Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia

STORM was formed in March 2011. Their initial tasks were urban search and rescue (USAR) for the western Malaysian region, as well as helping the federal government's Heavy USAR task force, the SMART team. STORM's membership was originally limited to veteran firefighters from other FRDM Special Rescue Team (Malay: Pasukan Khas JBPM), such as the Water Rescue Unit, Emergency Medical Rescue Services Team, HAZMAT Team, and MUST.[5]

Following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014, the FRDM restructured the existing STORM unit to include crashed aircraft search and rescue among its roles. The Director General of FRDM reorganises STORM, along with the FRDM Canine Unit (Malay: Unit Pengesan Bomba) and the FRDM Air Division (Malay: Bahagian Udara JBPM), into rapid deployment forces. They were stationed at Kuantan and Langkawi to quickly deploy to assist with the recovery of a crashed aircraft.[6][7][8]

The operational area of the STORM unit was later expanded to include East Malaysia, and they are now stationed at major fire stations in all states.[9][10]

USAR operations in Malaysia typically concern structural collapses and landslides. In missions related to USAR, STORM firefighters, Civil Defense Force's PASPA, and SMART's USAR technicians will cooperate, assisted by other units and agencies. As of 2020, only SMART and STORM have the ability to stabilise a collapsed structure. SMART will install sensors and alarms, while STORM firefighters will enter the collapsed building to rescue trapped individuals.[14]

During the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, Malaysia sent two USAR task forces to Turkey to assist. The first task force, MAS 01, comprised 64 SMART USAR technicians and 6 FRDM firefighters from the FRDM Canine Unit. The second task force, MAS 10, included 30 STORM firefighters, 20 SMART USAR technicians, 20 Civil Defense Force's PASPA USAR technicians, and 3 media staff. MAS 10 was led by Senior Fire Superintendent I Abdul Manaf Che Isa. They spent two weeks there conducting rescue operations.[15][16][17]

In the standard operating procedure for search and rescue operations, FRDM will dispatch a SAR team comprising STORM firefighters as the main rescue unit, MUST firefighters to support STORM and serve as ground crew if a helicopter is required, a Water Rescue Unit to assist with water rescues, and an Emergency Medical Rescue Services Team for medical support. If the initial small team is unable to resolve the mission, a larger team will be assembled at the location.[18]

Every elite unit in FRDM has their own distinctive shoulder patch. The patch symbolised their ability as specialist fire fighters. The STORM's shoulder patch comprises crossed fire axes, a tactical dagger, a figure 8 descent control device, a ribbon with the phrase "Pantas dan Berani" (English: Swift and daring) and a lightning bolt.

The red technical rescue USAR helmets were initially used by the Malaysian SMART team. STORM, as a protégé of SMART in USAR operations, gets training at SMART's headquarters. They later adopt the red helmet as one of their identities. Today, SMART members donned blue technical rescue USAR helmets while STORM and a few FRDM Special Rescue Teams continued to utilize red helmets.[24][25]

Every elite unit in FRDM has a distinctive uniform to make them easily distinguishable during operations. Originally, their outfit simply featured reflective strips. It has subsequently evolved, and currently, there is reflective "STORM" lettering at the back of their outfit.[25]

Also known as the Pemilihan Pasukan Special Tactical Operation Rescue Malaysia in Malay, lasts two days at a selected fire station. This programme, for example, is held at Putrajaya for firefighters from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, and Putrajaya.[27] Among the tasks that firefighters must perform are:

• 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) run in 45 minutes
• Individual Competency Test
• BEEP test
• BA endurance[28][note 1]

The official name of this course in Malay is Kursus Khas STORM, also known as Kursus Asas Pasukan STORM, and it lasts four weeks. This course is offered at any of Malaysia's five Fire and Rescue Academies (FRAM). Among the Special Rescue Teams in FRDM, this is the longest and most physically and mentally challenging basic course. This course has a high attrition rate. Only 39 out of 423 firefighters passed the STORM Special Course in 2019, accounting for around 7% of those who attempted it.[30] This course is also open to women, and as of 2020, six female firefighters have passed it.[11]

This course has two phases. The first phase is last for two weeks and held mostly in class. All basic skills that firefighters should know are tested and they are introduced with the operation of STORM. In the second phase, candidates need to survive two weeks of physical training. Among of the training that they need to go through during phase 2 including:[10][11]

