US Navy SEALs, Indonesia's Elite Frogmen Kopaska Kick Off 22-Day Joint Exercise

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Military personnel from the Indonesian Navy's (TNI-AL's) elite Frogmen Command (Kopaska) and the United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) team kicked off a 22-day joint exercise early this week to boost their naval warfare capability.

The military drill, Flash Thunder Iron 2024-Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET), is being conducted with the US Navy SEAL Group 1 in several parts of East Java province from July 8–29, 2024.

According to chief of the TNI-AL's Frogmen Command Center, Commodore Baroyo Eko Basuki, the JCET aims to enhance the capabilities of the two navies' elite forces in naval warfare.

"This joint exercise is not new for the Kopaska personnel and their counterparts from the US Navy SEAL," he said in a press statement that ANTARA received from the TNI-AL on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

The two navies' elite forces have conducted the joint drill since the 1980s, though the operation code names have been changed often, he informed, adding that participating personnel will undergo several training courses.

As part of JCET, Kopaska and US Navy SEALs will conduct tactical combat casualty care, close-quarters battle, small boat operations, underwater operations, and full mission profile exercises.

The two elite units will also carry out sniper shooting as well as visit, board, search, and seizure exercises, Basuki informed.

The training has been carried out annually following 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.

Recently, Indonesian Navy soldiers from the 1st Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Yontaifib) and the United States Marines conducted a series of reconnaissance and infiltration exercises as part of the 'Reconnaissance Exchange' (Reconex) Joint Exercise 2024.

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

Commander of Marine Troops (Danpasmar) 1, Brigadier General Umar Farouq, pushed for 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, providing medical care, and evacuating casualties.

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

ANTARA

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

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News