A multinational and multi-agency humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise recently concluded at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.
Exercise Bhakti Kanyini AusIndo 2024 involved the ADF, the US Marine Corps (Marine Rotational Force - Darwin) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) demonstrating their collective response to a devastating cyclone in the fictional nation of 'Bellesia'.
Key outcomes of the exercise included improving interoperability and contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
For the first time, the exercise included observers from the United Kingdom, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea. Alongside the military observers, several senior military leaders attended the Bhakti Kanyini VIP Day, including Timor-Leste's Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Domingos Raul 'Falur Rate Laek', demonstrating the potential for deeper humanitarian collaboration among Australia's partners in future iterations.
'It was very satisfying to see all three nations working effectively together and improving our interoperability.'
Exercise Director Major Adam White said Bhakti Kanyini proved the effectiveness of the trilateral arrangement of Australia, Indonesia and the US in an HADR environment.
"Working together through BKA [Bhakti Kanyini] is all about getting to know the other nations' capabilities and complementing each other's skills and experience, in this case the provision of HADR," Major White said.
"As Exercise Director, on behalf of Commander Headquarters Northern Command, I was in the unique position of working alongside participants while also providing direction and guidance - it was very satisfying to see all three nations working effectively together and improving our interoperability.
"It was also fantastic to have observers from Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom, all of whom will hopefully return to future iterations of BKA as participating nations."
Commanding Officer Combat Logistics Battalion 5, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin (MRF-D), Lieutenant Colonel Rebecca Bolz, said the exercise helped ensure the three partner nations were able to respond quickly and collectively to any potential natural disaster that may occur in the region.
"From a MRF-D point of view, we practised a number of activities including Osprey operations, watercraft manoeuvres, water purification and rehearsal of the provision of a Role 2 medical facility for mass casualty drills," Lieutenant Colonel Bolz said.
'Working together through BKA [Bhakti Kanyini] is all about getting to know the other nations' capabilities and complementing each other's skills and experience.'
A Role 2 medical facility describes a fully functioning field hospital that provides vital life-saving treatment for up to 15 patients consecutively.
Commanding Officer of the TNI Contingent Lieutenant Colonel Ali Isnaini said Bhakti Kanyini provided a valuable training opportunity for members of the TNI.
"This exercise allowed the TNI to be able to validate and refine a multinational force response to a natural disaster in the Indo-Pacific region," Lieutenant Colonel Isnaini said.
"We appreciate the ADF's efforts in organising this exercise and look forward to working together again soon."
The exercise was conducted in partnership with government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the US Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency.
