VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia is bracing 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. ANTARA/HO-Dinas Penerangan TNI AL.(Photo by: Antara)

VOINews, Jakarta: Indonesia prepares for the Flash Thunder Iron 2024-Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET), a collaborative exercise between its navy's elite Frogmen Command (Kopaska) and the United States Navy SEALs.

Quoting by Antara, This joint military drill is scheduled from July 8-29, 2024, in Surabaya and Situbondo, East Java, according to a press statement released by the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) on Saturday.

To facilitate 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, as stated by the Commanding Officer of Juanda Naval Air Station, Colonel Dani Achnisundani.

The Juanda Naval Air Station is dedicated to supporting the TNI-AL and US Navy to ensure the success of Flash Thunder Iron 2024, he added.

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

This annual training follows the United States-Indonesia Bilateral Defence Discussion (USIBIDD) and Special Operation Force (SOF) Talks in 2022.

Its primary objectives are to enhance the professionalism of Indonesian and US naval personnel and to improve interoperability between the two navies.

Similar to Flash Thunder Iron 2023, the 2024 training will likely include tactical combat casualty care, close-quarters battle, underwater operations, and full mission profile exercises.

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

The closing exercises for Reconex 2024, conducted from May 8-10, included long-range navigation and full mission profile infiltration exercises.

Brigadier General Umar Farouq, Commander of Marine Troops (Danpasmar) 1, emphasized the importance of continuing 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.

The training also included long-range navigation and cross-surface infiltration techniques using rubber boats (seariders)./Antara/VOI