Thousands of military personnel from the U.S., Indonesia, and other allied forces demonstrated their capabilities in combat drills on the Indonesian island of Java as the participating forces concluded Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023.
During the course of the exercise, about 2,100 U.S. and 1,900 Indonesian service members from across multiple military branches took part in the drills.
Super Garuda Shield is an annual exercise held between Indo-Pacific allies. The exercise has grown significantly in scope and size since 2009. This year’s exercise involved combined and joint events and included seven nations as well as 12 observing countries. The participants reinforced their commitment to partnership and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
This year the list of participant countries included: Indonesia, the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, France, and the United Kingdom, while Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, and Timor Leste participated as observing nations.
Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, General Charles Flynn said, “Super Garuda Shield 2023 builds on last year’s tremendous success. This joint, multinational training exercise displays our collective commitment and like-minded unity, allowing for a stable, secure, and more peaceful, free, and open Indo-Pacific.”
#Marines with @MRFDarwin conduct Super Garuda Shield 2023 in East Java, Indonesia, Sept. 11.
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) September 15, 2023
Super Garuda Shield is an annual exercise highlighting the 7 participating and 12 observing nations' commitment to partnership and a free and open Indo-Pacific.#USMC #SemperFi pic.twitter.com/n0BWvAnZkv
As a part of Super Garuda Shield, the allied forces also conducted an operational planning staff exercise (STAFFEX). During the first three days of the STAFFEX, the allies conducted a series of academic presentations from the Institute for Security Governance, Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), the Australian Defence Force, the United Kingdom Defence Force, and the Hawaii National Guard.
The allies presented their “capabilities, planning philosophy, and guiding principles then moved to discussions on joint operations, intelligence, strategy, and defense continuum,” the U.S. Department of Defense release added.
Captain Peter Foster of the United Kingdom Defence Forces said, “On the joint side of things, we have had a lot of reinforcement of similar doctrine, the similarities and differences that are mostly in naming conventions.”
He added, “A big learning point for me is how the U.S. and TNI forces work together and how defense engagement works. This is a brilliant environment for partners and allies to come together and build relationships.”
The U.S. and Indonesian forces also conducted bilateral exercises to improve interoperability and share experience and knowledge about engineering. U.S. heavy equipment operator of the 130th Engineers Brigade, Staff Sgt. Timothy Galutira said, “We had the opportunity to actually work together during this exercise, and grow together. We worked on the road, and struggled together. At the end of the day, all of us would go get food together and relax. We shared out experiences both professionally, and about our lives.”
