TNI to Hold Joint Exercise in Riau Islands

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The Indonesian military (TNI) will hold a joint exercise code-named Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2014 in the Riau Islands province from March to April 2014. The joint exercise is part of the TNI's programs in 2014 that include integrated weaponry exercise, amphibious tank BMP-3F tryout and artillery and cavalry shooting contest, stated commander of marine troops Brig. Gen. Siswoyo Hari Santoso, while leading a roll call here on Tuesday. Also present at the roll call, was chief of staff of marine troops-1 Col. Bambang Suryo Aji. Some 5 thousand marine troops from the Eastern Indonesian marine corps took part in the event that was aimed at evaluating the corps' performance in 2013. Siswoyo noted that the corps had a number of great successes in 2013, including their participation in the Indonesian military's joint exercise 2013 in Banongan and Sangatta, East Kalimantan, and in preparing facilities to support exercise at the Marine Corps' fighting exercise ground in Baluran, Situbondo, East Java. They also succeeded in organizing a ceremony to promote Indonesian military chief Gen. Moeldoko as an honorary member of the Marine Corps at the Bhumi Marinir shooting ground at Karangpilang, Surabaya, he stated. "The success in performing the duties is a stamp of your professionalism and loyalty as landing troops," he explained. (*)