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Malaysian Marine Police Cpl. Wan Suhaidi Ibrahim practices restraint techniques on fellow Marine Police Sgt. Ramli bin Kassin during a U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service symposium. Photo by PM1 Ken Ochsenreither, USN

Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Malaysian Navy PO C. D. Mat watches as a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician disarms a simulated pipe bomb during an EOD exercise. Photo by PM1 Ken Ochsenreither, USN

Malaysian Navy EOD technicians watch with fascination as a U.S. Navy EOD technician demonstrates how to use a “shock tube” to detonate a nearby disarming device. The detonation destroyed a pipe bomb that had been disabled during EOD training. Photo by PM1 Ken Ochsenreither, USN

Maj. Ivan Lee of Malaysia’s 8th Royal Ranger Regiment (seated) explains to U.S. Marines and sailors the basics of constructing a jungle shelter. Photo by PFC Thomas D. Hudzinski, USMC

U.S. sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 shared their knowledge and skills with members of the Malaysian Armed Forces. “Our objective is to demonstrate the fundamentals and principles of gaining access and clearing the way when dealing with explosives,” explained U.S. Navy GMC(AW)Ken Normand during a training event demonstrating the procedures associated with disarming and disposing of an explosive device.

The training began with the report of an unknown device. U.S. Navy Lt. Rich Hanna requested a physical description of the device. It was a pipe with wires on the ends, sitting on the floor of an unused building on the base. Lt. Hanna went through the U.S. Navy’s step-by-step procedures for handling the situation, including evacuating the area, establishing a security zone around the perimeter, and requesting fire fighter and medical support. While their Malaysian counterparts videotaped the event, the EOD personnel prepared tools to diagnose and disarm the pipe bomb.

“When we go back to the dive center, we will debrief our people on what was learned here and use the video as a training reference,” said RMN Lt. Cmdr. Tay Yapleong. Royal Malaysian Army Maj. Ho Hin Chai, who observed the training, concurred. “I can convince my guys to participate in this training if I show them,” he said. “Seeing is believing, and I definitely want to take this back to my guys.”

Jungle Survival Training

More than 150 Malaysian soldiers of the 8th Royal Ranger Regiment (8 RRR) and nearly 200 U.S. Marines trained together in the steamy jungle in Sungai Lembing. Called “WIRA EAGLE,” the training included patrolling, booby trap detection, and small unit leadership.

Marine Lt. Col. Tim Armstrong, Landing Force CARAT’s commanding officer, said that, while in the jungle, the two forces shared skills. He noted the expertise of the Malaysian soldiers will “be incorporated into our skills base” to improve Marine Corps tactics and procedures of jungle training. “It’s a good training package,” Lt. Col. Armstrong said of WIRA EAGLE. “We increase our readiness and the Malaysians increase theirs. The Marines will become better and more proficient in these areas.”

“Jungle training is tough terrain; it can take command and control away from senior leadership and you have to rely on small unit leaders,” said Marine Capt. Roberto Martinez. “We are here to learn more than navigation in the jungle. What we want the most is to train those small unit leaders.”

During jungle survival training, the Rangers taught Marines the types of field expedient shelters they could build using material from the environment, and what plants they could eat. Sharing their field cooking techniques with the Marines, the Rangers version of the Meal Ready to Eat consisted of, among other items, a rice packet and a brass stove with a package of hexamine solid fuel tablets for cooking. Two of the hexamine tablets could boil rice, and the entire kit provided food for two days. “The Rangers will teach the Marines to cook rice,” said Maj. Ivan Lee of the 8 RRR and a veteran of CARAT 2002.

A Malaysian Ranger explains to U.S. Marines and sailors the basics of trapping, cleaning, and preparing jungle animals to eat. Photo by PFC Thomas D. Hudzinski, USMC

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