Soldiers from the Washington National Guard and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Exercise Keris Strike, March 11, 2019. Keris Strike is a joint bilateral exercise hosted by the...

Brig. Gen. Dato Dr Mohd Radzi Bin Haji Abdul Hamid, commander of the 11th Malaysian Infantry Brigade, stands at attention during the opening ceremony of Exercise Keris Strike, March 11, 2019. Keris Strike is a joint bilateral exercise hosted by the M...

Members of the Malaysian Armed Forces and the US military pose for a photo after the opening ceremony of Exercise Keris Strike, March 11, 2019. Keris Strike is a joint bilateral exercise hosted by the Malaysia Armed Forces 4th Division held March 11-...

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Brig. Gen. Dato Dr. Mohd Radzi Bin Haji Abdul Hamid, commander of the 11th Malaysian Infantry Brigade, presided over the opening ceremony of Exercise Keris Strike at Camp Sungai Buloh, March 11, 2019.

Keris Strike consists of several subject matter expert exchanges designed to develop the capacity to quickly respond to the crisis with greater interoperability and increased mission effectiveness.

"What I want you all to achieve out of the next five days is a better understanding of our militaries," Radzi said. "Engagement and sharing knowledge is an absolute essential for that to occur."

Topics of the SMEE include Aviation, Military Police, Medicine, Counter Improvised Explosive Device, Public Affairs, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Civil Affairs, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive.

The purpose of the exchanges is to integrate the various topics as the way ahead to support future bilateral training events. This year is the 24th iteration and provides the venue for the exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures which contributes to regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capability in the Indo-Pacific.

Keris Strike will run from 11-15 March at Camp Sungai Buloh.