DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia –
U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, alongside members of the Australian Defence Force, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and various civil and government agencies, rehearsed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations during Exercise Bhakti Kanyini AUSINDO 24 in Australia’s Northern Territory from Aug 12-21.
BKA 24 took place at Robertson Barracks and provided an opportunity for Allies and partners to plan, rehearse, and learn from each other. The exercise began with an opening ceremony at the Northern Territory Parliament House, Darwin, where participants and observers were welcomed, many meeting for the first time. Following the ceremony, participants collaborated on a week-long series of briefs and planning challenges.
“This was a great opportunity, a great exercise, to start building those relationships and have those for the future,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Rebecca Bolz, the commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), MRF-D 24.3.
Each nation and its respective civil and government agencies led academic sessions to educate others about their capabilities and roles during HADR operations. The participants rehearsed planning through a scenario focused on responding to a typhoon that caused severe damage to a fictional country in Oceania. MRF-D 24.3, ADF, and TNI personnel developed plans, coordinating with subject matter experts from civil and government agencies. MRF-D 24.3’s role involved personnel from CLB-5 (Rein.) and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), who assessed and planned for Marine Air-Ground Task Force capabilities in support of the HADR scenario.
“The participants remained responsive and flexible, much like we’re going to need to do in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation, and that was critical to making this event a success,” said Bolz.
While military and defense organizations often provide critical capabilities in support of HADR operations, civil and government agencies typically lead and coordinate such efforts. Agencies such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure, and the U.S. Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, also participated in the exercise, facilitating realistic planning with their subject matter experts and experience. This collaboration provided insight into how these organizations could integrate and work together in the future.
“It’s all about unity between the nations that are part of the exercise,” explained Australian Army Maj. Adam White, the operations officer for Headquarters Northern Command. “BKA and its objectives is all about getting to know the other nations’ capabilities and the limits of those capabilities.”
After developing their plans, participants transitioned to a field training exercise to focus on the tactical actions necessary for response. U.S. Navy Role II medical personnel with CLB-5 (Rein.) demonstrated how to triage injuries and route patients to the appropriate section for expedited treatment. CLB-5 (Rein.) and TNI service members also worked together to rehearse a mass-casualty drill, where they assessed, transported, and treated simulated casualties from a disaster event. In addition to the mass-casualty training, exercise participants conducted water purification, route clearance, and MV-22B Osprey familiarization training.
“The benefit of this exercise for us, especially the TNI, is to validate and refine multinational-force standard operating procedures for HADR missions in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Indonesian National Armed Forces Lt. Col. Ali Isnaini, the commanding officer of the TNI contingent in BKA 24.
BKA 24 highlights the importance of combined operations and demonstrates how working together builds relationships and familiarization through shared processes.
“Collectively, we are better for participating in this exercise, and we will be ready to respond when the call comes,” concluded Bolz.