Indonesia deploys 442 Alpha Team soldiers to bolster wildfire response
Chief of the TNI Information Service Major General Mohammad Nas said in a press release here on Wednesday that the team is tasked with assisting central and regional governments in detecting hotspots and conducting initial suppression measures.
He noted that the 442 soldiers were spread across various regions nationwide, including the city of Pekanbaru, Riau Province.
“In Pekanbaru, personnel are inspecting paramotor parachutes and testing paramotor engines,” Nas stated, adding that paramotors are being used to facilitate aerial mapping of hotspots and water sources.
Shifting to Palembang City, South Sumatra, Nas reported that Alpha Team personnel had been training in the fast-roping technique for descending helicopters while airborne to enable quick deployment to forest and land fires.
He also highlighted similar preparations in Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan, noting that the team is coordinating with Dhomber Air Base while inspecting facilities for fast-roping.
“Meanwhile in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, personnel are being briefed on wildfire operations and conducting checks on fast-roping equipment,” the officer added.
He emphasized that all preparatory initiatives are intended to ensure the Alpha Team is capable of maximizing wildfire handling measures.
“The deployment of the Alpha Team is expected to enable us all to carry out forest and land fire handling to the fullest extent,” he concluded.
TNI Headquarters established the Alpha Team as a task force dedicated to bolstering wildfire prevention and response operations.
The team comprises soldiers from the Army Special Forces Command (Kopassus), the Navy Marine Corps, the Air Force Quick Reaction Forces Corps (Korpasgat), and the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad).
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Translator: W. Marison, Tegar Nurfitra