By Sgt. Cory Grogan, 115 Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
PANCHKHAL, Nepal (April 4, 2013) - A platoon from Indonesia brought a special kind of spirit to Shanti Prayas-2 at the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center for a Global Peace Operations Initiative training exercise led by the Nepalese Army and sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command.
The Indonesian platoon is took advantage of the training opportunity and impressed trainers showing pride in the Indonesian Army with a special tradition called “Yell Yell” that involves rhythmic chants and movements in a military formation.
Ted Itani, a United Nations subject matter expert at the exercise, was impressed by the platoon for many reasons, commenting that they all took notes and the tradition of “Yell Yell” says a lot about them.
“It shows they have interdependence and cohesiveness and reinforces trust,” said Itani.
The field training exercise took place March 25 to April 7 with 11 nations working together to prepare for United Nations peacekeeping missions.
“If we have any chance to join this exercise again we would like to do it. It is good for us because we’ve never had an exercise like this before,” said Indonesian National Armed Forces Pfc. Agus Jarkasih. “I am glad to be a peacekeeper and hopefully someday I can [deploy] for Indonesia.”
He said “Yell Yell” would be an important part of that mission.
“We do “Yell Yell” because it is our motivation to be strong and have a good spirit because if we have energy we can face any kind of obstacles,” Jarkasih said.
Jarkasih said he knows his platoon would do well on a peacekeeping mission.
“It doesn’t matter where you are from in our country, we are all here to represent Indonesia,” Jarkasih explained. “Yell Yell is a tradition for every Indonesian unit regardless of size or branch of service, to show pride in their unit.”
He also said Indonesia is proud to work with other countries.
“If we continue, we can have friends from other platoons and other countries and it is just good for us —this is a very excellent exercise,” said Jarkasih.
Jarkasih thanked his country, the trainers and Nepal on behalf of his platoon for allowing them to participate and said “Yell Yell” shows spirit for how their platoon feels about the exercise, too.
“The Yell Yell shows we are very proud of Indonesia and very proud to be here,” he said.
1st Lt. Hanafi Solaeman said every man in every unit in Indonesia has their own pride, no matter what branch — Army, Navy, Air Force — and that the pride is shown with “Yell Yell”.
It is for two reasons, he said. “One is to show pride in our unit and the other is to burn our spirit in any environment.”
Solaeman said it is an amazing experience working with other countries learning about peacekeeping while getting the chance to meet different people from around the world, and that he is glad other countries like their “Yell Yell” spirit.
“Of course I love Yell Yell because whether it is an individual yell, platoon yell, company yell or brigade yell, the Yell Yell is our identity.”
Countries at the exercise also competed in a soccer tournament that the Indonesian platoon won, and platoon members who did not play cheered in true Indonesian form with vocal and physical rhythm throughout.
Date Taken: | 04.04.2013 |
Date Posted: | 04.11.2013 05:47 |
Story ID: | 104990 |
Location: | PANCHKHAL, NP |
Web Views: | 400 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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