Gov’t to Add More Positions for TNI Officers
President Jokowi conducts an inspection of troops during the commemoration ceremony of the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI)’s 74th Anniversary, at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Saturday (5/10). (Photo by: AGUNG/PR)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced plans to add more than 450 new positions for TNI (the Indonesian National Defence Forces) officers with the rank of colonel and 300 more new positions for high-ranking TNI officers.
“The Government is currently reviewing the draft for Presidential Regulation on TNI Organization, to add more than 450 new positions for TNI officers with the rank of colonel and 300 more new positions for high-ranking TNI officers,” President Jokowi said during the commemoration ceremony of TNI’s 74th Anniversary, at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Saturday (5/10).
The Government, according to the President, also continues to increase the number of defense equipment to meet the minimum basic strength target of the second phase. Efforts to increase the independence of the national defense industry also continue to be carried out as mandated by Law Number 16 of 2012 as well as the education and training of TNI soldiers to support the professionalism of soldiers.
Meanwhile, to improve welfare and work facilities for TNI soldiers, the President stated, the Government has increased the defense budget from Rp121 trillion in 2019 to more than Rp131 trillion in 2020.
“The Government continues to provide housing mortgages for soldiers, for a maximum period of 30 years and will increase the TNI’s performance allowance to 80% in 2020,” President Jokowi stated.
On the occasion, the President said that Indonesia’s aspiration to become one of the biggest economic powers in the world must be supported by a strong army. Therefore, defense spending is geared toward investment in defense.
“The use of high technology in the future cannot be negotiated anymore,” the President said, adding that the strategic plan for minimum essential forces, the third phase of the 2019-2024 period will be immediately finalized. Likewise, long term plans for 100 years of Indonesian independence, he said.
President Jokowi also stated that in the era of advanced defense equipment technology, TNI must be more advanced and TNI personnel must also be more resilient, be more adaptive, and embody the Soldier’s Sevenfold Pledge (Sapta Marga).
As the supreme commander of the TNI, President Jokowi instructed the future TNI soldiers to, first, have the ability to adopt and adapt new technologies and uphold the strategic independence of domestic defense equipment.
Second, the President stated, TNI soldiers must be free of sectoral ego. The TNI must be able to synergize with Ministries and Institutions such as the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the National Agency for Counterterrorism (BNPT), the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), and Indonesia Coast Guard (Bakamla).
Third, TNI soldiers are obliged to maintain the unity between TNI and the people through Bhakti Operation and Army United to Develop Villages (TMMD) Program. (HIM/AGG/ES)
Translated by : Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Edited by : Yuyu Mulyani
