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Members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces recently completed training on the Bushmaster in Darwin covering maintenance and operations.
The training was delivered following Australia’s gift of 15 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles in 2021 by then defence minister Peter Dutton.
The gift was only accepted by Indonesia in April 2023.
According to Defence News, the training package which was carried out in Darwin, included introductory and more advanced operations, vehicle maintenance as well as training on the communications equipment.
Participants commenced the training package on a simulator before graduating to challenging real-life driving courses which included water crossings.
The training also sought to deepen relationships between the Australian Defence Force and the Indonesian military, which saw members undertake recreational activities in Northern Australia.
Major Matt Breckenridge, who oversaw the training and is currently seconded to the Indonesian Armed Forces Peacekeeping Centre, explained that the Bushmaster capability would prove essential to help Indonesia’s peacekeeping operations.
“The purpose was to give these soldiers the skills they need to safely operate and maintain the vehicles and associated communications equipment in austere environments,” MAJ Breckenridge said.
“The Bushmaster is particularly well-suited to missions where there is an increased risk of ambush, mines or improvised explosive devices, which are common to the mission areas where TNI conduct peacekeeping operations.”
Speaking to Defence News, MAJ Breckenridge explained that the Indonesian military typically has 2,500 members deployed on peacekeeping operations.
“We’re very proud to be able to support them in developing that peacekeeping capability,” he said.
