Super Garuda Shield

Super Garuda Shield (formerly Garuda Shield) is a two-week multinational military exercise between the United States Armed Forces, Indonesian National Armed Forces, and multiple partner nations. The purpose of this joint exercise is to maintain peace and security, including to strengthen relationships within the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing military capabilities, interoperability, and collective commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. This joint-exercise was first held since 2007, and took place in Indonesia.

Overview

The first Garuda Shield, in 2007, was designed to improve the military capabilities and cooperation between the U.S. and Indonesian armies. It started as a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Indonesia, focusing on specific aspects of military training and interoperability.

Over the years, the exercise has expanded to include other countries and military branches, becoming a multinational combined arms exercise. The exercise reflects the increasing strategic importance of Indonesia in the Indo-Pacific region and the U.S.'s interest in strengthening its relationship with Indonesia through military cooperation.

Super Garuda Shield, the current iteration, emphasizes strengthening relationships within the Indo-Pacific region, including enhancing military capabilities, interoperability, and collective commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise typically includes field training exercises, command post exercises, and humanitarian civic action projects.

Garuda Shield 2007

The opening ceremony of Garuda Shield 2007 (GS-1/2007) was coordinated by the Indonesian Army and the U.S. Army at the Salak Hotel, Bogor, West Java, on 16 April 2007. The exercise was participated by 72 Indonesian Army officers and 80 U.S. Army service members from United States Army Pacific from 16 April to 27 April 2007, at Kostrad 1st Infantry Division Headquarter, in Cilodong, West Java, Indonesia. The exercise aims to improve joint brigade-level staff officers' cooperation and coordination capabilities in support of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Operations.

Exercise Garuda Shield 2007 is a sequence of command post-exercises held in Indonesia that focused on improving peace support and civil-military operations capabilities. This initiative is led by the common goal of Indonesia and the U.S. to maintain peace, security, and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Garuda Shield 2008

The joint exercise Garuda Shield 2008 (GS-2/2008) between the Indonesian Army and USARPAC (UNITED STATES ARMY PACIFIC) officially opened at the Timor Ball Room, Borobudur Hotel, Central Jakarta, March 31, 2008.

The personnel who participated in the joint training from the United States were represented by USARPAC with the number of personnel ranging from the rank of Non-Commissioned Officer to Brigadier General totaling 108 personnel, while from Indonesia involving a unit at the level of the ''Kodam Jaya'' Brigade totaling 100 personnels.

This joint exercise was carried out from 29 March 2008 to 11 April 2008. The training material was in the form of a staff coordination simulation in the implementation of peace assistance tasks in conflict areas in the framework of military operations other than war. With the aim of building military cooperation between the Indonesian Army and USARPAC with a focus on improving the ability of cooperation and coordination of joint Brigade-level staff in supporting UN peace operations.

Garuda Shield 2009

This was the third year for the Garuda Shield joint-exercise. This joint-exercise took place in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. It is a continuation of ongoing joint efforts co sponsored by the U.S. military (USPACOM) and Indonesian Army to provide assistance and training to the Indonesian military, support U.S. and Indonesian security objectives, and provide certification for Indonesian instructors on all levels of the Global Peacekeeping Operation Initiative. Several other nations were invited to join the exercise. The following nations were
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Garuda Shield 2010

Garuda Shield 2010 was held in June 2010 in Cipatat, Bandung, Indonesia. As part of the exercise, staff officers from the Pacific Command, the HIARNG, USARPAC, and the TNI will form a brigade to test peace support and stability operations capabilities. As part of the exercise, staff officers from the Pacific Command, the HIARNG, USARPAC, and the TNI will form a brigade to test peace support and stability operations capabilities. Other troops are in the middle of conducting a field training exercise to exchange UN standardized organizational tactics, techniques and procedures to improve tactical interoperability. Meanwhile, engineers are working in Indonesia's rural communities to provide humanitarian civic actions (HCA). Every day scores of children mil about the construction sites to watch the progress. Engineer partners are making quick work of a baby clinic, community center and amphitheatre. Countries that were represented are

