How Hawaii Became A Training Ground For The Indonesian Military… Hawaii’s politicians and military commanders have pushed for strong defense ties with Jakarta for two decades, but Indonesia’s bloody history in the Pacific casts a shadow.
On a rainy November day outside of Wahiawa at the 25th Infantry Division’s Lightning Academy, a platoon of U.S. Army Cavalry scouts trained with Indonesian paratroopers in the jungle.
They used ropes to cross ravines and evacuated casualties up and down steep inclines through the jungle environment. Experienced jungle fighters, the Indonesians taught the Americans as much as they were learning.
“They have different ways of (making) the knots and mountaineering stuff that they do, and it was actually more efficient,” said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Hawkins. The platoon sergeant said that in his years deploying to combat zones around the world, the Indonesians were among the best soldiers with whom he’s worked.
