PULADA, MALAYSIA -- Keris Strike 2016 provides Malaysian and U.S. forces with challenging training scenarios.

"We will be conducting a wide variety of training events with our Malaysian partners during the exercise, all focused at lower tactical levels," said Lt. Col. Ian Palmer, Commander, 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment. "We're training small unit tactics, field craft, tactical maneuver, counter-IED, and small unit live fire."

Training with foreign militaries in their home countries accomplishes a variety of objectives that are difficult to achieve stateside.

"Malaysia presents an environment that our Soldiers aren't used to; the climate and the terrain are much different than what we experience at home station and our training centers," said Palmer. "Our Malaysian partners, however, are providing us with first-class training that will enable our Soldiers to better understand and cope with these austere conditions."

The Lancer Brigade recently completed training missions in Thailand and the Philippines and will begin training in Indonesia, concluding Pacific Pathways with the capstone exercise Garuda Shield.

"I'm really excited and proud about what we are doing out here in Pacific Pathways," said Col. Jerry Turner, Commander, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. "The opportunity to deploy the brigade six different times in four different countries all the while executing mission command and serving with our partners is just an absolutely fantastic exercise for our entire team."