Fajarasia.id – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) carried out a night parachute training exercise at Depati Amir Airport, Bangka Belitung, aimed at sharpening infiltration capabilities while reinforcing security in the province, which has been plagued by illegal tin mining at nearly 1,000 sites.
The drill was directly overseen by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto along with senior military officials.
According to a press release from TNI Headquarters, the exercise involved Denmatra 1 and the Para Raider Infantry Brigade 18/Trisula, both participating in a joint military training program.
Major General (Mar) Freddy Ardianzah, Head of the TNI Information Center, explained that the operation began with the Kelompok Depan Operasi Lintas Udara (KDOL), or Airborne Forward Operations Group, which secured the designated drop zone.
“The KDOL unit ensures the safety of the drop zone, conducts initial clearance, monitors terrain and weather conditions, identifies potential threats, and guides paratroopers with visual signals,” Freddy said.
Once the landing zone was secured, troops performed the night jump using Indonesian Air Force transport aircraft. Freddy confirmed that the operation went smoothly without any injuries among the soldiers.“We deployed 23 paratroopers in total—13 from Denmatra 1 and 10 from Brigade 18. Thankfully, the entire exercise was successful,” he added.
The TNI emphasized that the training not only enhances combat readiness but also strengthens the military’s role in safeguarding Bangka Belitung from illegal mining activities, which have long posed economic and environmental challenges to the region.
Freddy expressed hope that the exercise would further prepare the TNI to be relied upon in combat missions while ensuring the protection of national resources.****
