U.S. and Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) Soldiers are preparing for a combined jungle exercise by teaching each other tactics, techniques, and procedures in bi-lateral academic training in a jungle environment.

One hundred and twenty five Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington joined the TNI’s 411 Raider Infantry Battalion for the training on how to properly conduct an ambush.

The ambush class was just one of many academic classes that are part of the broader exercise Garuda Shield ’14, an annual partnership training exercise that helps the army to build partner military capacity, improve U.S. tactics, and techniques, and demonstrate the U.S. Army’s commitment to its partnered nation of Indonesia.

The training was led by 1st Sgt. Heriyanto of the TNI. Heriyanto stressed the importance of verifying the target before initiating the ambush. “If you do not watch closely”, he told the Soldiers through an interpreter, “you might attack civilians instead, and that is unacceptable.”

The jungle training is an opportunity for U.S. Soldiers, who have spent the last 12 years fighting in desert and mountain environments to learn from the TNI and their extensive jungle warfare expertise.

This year, Garuda Shield was extended to 30 days to foster long lasting relationships between the soldiers and leaders of the two military forces.