The two fighter pilots are Captain I Putu "Bhoma" Satrya Kedaton and Captain Wira "Genet" Satria Deddy Hassan, according to a press statement received by ANTARA from the TNI-AU headquarters here.
Captain Kedaton was declared as the Top Academic Performer, International Officer School, and Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, in his batch, it informed.
The Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base is equivalent to the TNI-AU's Command School, locally known as "Sekkau," it added.
The two combat pilots were sent to the United States as part of a program initiated by chief of staff of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono, for improving the quality of the TNI-AU's human capital.
During their three-month professional military course, Kedaton and Hassan studied course materials in the classroom and took part in field practice.
They also got involved in active discussions about the science of leadership, communication, world history, culture and governance, military organization, civilian and military laws, American culture, and current global issues.
The TNI-AU expects them to implement the knowledge and skills they gained in the United States.
Kedaton is currently posted with the 102 Air Force Training Squadron at Yogyakarta's Adisutjipto Air Force Base, while Hassan is a fighter pilot with Squadron 14 of Iswahjudi Air Force Base in Magetan, East Java.
As reported earlier, Indonesia and the United States have strengthened their defense cooperation following the signing of a historic Defense Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) on November 16, 2023.
The DCA, signed by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, has opened new opportunities for advanced cooperation.
For instance, following the signing of the DCA, Indonesian Navy soldiers from the 1st Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Yontaifib) and the United States Marines conducted a series of reconnaissance and infiltration exercises under the "Reconnaissance Exchange" (Reconex) Joint Exercise from May 8–10, 2024.
Meanwhile, on May 20, Army Chief of Staff, General Maruli Simanjuntak, met with his counterpart, General Randy A. George, at the Pentagon in Arlington county, Virginia, to discuss defense cooperation.
It was General Simanjuntak's first meeting with the Chief of Staff of the US Army to discuss issues related to defense cooperation since his appointment as the Army chief by President Joko Widodo on November 29, 2023.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
