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Australian Defence Force personnel have finished a two-week exercise to hone valuable skills with five other partner nations at Exercise Bersama Shield 2012 in Malaysia.
The exercise, which concluded on Friday 4 May, saw around 560 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel join with Navy and Air Forces from Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom as part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).
Commander of the Australian Contingent, Wing Commander Louis Nuttycombe, said the exercise had been successful in enhancing relationships and interoperability with partner nations in a complex environment.
“These past two weeks have seen Defence personnel build regional ties and enhance Australia’s ability to operate with the armed forces of Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom,” Wing Commander Nuttycombe said.
“Training in exercises such as Bersama Shield is important for our people to obtain key skills, work as a combined force and build relationships with other FPDA nations.
“Australia contributed 12 aircraft including Air Force Wedgetail, AP-3C Orion, B300 King Air and F/A18 aircraft, along with the frigate HMAS Ballarat and submarine HMAS Collins.
“Twenty ADF personnel formed part of the multi-national exercise headquarters in RMAF Butterworth.”
The exercise area included areas of Malaysia, the South China Sea and Singapore.
“Bersama Shield is an important training exercise for the Royal Australian Air Force and Navy to maintain its key capabilities.
“The exercise has provided participants with high complexity training opportunities in a multi-national environment,” Wing Commander Nuttycombe said.
The FPDA is the longest standing multilateral arrangement in South East Asia.
The ADF was a founding member of FPDA and this year marks the 41st anniversary of its involvement in these exercises.
Imagery from Exercise Bersama Shield 2012 is available HERE.