Indonesian Army officer cadets integrated into Australian Army’s Royal Military College-Duntroon (RMC-D) platoons during the annual short-term cadet exchange between both military academies. The aim of the exchange is to expose cadets to different training and culture, while building enduring relationships at the junior level. The cadets from Indonesia’s officer academy, Akademi Militer (Akmil), participated in the second part of the foreign academy exchange program between both armies. Accompanying them as the inaugural Australian Army instructor to the Indonesian academy, the activity gave the Duntroon cadets opportunities to see the quality of their neighbouring country’s military.
In the field, RMC cadets readily explained to their counterparts what was occurring during the missions, such as how to patrol, fire and move, and what the platoon commander was conducting, according to RMC-D Staff Cadet Alexander Adams. The exchange occurred while the RMC-D cadets were conducting their platoon commander field assessments over a month-long battle block training period at Puckapunyal. The exchange between the two academies has been going for more than 50 years. At Akmil, in a small museum honouring former cadet and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, there are photos of him participating in the program as a cadet during the early 1970s.
“Training together proved both nations shared similar tactics, demonstrated in the ability for the Akmil cadets to effectively integrate into an RMC platoon with minimal preparation training,” Major Michael Kiting said.
“They easily adapted to how we train and fight, even with language barriers when explaining and teaching tactical actions. It provides a familiar face for future training, and someone to reach out to when our careers inevitably cross again,” Staff Cadet Adams said.
The program aims to create links between officer networks who may work together again during future activities. The Akmil cadets were selected on merit and English language ability. In September, nine RMC cadets and two instructors visited Akmil in phase one of the program. Separately, two Indonesian Army cadets are attending RMC for the first time in history and will graduate next June. The Royal Military College, Duntroon, also known simply as Duntroon, is the Australian Army’s officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, close to the Department of Defence headquarters at Russell Hill.
Cadets from the Royal Military College-Duntroon and Indonesian Army exercise patrol tactics at Puckapunyal military training area. (Photo by Major Michael Kiting/Australian Government Department of Defence)