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Garuda Shield 2011

Garuda Shield 2011 exercise has three main components: a command post exercise, a field training exercise, and a humanitarian civic action project. The 12-day training, which was attended by 631 TNI AD personnel and 141 personnel from USARPAC, aims to improve interoperability among trainees and prepare capacity building facilities for UN troop-sending countries. Director of Training of the Indonesian Army Doctrine, Education and Training Development Command (Kodiklat TNI-AD) Brig. Gen. Mulyono said the joint military exercise between the two countries was conducted to place the cooperation in the United Nations peace-keeping operation on a solid footing. He said the regular annual exercise this year in Bogor involved Indonesian Ground Force and United States Army Pacific, an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and is the army component unit of the United States Pacific Command.

"Such an exercise is the fifth of its kind because Indonesia is frequently involved in UN peace-keeping missions," Mulyono said.

He added that the "Garuda Shield" exercise in general was intended to step up the relations between the two countries` ground forces.

"The joint exercise with the US is of great advantage in the face of peace-keeping operation dynamics, and the way how to integrate the system of training in Indonesia and the United States," Mulyono said. According to him, the exercise that will last until June 22 is divided into two stages, namely post command rehearsal (Geladi Posko) and field rehearsal (Geladi Lapang).

Garuda Shield 2012

To improve capabilities and skills, the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) conducted a joint exercise with the United States Army military in the Asia Pacific (USARPAC) at the 2nd Kostrad Infantry Division complex field, Singosari, Malang, East Java, Monday (11/6/2012).

The joint exercise, said Lieutenant General TNI M Munir, involved 456 Indonesian Army personnel and 104 USARPAC personnel. The activities that will be carried out include the command post exercise which will be held at the Rindam Brawijaya PLDC and the field training exercise which will be held in the training area in Rindam V Brawijaya Sidodadi Lawang, Malang, and Karya Bhakti (ENCAP) which will be held in Purwosari, Pasuruan.

Garuda Shield 2013

On 10 June 2013, the Indonesian and United States Armed Forces held the opening ceremony of Garuda Shield 2013 at the TNI Infantry 1 Kostrad Division Headquarters in Depok, West Java, Indonesia. The Honorable Scot Marciel, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, and exercise co-directors Maj. Gen. Gary Hara, Deputy Commanding General for the Army National Guard, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Maj. Gen. Daniel Ambat, Kostrad 1st Division Commander, spoke at the ceremony.

Garuda Shield 2013 lasted for 12 days, from 10 June to 21 June 2013. Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army National Guard in the Pacific (USARPAC), Gary M Hara, said 312 U.S. Army personnel participated in the exercise. Meanwhile, 300 personnel from Indonesia. The exercise includes planning and executing a combined brigade-level command post exercise based on a United Nations (U.N.) scenario and a field-training exercise based on a rescue operation scenario. The exercise involved troops from U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC); the Indonesian Army National Army (TNI-AD), Kostrad 1st Division; 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division; and the Indonesian Army, 17th Airborne Brigade.

Along with a series of parachute jumps, about 500 paratroopers of both nations conducted infantry training and operations during the exercise. The exercise focused on developing the respective militaries' ability to contribute to U.N. peace support operations, and on strengthening the nations' growing military relationships.

Garuda Shield 2014

The opening ceremony of the 2014 Garuda Shield training exercise was held on 1 September 2014 at the ''Dodiklatpur Rindam'' V/BRW Asembagus, Situbondo with a personnel strength of approximately 1,055 personnel consisting of 619 Kostrad soldiers under the leadership of Colonel Inf. Agung Pambudi (Danbrigif 6/2/K) as the Exercise Commander; and 436 soldiers from the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) under the leadership of Brigadier General Lewinz.

This joint exercise was held for 1 month starting from 1 September to 30 September 2014 at the Combat Training Education Depot (''Dodiklatpur'') Rindam V/Brawijaya and the Marine Combat Training Center (Puslatmar), Situbondo. 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 with Indonesian Army soldiers from the 2nd Kostrad Infantry Division carried out a month long exercise to foster cooperation and understanding.

