KOTA KINABALU: Civil-military cooperation and field drills for medical first responders were the focus of a recent two-way security exercise conducted by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).
The three-week programme from Sept 9 to 28 was conducted in collaboration with the Civil Affairs Team 722 (CAT 722) of the US Special Operations Command’s Pacific Civil Affairs Battalion, said Esscom commander Deputy Comm Hamzah Ahmad.
The BALANCE MINT 22-2450 exercise saw a total of 16 Esscom officials and officers, marine police, General Operations Force personnel from Lahad Datu 17th Battalion, and Lahad Datu policemen taking part.
“Participants were exposed to theories on civil-military cooperation, which involves interaction between security forces and the community,” DCP Hamzah said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 28).
He said participants were also taught about how such cooperation could lead to the strengthening of relations and positive perceptions of security forces.
The participants then put this theory into practice through field exercises, including drills where they took on the role of medical first responders, he added.
DCP Hamzah said the programme also indirectly brought the security forces from both Malaysia and the United States closer.