After a three-day visit, Indonesian Special Forces pulled out all the stops during a send-off for U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
Members of the Indonesian Special Forces hold a demonstration in honor of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Mattis met with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
Indonesian troops showcased their one-of-a-kind military skills during the demonstration, which included walking on fire, rolling in glass, martial arts, a hostage rescue and snakes – lots of snakes.
Members of the Indonesian Special Forces hold a demonstration in honor of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Mattis met with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
Indonesian forces smashed stacks of bricks with their heads and hands, performing various martial arts skills.
Members of the Indonesian Special Forces hold a demonstration in honor of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Mattis met with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
At one point, bags of live snakes were strewn on the ground – including the venomous King Cobra – “just feet” from Mattis, reports pointed out.
Members of the Indonesian Special Forces hold a demonstration in honor of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Mattis met with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
Indonesian troops proceeded to beat the snakes, cut off their heads and drank snake blood.
Members of the Indonesian Special Forces hold a demonstration in honor of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Mattis met with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
Then, reportedly with the “Mission Impossible” theme song playing, the troops completed a hostage rescue demonstration that involved helicopters and police dogs.
Members of the Indonesian Special Forces hold a demonstration in honor of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Mattis met with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
“The snakes! Did you see them tire them out and then grab them? The way they were whipping them around – a snake gets tired very quickly,” Mattis told reporters after the send-off, Reuters reported.
Defense Secretary James N. Mattis meets with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto during a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
“You could imagine how much training went into each individual there, that they were able to do that,” Mattis said. “When you watch a force do that, many small things, perfectly, you can imagine that they can also put the bigger things together.”
Members of the Indonesian Special Forces hold a demonstration in honor of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis before Mattis met with Indonesia’s Chief of Defense Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan. 24, 2018. (DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
Mattis is currently on an Indo-Pacific tour. He visited Indonesia and is now in Vietnam, and he will later travel to Hawaii to conclude his trip and meet with the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command.