Garuda Shield 2014 joint exercise consists of Command Training Operation Exercise, Command Post Exercise, Jungle Field Training Exercise, combat vehicle and aviation training, Combined Arms Fire Exercise, Medical, as well as social service activities.

Garuda Shield 2015

Joint Exercise Garuda Shield 2015 between the Indonesian Army and the United States Army officially began and was opened in a military ceremony at the Kostrad Training Area, Gunung Sentul, Sukabumi, 20 August 2015. Acting as the Inspector of the Ceremony was the Chief of Staff, 1st Infantry Division, Kostrad, Brigadier General Agus Suhardi and Deputy Commander of the 25th Infantry Division USARPAC Brigadier General Gary Brito.

The Garuda Shield 2015 was carried out from 20 August to 28 August 2015. The exercise consist of Medical/Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Combat Patrol, marksmanship, Military Operations in Urban Terrain, Close Quarter Battle (CQB), Swamp Forest Patrol, and jungle and sea survival.

Garuda Shield 2016

Joint Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2016 was held on 1 August to 12 August 2016, attended by 481 joint military personnel from the Kostrad Raider Battalion and the U.S. Army Pacific at Asembagus Combat Training Center (''Puslatpur''), Situbondo.

The joint training materials between the two countries include, Command Post Exercise, Field Training Exercise including Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) training, Medical Exercise and Aviation Exercise.

Garuda Shield 2017

The Indonesian Army and the United States Army held the Garuda Shield 2017 in two different training locations, 310th Battalion Infantry Base (''Mayonif 310/KK")'' Cikembar, and Kostrad Cibenda Training Area, Sukabumi, West Java, for 11 days from 18 to 29 September 2017.

The exercise involved 732 personnel from the Indonesian Army from the 303rd Para Raider Infantry Battalion (Yonif 303/SSM), 13th Raider Infantry Brigade (Brigif 13/1) assigned to Kostrad 1st Infantry Division and Army Aviation (''Penerbad''), together with the US Army from the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC); and 103rd Infantry Division; and US Army Aviation.

The Garuda Shield 2017 joint exercise consists of an early entry aviation Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) and unmanned aerial surveillance SMEE, aviation live fire exercises (surface and littoral), a Command Post Exercise, Combined Tactical Operation Center, and an infantry company Field Training Exercise and Live Fire Exercise (LFX). The exercise involved helicopters from both countries, with the Indonesian Army deploying Mi-35, Mi-17, Bell and Bolcow combat helicopters; and the US Army deploying Blackhawk and Apache helicopters.

Garuda Shield 2018

Indiana Army National Guardsmen from the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, with Indonesian Army soldiers from the 9th Raider Infantry Brigade, assigned to Kostrad 2nd Infantry Division, held the Opening Ceremony of Garuda Shield 2018 at the Combat Training Center (''Puslatpur''), Situbondo, Indonesia, 29 July 2018.

The Garuda Shield 2018 joint exercise was held for 2 weeks, from 30 July 2018 until 10 August 2018, which included Command Training Operation Exercise, Command Post Exercise, Field Training Exercise, Aviation and Medical as well as Community Service activities.

Garuda Shield 2019

Indonesian Army soldiers from the 9th Raider Infantry Brigade, assigned to Kostrad 2nd Infantry Division, and the US Army from United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) held the Opening Ceremony of Garuda Shield 2019 at Training and Combat Education Depot (''Dodiklatpur'') Kodam V/Brw, Asembagus, Situbondo, Indonesia, 19 August 2019. The joint training was held for 12 days from 19 August to August 30, 2019.

More than 700 U.S. Army personnel from 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team assigned to 25th Infantry Division; Hawaii, U.S. Army Pacific Command; Hawaii, 10th Support Group, Japan, I Corps, Washington, and U.S. Army National Guard from Michigan participated in Exercise Garuda Shield 19, making it not only one of the largest bilateral training exercises in the Indo-Pacific region but a true total force representation of the U.S. Army.

Garuda Shield 2020

Garuda Shield 2020 (GS-14/2020) was opened in 9 September 2020. This exercise focuses on MDMP (Military Decision-Making Process) exercises, through conference (Indoor / computer simulation class). This exercise is limited due to COVID-19.

