U.S. Army Reserve engineers bolster infrastructure during Ksatria Warrior 26 in Indonesia

U.S. Army Reserve engineers have overhauled key training infrastructure at Indonesia’s Baturaja Combat Training Center, converting previously impassable jungle tracks into a combat road and a helicopter landing zone in 10 days to support Exercise Ksatria Warrior 26.

The 766th Engineer Construction Company arrived Aug. 5 and began work in support of the bilateral exercise with the Indonesian Army, repairing and improving roads and building a helicopter landing zone to enable realistic training and bolster emergency response capabilities. “Long term, we’re bettering the infrastructure for Baturaja and supporting our Indonesian counterparts through our mission,” said 1st Lt. Nick Le, an engineer officer with the 766th ECC.

About 30 engineers worked alongside Indonesian counterparts, employing heavy construction equipment to upgrade the training area. The project supports immediate requirements for Ksatria Warrior 26 and Garuda Shield 26, as well as future training at Baturaja.

The improved road allows military vehicles to access training areas, including a planned High Mobility Artillery Rocket System firing mission. “We are all about speed and improving the roads quickly,” said U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, Staff Sgt. Mitchell Mesecher, the project manager and noncommissioned officer in charge, assigned to 766th ECC. “We’re a highly motivated, dedicated platoon within the 766th and if you need HIMARS to get to a certain location quick, and you want to throw some missiles at somebody, we’ll make sure you can get there.”

Engineers also constructed an HLZ to support real-world medical evacuation training, providing a designated landing area for helicopters and enabling swift movement of injured personnel from remote locations.

Construction tasks included grading, layering progressively finer aggregate, and compacting to stabilize the surface. Large rock formed the base, followed by smaller aggregate and a final layer, with a bonding agent added to reduce movement and prevent trench formation.

For the Soldiers involved, the work extends beyond a single exercise, enhancing TNI infrastructure for future training and emergency response while giving U.S. engineers substantive construction experience in a multinational setting. “This is real-world horizontal work that supports getting emergency services through for all the troops out here and we can see the effect of what we’re doing,” said Le. “It feels good knowing that what we’re building can actually help people. At the end of the day, safe roads save people’s lives.”

The 766th partnered closely with TNI personnel throughout, sharing equipment and techniques to build interoperability. “We’re the first reserve unit to be able to come out here and actively work on these routes,” said U.S. Army Reserve Soldier, 1st Lt. Amber Lewis, an engineer officer assigned to 766th ECC. “So, we’ve been pushing really hard to try to do an amazing job in hopes that we can get brought out here again because it’s a great experience and it creates an amazing relationship with our Indonesian counterparts.”

Ksatria Warrior 26 is designed to strengthen the ability of U.S. and Indonesian forces to operate together while improving readiness and developing capabilities at Baturaja Combat Training Center, with engineering upgrades offering lasting benefits beyond the exercise.