More than 100 soldiers and airmen from Hawai'i will participate in the exercise Garuda Shield 10 in Indonesia, officials said. American and Indonesian forces will train together June 10-25 in Bandung.

"Indonesia is a critical player in the security and peacekeeping operations in the Asia-Pacific Theater," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commander of the U.S. Army in the Pacific, which has its headquarters at Fort Shafter.

Mixon said the upcoming exercise "underscores the importance of Indonesia in our fight against international aggression and conflict. The strong military and cultural ties between our two counties dramatically improve whenever we participate in Garuda Shield."

Staff officers from U.S. Pacific Command, based at Camp Smith; the Hawai'i National Guard; Pacific Air Forces; and U.S. Army Pacific will partner with Indonesian forces "to test peace support and stability operations capabilities," the Army said.

Army officials said other troops will conduct a field training exercise on United Nations standardized techniques, and engineers will provide humanitarian and civic assistance in Indonesia's rural communities.

Personnel from 24 other countries, including Japan, Russia and China, have been invited to participate in and to observe the exercise.