PUSLATPUR 5, Indonesia – Super Garuda Shield 2024, a multinational military exercise hosted by Indonesia, is underway. This critical exercise highlights the robust strategic partnership and interoperability between the U.S., Indonesia, and a coalition of other participating nations. Hosted in Indonesia, this year’s iteration has grown in scale and complexity, further reinforcing the strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.

Brig. Gen. Kevin James Williams, deputy commanding general for operations, 25th Infantry Division, and Army Forces commander for Super Garuda Shield 2024, emphasized the exercise’s significance.

“Super Garuda Shield allows the U.S. and Indonesian armed forces to come together to exercise and rehearse interoperability, train warfighting readiness, and build professional and personal trust,” said Williams. “This partnership enhances our ability to respond to crises in the region or to help one another in times of need.”

More than 23 nations are participating this year, with 11 actively involved in the exercises. The event’s scale underscores the importance of multinational cooperation in addressing complex security challenges.

Williams noted the unique operational challenges and opportunities of coordinating such a large-scale exercise.

“Deploying an entire task force under an Army Forces command structure, integrating forces by ship and air, and coordinating across joint services, including the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, are significant undertakings,” said Williams. “But these challenges present invaluable opportunities to build a coalition, exercise under realistic conditions, and enhance our collective readiness.”

Super Garuda Shield 2024 continues to evolve as a joint and multinational exercise, with this year’s iteration incorporating more complex scenarios and expanding its scope. Reflecting on his previous experiences with Garuda Shield, Williams observed the exercise’s growth.

“From its beginnings almost a decade ago as an army-to-army exercise, Garuda Shield has transformed into a joint and multinational endeavor,” Williams said. “The participation of over 23 nations and the full spectrum of U.S. and Indonesian joint forces demonstrates our commitment to enhancing readiness, improving warfighting skills, and fostering interoperability across the multinational spectrum.”

A key feature of Super Garuda Shield 2024 is integrating cultural understanding into the training exercises. The 25th Infantry Division, in collaboration with Indonesian forces, emphasizes respect and cultural immersion as essential components of the exercise.

“We are not only training with our partners but also engaging with the local population,” Williams said. “Through engineering projects, medical exchanges, and other community-focused initiatives, we are building bonds that go beyond the military, fostering goodwill and mutual respect.”

This holistic approach to the exercise Super Garuda Shield 2024 is a testament to the United States’ commitment to enhancing training capabilities and fostering cultural understanding and respect among nations. Super Garuda Shield 2024 exemplifies the strength of multinational partnerships and joint interoperability, continuing to increase joint interoperability while cultivating ready, willing, and capable partners to collectively address security challenges in and around the Indo-Pacific.