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    'One Spirit' - Hawaii Guardsmen, Indonesia armed forces participate in Garuda Shield 2014

    Garuda Shield 2014

    Photo By Katie Gray | Hawaii Army National Guardsmen and Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesia Armed forces)...... read more read more

    DODIKLATPUR, Indonesia - “One team, tetap semangat” was the motto heard throughout Dodiklatpur, Indonesia, where Hawaii Army National Guardsmen and Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesia armed forces) participated in Garuda Shield 2014’s command post exercise Sept. 1-11, 2014.

    This is the eighth year of the annual Garuda Shield exercise, a bilateral operation that focuses on tactical interoperability, sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific and hosted by the TNI.

    The 11-day CPX “is about a combined U.S.-TNI working through the [military decision-making process] on a peacekeeping operation scenario,” said Hawaii Army National 103rd Troop Command Commander Col. Robert Lesher, who acted as the deputy commander of the CPX.

    Taking place in the fictional country of Zuba, U.S. and TNI troops deployed in support of a simulated U.N. peacekeeping initiative. Soldiers simulated various incidents that could occur ranging from a category 5 cyclone to emergency medical evacuations.

    This exercise is especially important for the TNI, whose primary mission when they deploy is peacekeeping operations, said Hawaii Guardsman Staff Sgt. Bradford Rivera.

    In spite of all the peacekeeping scenarios thrown at the brigade, language barriers proved to be the most daunting.

    “Most Indonesians speak little English,” said TNI 2nd Lt. Arvie Sumedi. “That was a challenge for us, especially in understanding what the exercise expects of us ... when I found some difficult words, then I would ask my counterpart, and ask what is the closest explanation to that word,” Sumedi said.

    Sgt. 1st Class Lei Watson, noncommissioned officer in charge of current operations, explained how she had to change her mentoring style.

    “I kept forgetting to slow down for my counterpart,” Watson said.

    “When I slowed down the operational process while teaching them, it helped me to recall the doctrinal step-by-step process,” Watson added.

    The exercise benefits Hawaii as well Lesher explained.

    “Multiple states have partnerships with foreign countries,” Lesher said. “Indonesia is Hawaii’s partner. What we want to do in the Hawaii Army National Guard is to maintain our relevancy, and so we’re working with numerous USARPAC and [Pacific Command] initiatives in the PACOM’s area of responsibility.”

    Insecurity over language barriers quickly broke down as the two countries participated in team-building activities and dinner together.

    TNI 2nd Sgt. Dhini Anggraini Septiya Negara said she looks forward to working with the Hawaii Guard again.

    “I feel so good,” said Dhini. “I got a lot of experience working with U.S. troops, and I can exchange ideas with them.”

    Dhini said she hopes in future exercises for the U.S. and TNI to “have just one tetap semangat” — one spirit.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.11.2014
    Date Posted: 10.04.2014 19:34
    Story ID: 144310
    Location: DODIKLATPUR, ID

    Web Views: 338
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN