Hawaiʻi National Guard backs final GPOI-funded Garuda Canti Dharma III exercise

SENTUL, Indonesia — Military members and civilians from 22 nations opened the final Global Peace Operations Initiative-funded Exercise Garuda Canti Dharma III on July 20 at the Indonesian Peacekeeping Training Center in Bogor, West Java, where more than 700 participants gathered to strengthen multinational peacekeeping skills. The event coincides with the 20th year of Hawaiʻi’s partnership with Indonesia under the National Guard State Partnership Program.

Serving as keynote speaker, Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory, the Hawaiʻi National Guard’s deputy adjutant general, underscored the value of longstanding ties and collective training. “Garuda Canti Dharma has become one of the world’s premier multinational peacekeeping exercises,” Mallory said during his opening remarks. “The participation of military professionals from so many nations reflects our shared commitment to preparing peacekeepers who are ready to serve with professionalism, integrity and respect for the people they are entrusted to protect. Training together today strengthens our ability to operate together tomorrow in support of international peace and security.”

Hawaiʻi and Indonesia have been SPP partners since 2006, expanding cooperation in disaster response, aviation, cyber defense, medical readiness, reserve force development, operational planning and professional military education. As island and archipelagic communities, the partners confront many of the same challenges, from disaster response and maritime security to safeguarding critical infrastructure.

Jointly hosted by U.S. Pacific Command and the Tentara Nasional Indonesia, Garuda Canti Dharma III is the world’s largest annual multinational peacekeeping field training exercise, running July 20 through Aug. 2. The exercise is designed to prepare military personnel for future United Nations peacekeeping missions through staff planning, classroom instruction and realistic field training, building interoperability for complex multinational environments. Training has included patrol operations, checkpoint management, first aid, crowd control and explosive ordnance disposal, along with a multinational Gender Focal Point course supporting the meaningful participation of women in peace operations.

This year’s iteration also aligns with the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership signed by the United States and Indonesia on April 13, 2026, which provides a framework for expanded cooperation in military modernization and capacity building, training, professional military education, exercises and operational cooperation.

Two Hawaiʻi Army National Guard field grade officers assigned to the Exercise Support Group helped synchronize personnel, logistics and operations with U.S. Pacific Command planners and multinational partners. Maj. Irish Manayan led administrative and logistics planning, while Maj. Randall Duldulao directed operational planning and integrated participating forces across multiple organizations. “It was an honor and privilege to help plan and execute Garuda Canti Dharma III,” Duldulao said. “Although each nation brings its own processes, we all share the same mission. Exercises like this build the trust and understanding needed to succeed together.”

Hawaiʻi Soldiers are serving as instructors, subject matter experts and participants across multiple events. Five Soldiers from medical units support two medical training lanes, and Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment are providing two instructors and 10 Soldiers for the field training exercise. Working with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the 299th Cavalry Regiment has formed a multinational peacekeeping platoon to train in patrol operations, checkpoint procedures, casualty care and other tasks to improve tactical proficiency and interoperability. In total, 19 Hawaii ARNG Soldiers are supporting the exercise through planning, medical support, instruction and field training.

Senior-level engagements at the opening included Mallory’s meeting with Maj. Gen. Iwan Bambang S., S.I.P., commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces Peacekeeping Center, to reaffirm cooperation through the SPP and discuss future collaboration beyond GPOI. Another engagement brought together Mallory and Brig. Gen. Hengki of Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense National Reserve Agency, known as Badan Cadangan Nasional (BACADNAS), to explore reserve force development that supports the MDCP. Meetings with members of the U.S. Embassy country team provided updates on U.S. defense cooperation priorities and potential future bilateral engagements.

The exercise marks the final iteration funded through GPOI, a U.S. Department of State security assistance program credited with helping Indonesia build one of the world’s premier multinational peacekeeping exercises over more than two decades. “Garuda Canti Dharma III represents the culmination of a highly successful program, and Indonesia has the honor of hosting the final multinational peacekeeping exercise under GPOI,” said Maj. Karen DeLoria, director of ground capabilities development for the U.S. Military Group at U.S. Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia. “The Hawaiʻi National Guard has been instrumental to that success, consistently providing U.S. forces and expertise that have helped sustain this long-standing effort while reinforcing our enduring relationship with Indonesia.”

Organizers emphasized that while GPOI support is ending, the relationships and collaboration fostered through the exercise will continue under the SPP and the MDCP. “Looking ahead, the Hawaii National Guard is excited to continue building on this partnership through future exchanges and engagements,” Mallory said. “We also look forward to integrating capabilities such as our Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package and Civil Support Team. Just as importantly, we learn as much from our partner nations as they learn from us.”