The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and four other nations have joined forces in Malaysia and Singapore for Exercise Bersama Shield, which is designed to enhance cooperation and interoperability by working together in a warfighting scenario.

Bersama Shield is a Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) annual exercise that operates from the Malayan Peninsula, and involves militaries from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. This year, over 20 aircraft, three naval vessels and more than 800 personnel are involved, with NZDF contributing 10 personnel to the exercise headquarters.

The detachment commander, Wing Commander Craig Clark, said that NZDF personnel benefit from both the experience of working in an exercise headquarters in various roles, and from building relationships with personnel from the other countries.

“For some of our people, this is the first time that they have worked with foreign partners so closely, and this exercise really gives them an insight to what commonalities we have and also gives a great opportunity for learning.

“In a time of increased strategic competition, the importance of the NZDF cooperating with like-minded partners in the South East Asia region is especially important.”

Squadron Leader Michael Gibbons is the lead planner for this multi-nation exercise and said that the challenge and reward of the lead planner role was its ever-evolving nature. “Each year the national training objectives are different. Each year the broader exercise aims of FPDA are evolving. All these elements need to be considered when planning the activities to maximise the training benefits.

“However, it is actually the human-to-human interactions that demonstrate the success of the exercise programme.”

The FPDA was established in 1971, making it one of the longest-running defence arrangements in the world. The arrangements provide Malaysia and Singapore with a security umbrella while also aiding both nations in building their defence capabilities.

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