Jakarta (ANTARA) – Selected officers from Indonesian and Australian armies honed combat skills in the “Wirra Jaya Ausindo 2026” joint military exercise in Semarang, Central Java, which concluded on Friday (October 9).
Major Jarrad Dekuyer, commander of the Australian Army contingent in the joint exercise, said the Wirra Jaya Ausindo 2026 drill is a momentum to strengthen bilateral defense partnership.
“We organize the joint exercise to contribute to the security of Indonesia and Australia. We can also help each other during crises,” Major Dekuyer said.
Meanwhile, Private Peterson, assigned by the Australian Army to partake in the joint drills, said he learned much from their Indonesian colleagues.
“From our Indonesian partners, we learned jungle warfare skills, first aid for combat victims, and tactical defense. We also practiced shooting with live ammunition. I am glad for practicing with Indonesian Army officers. They are enthusiastic and quick to grab lessons,” Peterson said after participating in a combat simulation on Friday.
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Second Lieutenant (Inf.) Rangga Dwika, from the Indonesian Army, said the joint drills presented an opportunity for Indonesian and Australian officers to learn from each other.
“We hope the drills can elevate the quality of drills in the two countries and strengthen our bilateral relations,” Dwika said.
The strategic collaboration involved 125 Indonesian and 77 Australian officers selected to participate in the drills, which took place in Semarang from September 18 to October 9.
The exercises focused on combat shooting, military self-defense, first aid, and drone operations.
During the joint drills, participants also practiced quick reload and target change, pre-flight drone checks, and self-defense capability focused on neutralizing enemies and mitigating threats.
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Translator: Asri Mayang Sari, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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