SHAH ALAM: 10th Brigade (Para) Commander Brigadier Khairul Azmizal Ahmad Natal was promoted to Major General at a ceremony at the unit’s headquarters in Malacca on April 17. This was the first time the brigade is headed by a two-star general since it was established in 1994.
Khairul Azmizal was promoted by Army chief General DS Mohammad Ab Rahman who made his first visit to the brigade following his appointment as the top soldier. Mohammad – a qualified parachutist – was also presented the honorary maroon and jump wings of the brigade by Khairul Azmizal.
The Army did not say whether Khairul Azmizal will be transferred out following his promotion as this is already his second stint as the commanding officer of the brigade in 2020.
His second stint as Panglima at the brigade occurred almost at the same time as the current Army chief promotion as the deputy chief as could be seen in the previous story.
A two-star post is usually reserved for commanding positions in the Army – for example training command; divisional commanders or the chief of staff of the two field commands. Technically, the 10th Para despite being called a brigade is already a division-size formation with four infantry battalions together with various support units. It likely has more men and equipment compared to many brigades in the Army.
The post from Tentera Darat:
PENGANUGERAHAN BERET MERUN DAN SAYAP PENERJUNAN KEHORMAT 10 BRIGED (PARA)
MELAKA, 17 April 2023 – Panglima Tentera Darat (PTD), Jeneral Datuk Seri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman dan isteri, Datin Seri Ramlah binti Dawi selaku Pengerusi Jemaah Badan Kebajikan Keluarga Angkatan Tentera (BAKAT) Darat telah hadir ke Perbarisan Penganugerahan Beret Merun dan Sayap Penerjunan Kehormat 10 Briged (PARA) di Padang Kawad Batalion Ke-17 Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja Kem Terendak, Melaka.
Ketibaan PTD telah disambut oleh Panglima 10 Bgd (PARA) Brigedier Jeneral Khairul Azmizal bin Ahmad Natal dan isteri, Puan Rozita Waty binti Ridzuan serta diberi penghormatan dengan mengambil tabik hormat dan pemeriksaan Kawalan Kehormatan Utama (KKU).
Acara dimulakan dengan pemakaian pangkat kepada Panglima 10 Bgd (PARA), Brigedier Jeneral Khairul Azmizal bin Ahmad Natal dari Brigedier Jeneral ke Mejar Jeneral.
— Malaysian Defence
Based on the image posted, the optics on the 8th Royal Ranger Regiment commander’s M4 seem to be an Aimpoint CompM4 or it derivatives, and the soldier in the background seem to have a red dot sight on his M4, does all the (if not majority) 10th Para M4 are equip with optics instead of iron sights as standards?
Given that the Army now mostly focus on new armoured vehicles and artillery, does the Army plan on adding any form of optics on the M4s for all the units?
How many helos do we need to support an Air Assault Brigade?
Our paras do look the part as an elite unit with a macho looking Panglima.
Around 30 helicopters including Chinooks or Sea Stallions
Hasnan – ”How many helos do we need to support an Air Assault Brigade?”
Ideally, enough to lift a single battalion, supporting elements and other things; as well as to keep it supplied. As Marhalim alluded; around 30 should be the minimum.
My concern with 10 Para is that it’s still a wee bit light with supporting arms and services. The initial plan in the early 1990’s was to have a 10th Strategic Division but a lack of resources put paid to that. It took almost 7-8 years to get the brigade to the point where it could be declared operational.
Instead of adding a 4th battalion as a jump qualified unit I would have preferred for it to have been a ‘rapid reaction’ or ‘rapid deployable’ unit or even a ”littoral battalion” as what the USMC and PMC has done; rather than a jump qualified unit which is very resource extensive [as learnt a long time ago by many armies].
I believe the 18 RAMD is a littoral battalion, already trained by the USMC in beach landing.
Based on the unit’s own Facebook page, I believed that 18 RAMD though jump qualified are more trained for heli-borne assault. Beach landings are just part of the training of the whole brigade as well but in small numbers
I always think it’s high time for us to have our own marine corps/naval infantry especially in the light of future MRSS acquisition. Still it does means that we need to acquire a dedicated LCVT and add a couple more of LST (or even replacing the old with new ones even with MRSS so Shin Yang LST anyone?) as well as other specialized vehicles like the AAVs and…a light tank perhaps? Doubt AIFV and Gempita is up to the task despite their ability to “ford” water
I do not think we have the funds nor personnel to set up a marine Corp per se
Hasnan – ”I believe the 18 RAMD is a littoral battalion, already trained by the USMC in beach landing.”
Various units have trained with the USMC over the years [once a year a couple of ship to shore assaults are rehearsed] but it doesn’t make them a ”littoral battalion”….. Being a ””littoral battalion” entails being focused on a specific environment and being equipped and organised accordingly.
dundun – ”I always think it’s high time for us to have our own marine corps/naval infantry especially in the light of future MRSS acquisition. ”
The army would never allow the RMN to have its own ‘naval infantry’ so it would have to be a army unit but that’s fine. An existing unit can be converted but it must have an integral AD, engineering and signals capability. The whole exercise will take years; lots of red tape at play but it’s needed and would be far more practical than a jump unit.
dundun – ”till it does means that we need to acquire a dedicated LCVT and add a couple more of LST ”
A ‘naval infantry’ or ‘littoral battalion’ doesn’t necessarily need to be deployed by sea for assaults. It will operate along the coast sure but sea lift might be for ”amphib movement” not ”amphib assault” and it can be deployed by road or air depending on the operational requirements.
dundun – ”Doubt AIFV and Gempita is up to the task despite their ability to “ford” water”
What makes you think we’ll perform amphib assault or that our IFVs will have to be deployed from ship to shore?