency (1968-1989), including its switch from under the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to the Royal Malaysian Police.

Delta Force snatches High Value Target , Seal Team Six aborts mission under fierce resistance

U.S. Special Forces on Saturday, 6/10/2013 conducted two separate covert missions; one a stealthy seaside assault in Somalia and another a raid in Libya’s capital.

The purpose of the seaside assault was to snatch a Libyan al-Qaida leader allegedly involved in the bombings of U.S. embassies 15 years ago. The raid was carried out by members of SEAL Team Six. It was reported that the team met with fierce resistance and resulted in a 15-20 minutes firefight. The unit leader then decided to abort the mission.

Within hours of the Somalia attack, the U.S. Army’s Delta Force successfully carried out a raid in Libya’s capital, Tripoli,  and managed to capture al-Qaida leader as Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, known by his alias Anas al-Libi. He is attributed to the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed more than 220 people.

According to Pentagon spokesman, Al-Libi is currently lawfully detained by the U.S. military in a secure location outside of Libya .

Source : Associated Press