FRDM Multi-Skill Team

The Multi-Skill Team (MUST) was founded on 11 September 1998 in conjunction with the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Initially composed of 21 firefighters, MUST was established to support the newly created Air Division, ensuring the safety of international athletes and officials. The team's expertise was crucial for the event, given the high-rise athlete accommodations near the Bukit Jalil sports complex. At the time, MUST's responsibilities encompassed a broad range of emergency responses, including:^[3]

• High-Rise Rescue
• Water Rescue
• Road traffic accident response
• Handling Hazardous Materials
• Urban Search and Rescue
• Emergency Medical and Rescue Services
• Jungle-fire suppression
• High Angle Rescue
• Air Rescue

Due to the variety of their specialised roles, the unit was aptly named the Multi-Skill Team (MUST).^[3]

In the early 2000s, MUST underwent restructuring, redistributing some of its initial responsibilities to dedicated FRDM units. Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) operations were reassigned to the HAZMAT unit, and water rescues were handed back to the Water Rescue Unit. This transition allowed MUST to concentrate on high-rise rescues, air rescues, and firefighting in hard-to-reach areas, honing its role as an elite team in complex rescue and firefighting missions. The team also adapted its expertise in helicopter operations, managing landing coordination in rugged terrains—a function resembling that of air assault or pathfinder units.^[1][4]

In 2005, selected MUST firefighters received parachute training with the RMAF Special Forces. Following this, the Smoke Jumper unit was established under MUST's command, further expanding the unit's operational scope to include aerial fire suppression and enhancing their role in high-stakes, remote firefighting operations.^[5]

In a statement on 30 September 2024 in Kuching, Sarawak, the director general of FRDM, Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad, announced plans to dissolve MUST and integrate its members into the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM). This decision reflects redundancy between MUST's roles and those of FRDM Special Air Unit (PASKUB), another specialised air operations unit. Current MUST firefighters are now undergoing urban search and rescue training to prepare for the transition as the unit phases out. This integration aims to streamline FRDM's capabilities and consolidate resources for special rescue operations in Malaysia.^[6]

The Multi-Skill Team plays several critical roles within Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department (FRDM), particularly in air operations, high-rise rescue, jungle-fire suppression, and search and rescue operations.

In air operations

As part of the FRDM Air Division, MUST firefighters are specially trained for aerial deployment techniques, including winching down, abseiling, and fast-roping from helicopters to reach inaccessible or hazardous locations. Although the establishment of FRDM Special Air Unit (PASKUB) in 2012 took over some of MUST's previous air operation roles, MUST continues to provide essential support for specialised air deployments and high-stakes aerial firefighting.^[1]

In high-rise rescue

MUST firefighters are extensively trained in rope rescue techniques, often collaborating with the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM). This joint approach enables both units to execute complex high-rise rescues with a high degree of efficiency and precision, leveraging their expertise to navigate challenging structures and safely extract individuals from elevated locations.^[3]

In jungle-fire suppression

MUST and STORM firefighters are skilled in handling jungle fires, although their methods of deployment differ. MUST firefighters are equipped for helicopter insertion, allowing rapid response to remote fires, whereas STORM typically reaches jungle fire locations by land. This helicopter mobility grants MUST a unique advantage for reaching fires that would otherwise be inaccessible.^[3]

In search and rescue (SAR) operations

During search and rescue operations, MUST functions as an essential support unit. These missions are generally led by STORM, with MUST contributing to on-ground efforts and serving as ground crew for rescue helicopters. This coordinated approach among FRDM's specialised units ensures efficient SAR operations and optimises resource use across challenging and diverse environments.^[7]

The Multi-Skill Team has distinctive insignia that highlight its elite status and specialised skills.

The MUST shoulder patch reflects the unit’s multi-faceted capabilities and heritage. The design features:^[1]

• Mil Mi-17 helicopter: Symbolises the unit’s primary role in aerial firefighting and rescue missions.
• Paddy Rice Wreath: Reflects the team’s commitment to serve and protect the nation.
• Survival knife: Represents MUST’s readiness to operate in rugged, challenging environments.
• Anchor: Denotes the unit's versatility in performing maritime operations.
• Blue cloud with a white and red trail: Symbolises the team’s rapid response capability and incorporates the colours of the Malaysian flag.

The MUST Skills Wings badge is an unofficial emblem worn by Multi-Skill Team (MUST) firefighters, symbolising their specialised training in helicopter operations.^{[note 1]} Although not formally authorised by the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, it has become a recognised marker of the team’s unique capabilities, similar to the U.S. Army Air Assault badge.^{[note 2][8]}

Its design, inspired by the U.S. Naval Aircrew Badge, incorporates elements that reflect both national pride and the expertise of MUST members:

• Pair of wings: Represents the unit's expertise in helicopter operations.
• Crescent moon and 14-pointed star: A symbol from the Malaysian flag, showing national pride and identity.
• Red hexagon: Represents the knowledge and theory behind the most effective firefighting techniques.^[9]
• Crossed fire axe and pike pole: Traditional firefighting tools, emphasising the unit’s skills in both rescue and firefighting tasks.