SANDAKAN: Young naval officers are stepping out of observational roles and directly into hands-on operational leadership as the Navy grooms its next generation of commanders.
About 30 junior officers recently completed the Operational Sea Training Exercise East 2/26 (OSTEX EAST 2/26), taking charge of live tactical manoeuvres under the direct supervision of veteran officers.
Speaking at the exercise's closing ceremony at Dewan Azim, RKTLDM Sandakan, on Tuesday (Oct 6), Naval Region 2 Commander Rear Admiral Jamaludin Shairi emphasised the necessity of early, practical command exposure.
“The young officers on board are trained and given direct opportunities to execute these exercises themselves under senior supervision,” Jamaludin said. “One day, they will be the ones leading these operations independently.”
He added that senior officers closely monitored and guided the participants throughout the drills to ensure high competency standards while maintaining strict operational safety.
Held from Sept 28 to Oct 6, OSTEX EAST 2/26 served as a major readiness assessment for the Eastern Fleet, evaluating both personnel competency and fleet asset performance across various maritime threat scenarios.
The joint operational exercise, coordinated by the Eastern Fleet Command and Naval Region 2 Headquarters, featured a formidable array of maritime and air power. The deployment included eight Navy vessels, four Fast Combat Boats, and an AW139 helicopter from Naval Aviation Squadron 503.
Strengthening joint-service capabilities, the Air Force also joined the drills with two Hawk fighter jets and a CN235 maritime transport aircraft.
The combined Force Integration Training approach aimed to enhance real-time interoperability, coordinated tactical response, and shared operational protocols between naval and air assets.