• Casualty evacuation for 23 kilometres (14 mi) with a stretcher (a team of six candidates per stretcher)
• Training for basic survival in the jungle and swamp
• Under 13 minutes for a 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) run in complete fire kit while carrying extra 20 kilograms (44 lb) weight
• 20 kilometres (12 mi) march at high altitude

Candidates who complete all of the assessments at the end of this course will be awarded with a STORM patch during the passing out ceremony.[26]

Firefighters who have completed the STORM Special Course are already considered STORM members. However, STORM members are required to complete STORM advanced training.[31]

The advanced training was not done in a row, but rather in phases. The majority of the advanced training listed here is only available to STORM firefighters. Each course is conducted at FRAM and normally has two levels: basic and advanced. Among the training that STORM firefighters must do are the following:[12][31][32]

• Rope rescue course (Intermediate level) — 1 week
• Structural Collapse Rescue Course (Intermediate level) — 1 week
• Basic Surface Rescue Swimmer Course — 1 week
• Advanced Surface Rescue Swimmer Course — 1 week
• Jungle and swamp survival (Advance) (Malay: Kursus Survival STORM)[note 2] — 2 weeks
• Wilderness Search and Rescue — 1 week
• Safety and discipline in airborne operations (Malay: Kursus Tatacara Berkerja Dengan Pesawat) — 1 week
• Coxswain's Course for Small Boats (Basic level) (Malay: Kursus Asas Jurumudi Bot) — 1 week

Aside from the mandatory STORM advanced training, STORM firefighters can also enroll in courses offered to all FRDM Special Rescue Teams.[31] Among the courses are the following:

• Basic rescue swimmer (Helicopter) — 1 week
• Advanced rescue swimmer (Helicopter) — 1 week
• Basic tactical helicopter rescue course — 1 week
• Advanced tactical helicopter rescue course — 1 week
• Basic helicopter landing assistant course — 1 week
• Advanced helicopter landing assistant course — 1 week
• Air quartermaster course — 13 weeks

Other courses that are not affiliated with the FRDM Special Rescue Teams are also available to STORM firefighters.[31] Among the courses are the following:

• Diver course
• Venomous animals and snakes handling course (Basic) (Malay: Kursus Asas Pengendalian Ular) — 1 week
• Venomous animals and snakes handling course (Advance) (Malay: Kursus Peningkatan Kemahiran dan Pengetahuan Menangkap Haiwan Berbisa) — 3 weeks

This training, also called Latihan Pengukuhan STORM in Malay, is conducted on a regular basis, especially during storm and flood seasons. This training lasted 5 days, and the STORM firefighters were physically exhausted from the physical exercises before being tested with STORM operations such as high-rise and mountain rescue, urban search and rescue, and landslide rescue. This training was also used to test STORM firefighters' teamwork during times of stress. The STORM Refresher Training is conducted at the state level.[33]

This test is conducted twice a year to ensure that the STORM firefighters are physically fit for any operation. STORM firefighters who are not physically fit are at risk of being removed from the unit.[10]

In 2022, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia announced that they had purchased five rescue vehicles for STORM usage. These five vehicles will be used specifically for USAR missions by STORM. The total cost, including equipment, is around RM 7.5 million, and they are expected to arrive gradually between 2023 and 2024.[34] The first USAR vehicle will be introduced to Malaysian during the 2023 Independence Day Parade in Putrajaya.

In 2018, the government is planning to give an allowance to STORM firefighters due to their harsh work of nature and training. This is comparable to the hazard pay obtained by commando units in Malaysia, known as "Commando allowances", and also to paratroopers in the Malaysian Army, known as "Parachute allowances".[1]

Senior Fire Superintendent I Abdul Manaf Che Isa, the commander of MAS10, revealed in an interview with New Straits Times, that the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (FRDM) plans to build six special operations fire stations exclusively for STORM. These stations will be located in six different regions throughout Malaysia and will serve as bases and headquarters for STORM units in those areas.[15]

Apart from the five rescue vehicles that STORM is expected to receive by 2024, the FRDM is planning to acquire one more USAR rescue vehicle, thus making the total number of rescue vehicles for STORM's usage six. All of these rescue vehicles are intended to be stationed at fire stations that belong to STORM.[15]