US Navy SEALs and Indonesia's Elite Frogmen Kopaska Brace for Joint Training in East Java

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia braces for the Flash Thunder Iron 2024-Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) between its navy's elite Frogmen Command (Kopaska) personnel and the United States Navy SEALs.

This joint military drill is scheduled to take place in Surabaya and Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia, on July 8 to 29, 2024, according to a press statement by the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) published here Saturday.

In preparation for the joint drill, the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) provided flight operations support for the US Navy's personnel and equipment at Juanda Naval Air Station in Sidoarjo, East Java.

US Navy SEALs and their equipment arrived on Friday, July 5, aboard a Dornier 328 commuter aircraft that landed at Juanda, according to Commanding Officer of the Juanda Naval Air Station Colonel Dani Achnisundani.

The Juanda Naval Air Station is committed to supporting the TNI-AL and US Navy to make the Flash Thunder Iron 2024 run successfully, he said.

The Flash Thunder Iron 2024 is a joint exercise between Indonesia's Kopaska personnel and their counterparts from the US Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Group 1.

This training is carried out annually in the aftermath of the United States-Indonesia Bilateral Defence Discussion (USIBIDD) and Special Operation Force (SOF) Talks in 2022.

It aims to enhance the professionalism of Indonesian and US naval personnel and improve interoperability between the two navies.

Similar to Flash Thunder Iron 2023, participating personnel in 2024 will likely train in areas like tactical combat casualty care, close-quarters battle, underwater operations, and full mission profile exercises.

In recent Indonesia-US military training, Indonesian Navy soldiers from the 1st Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Yontaifib) and the United States Marines concluded a series of reconnaissance and infiltration exercises under the 'Reconnaissance Exchange' (Reconex) Joint Exercise 2024.

The two units conducted closing exercises from May 8-10, 2024, including long-range navigation and full mission profile infiltration exercises.

Commander of Marine Troops (Danpasmar) 1, Brigadier General Umar Farouq, emphasized the continuation of joint training between Indonesian and US Marine troops beyond Reconex 2024.

During the program, Amphibious Reconnaissance soldiers from both countries practiced infiltrating enemy territory, neutralizing targets, rescuing hostages, and providing medical care and evacuation for casualties.

Additionally, the soldiers trained in long-range navigation and cross-surface infiltration techniques using rubber boats (seariders).

ANTARA

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