Baturaja, Indonesia — The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center deployed to the two-week Garuda Shield exercise to assess the warfighting capabilities of the Soldiers and leadership from the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division' Gimlets', and the Indonesian Armed Forces from the 330th Raider Battalion from July 31 to August 10.
The JPMRC is a Department of the Army initiative that consists of a deployable package of personnel and equipment designed to support training exercises across the Pacific theater.
"We are replicating real operations, and for the first time, we have deployed the JPMRC into the region," said Gen. Charles A. Flynn, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific. "This is to work in partnership with Gen. Andika Perkasa, [the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army] to create a training center here in Baturaja."
In 2014, the Center started as the Joint Pacific Multi Readiness Capability and recently transformed into the exportable Combat Training Center Instrumentation System known today.
"We routinely travel throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and Washington state, but this is the first deployment to a foreign country," said Col. Ryan O'Connor, commander of the 196th Infantry Brigade."
The CTC-IS trained in the jungle environment, and in 2022 the system travels to the Arctic during negative 40 extreme cold weather conditions.
"You can't train Pacific, without being in the Pacific, you can't train the Arctic without being in the Arctic, and you can't train archipelagos unless you are in archipelagos," Anderson said. "That is the unique capability that we bring to this training experience."
While deployed to Indonesia for Garuda Shield 2021, JPMRC exhibited the distinctive capabilities of the exportable CTC-IS provided a leader laboratory crucible experience, for the Gimlets and the Raiders, by training in an archipelagic and jungle operating environment.
"The interoperability this system provides strengthens our ties to our partnership," said Maj. James Anderson, commander of JPMRC. "The Indonesian military are professionals, both with tactical knowledge and leadership. In addition, they have identified some great leaders familiar with similar systems who are interested in learning more about JPMRC."
The continued face-to-face interactions with Allies and partners not only solidifies the U.S.-Indonesia Major Defense Partnership, it advances cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and deters our adversaries.
JPMRC is rooted in the tenants of learning how to fight, teaching how to train, and creating readiness. The program reproduces combat by stressing every warfighting function at the home station.
"The laser integrated systems not only promote readiness, but through training, it also ensures the units are not far from their home station," said Anderson. "Reducing the burden on the units through time and cost allows our Army to be at the right place at the right time, in the respective area of operation, ready to fight."
The training and educational opportunities provided through Garuda Shield 2021 and JPMRC increase unit readiness and provide Soldiers and leaders with the cultural awareness and familiarization necessary to operate in overseas contingencies.
"It is one thing to bring our partners and Allies to Fort Irwin, California or Fort Polk, Louisiana; however, bringing our system out to our partners strengthens our interoperability," O'Connor said. "Our adversaries see that, and that's the power of being interoperable, our partners and allies training on our equipment using our systems in the area of operation."
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