Photo By Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson | Lt Col. Fajar Catur , TNI, delivers a lecture on the structure of the TNI joint forces...... read more read more
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The Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI, Indonesian Armed Forces) and the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) held a Joint bilateral, Joint Force exercise focused on operational-level planning and execution of combined military operations called Gema Bhatkti 22 in Jakarta Indonesia in September of 2022. This is the 10th iteration of Gema Bhakti. This year’s exercise was a staff exercise (STAFFEX) that focused the military’s role in support of defense-led operations building interoperability efforts in the region.
“We are here to share our information with the US Armed forces,” said Lt. Col. Fajar Catur, TNI. “So, we have a mutual understanding that will enhance our equal partnership”
Gema Bhakti has evolved over the past ten years from a tabletop exercise to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission planning, and this year’s iteration was a markedly more complicated operational level planning exercise. The primary exercise goal is to improve TNI, U.S. forces, Joint/Combined, Operational-level planning in response to a regional crisis and to enhance interoperability and professionalism of their forces.
“The TNI has a similar mission set as the Hawaii National Guard,” stated US Army Col. Cesar Pudiquet, Hawaii Army National Guard (HING). “They have a military mission, along with ‘911’ and HADR as well. The joint planning doctrine used by the TNI and ;the HING provides a flexible approach that is adaptable to a variety of operational situations.”
The HING continued its support of Gema Bhatkti through the State Partnership Program. Through the program, the National Guard conducts military-to-military engagements in support of defense security goals but also leverages whole-of-society relationships and capabilities to facilitate broader interagency and corollary engagements, thereby spanning military, governmental, economic, and social realms. The HING brings a broad spectrum of experience forged from the past few years and have built J-Staffs to respond to volcanic eruptions, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Gema Bhakti scenario has changed year to year over the past 10 years,” said Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi Jr., Hawaii National Guard, Joint Force director. “This year’s scenario is no different. We have the KOGABWILHAN, the TNI’s regional joint commands, who need to develop a response plan to a fictious scenario involving a country that is threating Indonesian regional security.”
One of the key differences in this year’s GB22 was the implementation of the TNI’s KOGABWILHAN structure in the exercise. The KOGABWILHAN is analogous to the US Forces combatant commands. The three KOGABWILHAN’s all provided key staff to the planning exercise. This expanded command structure is a relatively new development in the TNI’s military leadership doctrine. In previous years, Gema Bhatki involved the formation of a single Joint Staff. GB22 stood up three staffs, who all worked separate facets of a dynamic regional scenario. The involvement of the KOGABWILHAN personnel will provide added continuity for future Gema Bhakti exercises.
“Working with the TNI has been great,” commented Army Master Sgt. Jason Lieber, USINDOPACOM. “They [TNI] do a lot of things in similar ways to the US. Gaining perspective and understanding then expanding on it, with new doctrine is the point of this exercise.”
The TNI and INDOPACOM provided participants from each of their military components, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines along with representatives from non-governmental agencies. Gema Bhakti also provides a personal and professional broadening opportunity for all its participants.
“My interactions with the TNI over the years have helped me develop as a leader,” said Army Lt. Col. Brandon Torres, Hawaii Army National Guard. “Their different approaches to different problems, to different types of people, to different originations, broadens my understanding of the world and colors the decisions I make. Learning about my warfighting function [military intelligence] and sharing my knowledge has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my military career.”
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2022 22:20 |
| Story ID: | 429439 |
| Location: | JAKARTA, ID |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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