SIXTH INDO-MALDIVES JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES CULMINATES
The sixth joint Military Training Exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) – EKUVERIN 2015, was conducted at Pangode Military Station, Trivandrum, Kerala from 31 August to 13 September 2015. A total of 45 Marines from the Maldivian National Defence Force took part in the exercise along with 45 soldiers of the Indian Army. The bilateral annual exercise, which commenced in 2009 at Belgaum, India, is held annually, alternately in Indian and Maldives with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between defence forces of the two countries. The exercise was the first joint exercise involving an international contingent to be conducted at Trivandrum, which is being developed as a Training Node by the Indian Army.
A number of training activities and exercise were conducted during the joint training. Due emphasis was given on use of helicopters/ heliborne forces in various operational aspects during the exercise. The officers and soldiers of Maldivian National Defence Forces appreciated the high standards of training, motivation and operational capability of the Indian Army. The exercise provided an excellent opportunity for fostering jointmanship and interoperability between the defence forces of both countries.
Brigadier Samir Salunke, Chief Director of the Exercise and Station Commander Pangode Military Station and Brigadier General Ali Zuhair of MNDF witnessed the final phase of the exercise conducted at Trivandrum and reviewed the standards achieved. Other senior officials from both Armies who had arrived to observe the conduct of the exercise expressed their satisfaction over the level of training and jointmanship achieved between the troops and conveyed that such joint exercise will go a long way in enhancing defence cooperation, understanding and synergy between the two nations.
ADGPI – Indian Army #training Maldives National Defence Force#MNDF
