S’pore commandos, Indonesia special forces train & strengthen ties at Ex Chandrapura

Held from 1 to 6 Jul in Singapore, the 32nd edition of Exercise Chandrapura saw soldiers from the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) 1st Commando Battalion (1 Cdo Bn) and the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS) take part in a series of joint training scenarios.

These ranged from combined close-quarter battle training to airborne jumps to fast-roping and rappelling, culminating in a combined assault where soldiers from both forces fought side by side during a field training exercise at SAFTI City.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how these two elite forces trained together!

For 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Mikel Bhandari, the shared military experiences quickly bridged the initial language barrier with his KOPASSUS counterparts.

“They are very disciplined and have good work ethic. Tactically, they are very adaptable and conversant with their drills,” said the 20-year-old NSF (Full-time National Serviceman) detachment commander from 1 Cdo Bn.

“I learnt that effective teamwork isn't limited by language or nationality.”

For his KOPASSUS counterpart, 2LT Ariq Fauzan, experiencing Exercise Chandrapura for the first time was a valuable opportunity to observe how SAF troops operated, and build close bonds between both forces.

“The 1 Cdo Bn soldiers are incredibly precise with their timing and analysis before a breach,” said the 25-year-old.

“I noticed how fluidly they adapted to unexpected changes during room clearing without losing momentum.”

Beyond the tactical drills, it was the off-duty interactions that truly cemented their friendship.

“It’s the moments right after the hard training when we were just chilling, swapping stories, and comparing our gear setups,” said 2LT Ariq.

“Realising that we share the same mindset, humour, and passion for the job, despite coming from different places, was unforgettable.”

As the exercise concluded, both officers delivered parting messages to the soldiers they had trained alongside.

“It’s been an absolute honour fighting alongside you guys,” said 2LT Ariq.” Your professionalism and edge are top-tier.

“The bonds we’ve built in Singapore don’t end with the closing ceremony. Stay sharp, watch each other's backs and, hopefully, our paths will cross again. KOMANDO!”

2LT Mikel added: “It has been a privilege to be a host for this exercise. We worked together towards the same goals, learnt from one another along the way, and built friendships that will be remembered long after this exercise ends.

“Terima Kasih dan sampai jumpa lagi! (Thank you and see you again in Bahasa)”