U.S. and Indonesian Marines Conduct Keris MAREX 2024 Joint Training
The U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) and elements of the Indonesian Marine Corps (Korps Marinir Republik Indonesia or KORMAR) have commenced the third annual iteration of their joint training exercise, Keris Marine Exercise (MAREX) 2024. This year's training is being held at Yonif 10 Marinir in Batam, Indonesia, from November 6 to November 19, 2024.
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Strengthening Regional Security and Interoperability
The joint exercise aims to enhance the interoperability between the two military forces, ensure regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, and foster strong working relationships as marine partners. Conducted annually, this exercise involves approximately 360 personnel from KORMAR's 10th Infantry Battalion and 200 U.S. Marines from MRF-SEA, with a focus on joint operational planning, strategy, and coastal defense tactics.
According to the official website of the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia, the training underscores the strategic advantages of the partnership between the U.S. and Indonesian Marines. "Training alongside our KORMAR partners strengthens our ability to respond to regional security challenges," said Colonel Stuart Glenn, Commander of MRF-SEA.
He further emphasized that joint planning and realistic training build the interoperability and trust needed for both forces to respond to any crisis and ensure regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
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Enhancing Combat and Survival Capabilities
The joint exercises include various activities to boost the combat and survival skills of both forces. These activities range from indirect fire using mortars and infantry tactics to utilizing small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) for reconnaissance and operations. The Marines also undergo survival training in jungle environments and CASEVAC (casualty evacuation) medical training to improve their response capabilities.
The exercise's culmination is a coastal defense mission, in which the combined forces of U.S. and Indonesian Marines face off against a simulated amphibious landing by enemy forces. This mission allows both forces to implement the tactics, techniques, and procedures refined during the training, further strengthening their operational cooperation.
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Growing Bilateral Defense Cooperation
This collaboration reflects the increasingly strong defense ties between the United States and Indonesia, which are rooted in a historic defense cooperation agreement signed last year by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and then Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Jamie Ravetz highlighted that this robust bilateral defense relationship is a key pillar of the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership, playing a vital role in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
