An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Jan. 21, 2016

Army Pacific's Brooks Continues Goodwill Tour in Malaysia

By U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The Malaysian army welcomed Gen. Vincent K. Brooks Jan. 18, 2016, for his fourth visit since taking command of U.S. Army Pacific in July 2013.

Lauding Malaysia’s contributions to security in South East Asia, Brooks said, “Malaysia is holding a strong line in countering extremist ideologies in the region.”

“Malaysia is an important country with a shared history. It’s geographically important. This is a great opportunity for professional exchange and building the next generation of leaders,” Brooks said, speaking to Malaysian press before delivering remarks and answering questions at the Malaysian Armed Forces Defense College.

“We continue to build on an already strong relationship between the Malaysian army and the U.S. Army,” Brooks said.”

The assembled students at the college, including senior military officers from all branches of the Malaysian armed forces, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Nigeria, Brunei, Singapore, Philippines, and the U.S., had just begun a yearlong course.

Brooks gave remarks and took questions for more than an hour, touching on questions regarding partnering in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and peacekeeping missions, to the U.S. Department of Defense’s rebalance of forces in the Pacific region, to the “cooperative yet competitive” relationship with China, which many of the assembled students were interested in.

“The rebalance has brought us into a higher amount of contact in the region than what we’ve enjoyed in recent years,” Brooks said. “It creates opportunities for cooperation.”

During Brooks’ time as commander of USARPAC, his forces have seen an increase from roughly 80,000 personnel to the present 106,000. “I’ve been given the resources to commit these people west of the International Date Line, and for a longer period of time,” Brooks said.

A firm believer in President Barack Obama’s decision to rebalance forces, Brooks told the assembled students,” It was absolutely worth it, and it was a good decision at the right time.”

“The rebalance is real, the Army’s contributions are tangible. We have elevated the status of the Army forces commander to four star, and the Army has added tend of thousands of troops to USARPAC to enable an increase in partnerships with friends in the region,” Brooks said.

Brooks also added that though increases in U.S. military and security capabilities members in the Pacific region are the most visible, the political, sociological and economic aspects of the rebalance are perhaps more important.

“It’s the people to people engagements,” Brooks said. “The citizens of other countries talking to each other.”

During his stop, Brooks was hosted by Malaysian Army Field Commander West Lt. Gen. Dato’ Sri Zulkiple for an office call and lastly Chief of Army Gen. Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi to close his visit.

Brooks will complete his current Asian tour with engagements in the Philippines before returning to his headquarters in Oahu, Hawaii.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,233
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

AUKUS Trilateral Statement
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia; the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom; and Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense,...

U.S., India launch Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024
Courtesy Photo
March 21, 2024 - Indian and U.S. combined armed forces began Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024 with the arrival of amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), March 18 and an opening ceremony March 19.This is the third time U.S. and...

USACE: Ensuring Safety Every Step of the Way
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work in Japan for all military services and agencies. With over 60 years of experience in designing and constructing facilities in Japan, JED possesses the experience in Japanese standards and specifications, regulations, construction practices, maintenance requirements, and culture needed to ensure facilities are built with the utmost safety and professionalism. Photo by Charles Maib.
March 21, 2024 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work...

THAAD Battery in Guam Successfully Completes Table VIII Evaluation
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launcher used by E-3 Air Defense Artillery THAAD Battery as part of their Table VIII certification in Dededo, Guam, March 13, 2024. The THAAD battery, equipped with a state-of-the-art missile defense system, is tasked with defending Guam against ballistic missile threats. (U.S. Army Photo by Maj. Trevor Wild)
March 21, 2024 - In a testament to readiness and operational excellence, Task Force Talon's E-3 ADA THAAD Battery conducted a Table VIII evaluation for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system stationed in Guam, March 11-15,...