BATURAJA COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, Indonesia – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with the 766th Engineer Construction Company (ECC), 841st Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command transformed impassable jungle roads into a new and improved combat road and helicopter landing zone in just 10 days in support of Exercise Ksatria Warrior 26.
The 766th ECC, arrived at Baturaja Combat Training Center (BCTC) Aug. 5, 2026 and began construction operations in support of the bilateral exercise with the Indonesian Army, or Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD). The project includes repairing and improving roads and constructing a helicopter landing zone, or HLZ, to support realistic training and emergency response capabilities.
“Long term, we’re bettering the infrastructure for Baturaja and supporting our Indonesian counterparts through our mission,” said 1st Lt. Nick Le, an engineer officer with the 766th ECC.
Approximately 30 engineers contributed to the project, working alongside their Indonesian counterparts and using heavy construction equipment to improve the training area’s infrastructure.
The work supports both the immediate requirements of Ksatria Warrior 26 and Garuda Shield 26 along with future training at BCTC.
The improved road provides access for military vehicles, supporting planned training which includes a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, firing mission.
“We are all about speed and improving the roads quickly,” said U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, Staff Sgt. Mitchell Mesecher, the project manager and noncommissioned officer in charge, assigned to 766th ECC. “We're a highly motivated, dedicated platoon within the 766th and if you need HIMARS to get to a certain location quick, and you want to throw some missiles at somebody, we'll make sure you can get there.”
The unit also constructed an HLZ to support real-world medical evacuation training. The landing zone provides a designated area for helicopters to land during training scenarios, allowing Soldiers to practice rapidly moving injured personnel from remote locations.
The engineers work included grading roads, placing layers of progressively finer aggregate and compacting the material to create a more stable surface. Large rock was placed as the initial base, followed by smaller aggregate and a final layer of material. A bonding agent was then applied to help stabilize the surface, reduce movement and prevent the formation of trenches.
For the engineers, the work represents more than preparing a training area for a single exercise. The partnership also provides the TNI with improved infrastructure to support future training and emergency response while giving U.S. Army engineers an opportunity to conduct meaningful construction operations in a multinational environment.
“This is real-world horizontal work that supports getting emergency services through for all the troops out here and we can see the effect of what we’re doing,” said Le. “It feels good knowing that what we’re building can actually help people. At the end of the day, safe roads save people’s lives.”
The 766th also worked closely with TNI personnel throughout the project. Indonesian counterparts assisted with equipment and construction operations, creating opportunities for the two forces to exchange knowledge and strengthen interoperability.
“We're the first reserve unit to be able to come out here and actively work on these routes,” said U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, 1st Lt. Amber Lewis, an engineer officer assigned to 766th ECC. “So, we've been pushing really hard to try to do an amazing job in hopes that we can get brought out here again because it's a great experience and it creates an amazing relationship with our Indonesian counterparts.”
Ksatria Warrior 26 is designed to strengthen the ability of U.S. and Indonesian forces to operate together while improving readiness and developing capabilities at Baturaja Combat Training Center. Engineering projects such as the 766th’s road and HLZ construction provide a tangible example of how exercise preparation can create lasting benefits beyond the training event itself.