BANDUNG, Indonesia – Six members of the Hawaii Army National Guard visited the city of Bandung, Indonesia, to participate in Hawaii's State Partnership Program's seventh Noncommissioned Officer Subject Matter Expert Exchange, Feb. 22-26.
The NCO exchange is designed for military personnel from Hawaii and the Indonesian NCOs to learn each other's military tactics, procedures and culture all while building a lasting friendship.
"This is a great opportunity for us to build interoperability and capacity as NCOs in support of the United States Pacific Command's theater security cooperation plan," said Sgt. Major Ronald Oshiba, HIARNG operations senior enlisted advisor.
Thirty-one Indonesian Soldiers were split up into four squads and assigned a HIARNG mentor to learn through classroom and hands-on instruction. Topics such as leadership, rank structure, how to evaluate a casualty, map reading and how women have evolved in the U.S. military were covered.
"The class about women in the military was enjoyable and very interesting," said Second Sgt. Dara Indah, the first female Indonesian NCO to attend the course. "It gave me motivation and inspired me to do my best. It made me more proud to be a woman in the Army."
Mentors from the Indonesian Army presented classes such as their basic rank structure and their 11 principles of leadership.
"We benefit greatly from the Indonesian Army because we learn the way they operate, while exchanging experiences and culture," said Sgt. 1st Class Christian Stazskow, SMEE mentor. "Culturally we are a lot alike. The hardest part of this exercise is saying goodbye because after a week of training together we develop a life-long friendship."
We have a great partnership, said Chief Sgt. Hardi Kurmiwan, Indonesian Army.
"We learn from the U.S. Soldiers and they learn from us…we train together," said Kurmiwan.
Every morning before training began each squad performed a motivational motto, a loud rhythmic chant.
"Our squad leaders always encourages us to do our motto so all of us go to class with the same spirit," said Kurmiwan. "So when we yell and clap the person with no spirit will forget his problems."
Stazskow plans on using this technique at home to motivate his Soldiers.
"The best thing I can bring back home for my Soldiers is the Indonesian NCO spirit," said Stazskow. "They have the greatest spirit out of any Soldiers I have ever met. They come with a positive attitude and are fully engaged while they train."
After the classroom instruction, the Soldiers were able to apply what they learned in the field during an infantry patrol practical exercise.
"The exercise is a new thing for some of us," said Sgt. Major. Tommy Effendi, Indonesian Army. "I learned that the U.S. Army really appreciates life, the safety of your Soldier is a priority. If one of your Soldiers is injured you carry them to safety, treat their wounds and you never leave them behind. The U.S. really respects humanity and human rights."
Effendi mentioned that he hopes the NCO exchange will continue not only next year but for many years to come.
"We are looking forward to continuing and enhancing our partnership because I feel that our NCOs have learned just as much as we have shared," said Sgt. Major Ronald Oshiba. "I know we are going to go back to the U.S. as better NCOs ourselves."