Garuda Shield 14 Comes to an End

More than 100 Soldiers with the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD) and U.S. Army joined together as they clapped their hands, stomped their feet and lifted their voices in the middle of a soccer field for one last chance to share in a motivational chant.

As the chant came to an end so did the final ceremony for Garuda Shield 14.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division based in Washington State, the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Hawaii Army National Guard, and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and soldiers of the TNI 2nd Infantry Division Kostrad stood together on the parade field of Puslatpur, an Indonesian Armed Forces Marine Base, during the exercises closing ceremony, Sept. 29.

“We are honored to be partners and to be standing together with you today to close exercise Garuda Shield,” said Brig. Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, deputy commanding general-operations, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Over the last month the soldiers from the two armies have been through a combined field training exercise emphasizing jungle survival, mounted and dismount infantry operations, combined aviation training, medical care and humanitarian assistance and they synchronized and executed combined tactical operations center missions.

“While these tasks, skills and training exercises are important to our forces, the real success lies in the partnership these soldiers have developed during this event,” said Fenton.

This exercise has been able to enhance professional relationships, and improve bilateral readiness, co-operation and interoperability between the Indonesian and U.S. forces.

“As we all understand, this joint exercise is an excellent medium for us to improve skills and professionalism of the soldiers, as well as the tools to promote the cooperation and friendship between the these two armies,” said Maj. Gen. Mulyono, commander, Strategic Reserve Command, TNI-AD.

The TNI and U.S. Soldiers finished off the ceremony with a unique and fraternal motivational chant they created during their time together over the last month.