Garuda Shield 2021

The Opening Ceremony of Garuda Shield 2021 was held on August 4, 2021, and was attended by the Commanding General of the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC), General Charles A. Flynn, and the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army, General Andika Perkasa at the Army ''Kodiklat'' (Combat Training Center), Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu, South Sumatra.

The Garuda Shield 2021 joint exercise took place from 4 August to 14 August 2021, with 2,161 Indonesian Army soldiers and 1,547 United States soldiers participating. A number of materials were implemented in this exercise, including: Staff Exercise, Field Training Exercise, Live Fire Exercise, Aviation and Medical Exercise (Medex) and two training programs that will be combined, namely Joint Combined Exchange Training and Garuda Airborne.

Super Garuda Shield 2022

In April 2022, a new Garuda Shield joint-exercise was announced, which involved 14 countries, making it the largest edition of Garuda Shield by participants since it was established.

The Opening Ceremony of Super Garuda Shield 2022 held on 3 August 2022, attended by Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, General Charles Flynn, and Chief of Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Andika Perkasa, at Baturaja Combat Training Center (''Puslatpur''), South Sumatra, Indonesia.

The exercise was conducted from 3 August to 14 August 2022 by more than 4,000 combined forces personnel, including first time participants Australia, Singapore, and Japan Ground Self Defense Force, are participating in support of the exercise. Other nations include Canada, France, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the United Kingdom as Observer.

The exercise consisted Field Training Exercise, Medic Exercise, Combined Arms Life Fire Exercise, Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices, Ordnance Disposal, Aviation, and Subject Matter Expert Exchange. As well as Joint Exercises: Amphibious Exercise, Cooperative Deployment, Himars Rapid Infiltration/ Caesar Rapid Infiltration, Austere Airfield Ops and Airborne Operations.

Super Garuda Shield 2023

On August 31, 2023, Super Garuda Shield 2023 launched at Warships Training Center (''Puslatkaprang''), 2nd Fleet Command (''Koarmada II''), Surabaya, East Java, and at 5th Combat Training Center (''Puslatpur 5''), Baluran, Situbondo, East Java. Staff exercises between the US, Indonesia, the UK, and Australia were also held in addition to the regular exercises.

The exercise was conducted from 31 August to 13 September 2023 by more than 5,000 combined forces personnel from seven nations participating in support of the exercise, and other twelve nations as the Observers.

Super Garuda Shield 2024

United States and the Indonesian National Armed Forces officially kicked off the 2024 Super Garuda Shield exercise on 26 August 2024 with an opening ceremony at Indonesian military base on Juanda Naval Air Base, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.

Super Garuda Shield 2024 (SGS24) multinational exercise was held by partnering nations on 26 August 2024 – 6 September 2024, in three main locations: Situbondo, Karawang, and Baturaja. Service members from the United States, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, and New Zealand participated in the exercise, including Observing nations from Brazil, Brunei, Fiji, Germany, India, Malaysia, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Vanuatu. The total number of Participants from all countries is approximately 6,946 service members.

The exercise involves various military activities: Joint Staff Exercise (STAFFEX), Cyber Exercise (CYBEREX), Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), Airborne Ops, Cargo Delivery System, Joint Strike, Jungle Field Training Exercise, Special Operation Force, Amphibious Operation, Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP), Combined Arms Rehearsal (CAR), including Combined Arms Life Fire Exercise (CALFEX). The peak exercise, which involved a ground attack, was carried out at the 5th Marine Combat Training Center (''Puslatpurmar 5''), Baluran, Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia.

In addition, the exercise also included parachuting, airborne ops, and various other training materials, including at the Drop Zone (DZ) at Baturaja Combat Training Center (''Puslatpur Baturaja''), Ogan Komering Ulu, South Sumatra, Indonesia.

Super Garuda Shield 2025

''The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) are in the final stages of preparation for the Super Garuda Shield 2025. SGS25 will involve 15 countries, including both force contributors and observers, such as United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea, France, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, India, Singapore, New Zealand, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea.''

References

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See also

* RIMPAC
* Exercise Komodo

Indonesian Army
United States Army exercises