President Jokowi Inaugurates 729 TNI-Polri Academy Graduates

President Jokowi inaugurates the TNI-Polri Academy Graduates, at the front yard of Presidential Palace, Tuesday (25/7). (Photo: PR/Jay)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who acted as inspector of ceremony, inaugurated the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Academy and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Academy Graduates at the graduation ceremony of the TNI Academy and the Polri Academy who have passed education to become First Officer of 2017, at the front yard of Presidential Palace on Tuesday (25/7) morning.

In his speech, President Jokowi, who was accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Ibu Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, congratulated the Junior Officers of the TNI Aademy and Polri Academy Graduates. “This is the start of your career to become the TNI and Polri officers, who are loyal and devoted to the state, the nation, and the people of Indonesia,” President Jokowi said.

The President reminded the graduates that they are the future of the TNI and Polri. The President continued to say that they will shape and adopt institutional reforms so that the TNI and Polri will always be able to counterbalance and or even precede the development of today’s modern challenges. “The challenges are multidimensional, which we should not let it should we want to keep the integrity of our nation. If we want to keep the safety of all the people of Indonesia,” President Jokowi said.

The President gave an example of such multidimensional challenges, such as efforts to deteriorate the values of Pancasila state ideology, violence and anarchism, separatism and terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling and illegal trade.

While abroad, the President added, issues such as global competition, border disputes, state conflicts, intra-state conflict, asymmetrical wars, energy reserve struggle, weaponry competition by powerful military countries as well as the development of ISIS and foreign terrorist fighters have direct or indirect impacts on Indonesia.

In facing the current various challenges, President Jokowi reminded the TNI and Polri to keep their synergy, work together for the sake of Indonesian interests. “Eliminate sectoral ego, increase solidarity and solidity of the TNI and Polri. And always stand with people to know what they need and what they want,” the President firmly said.

President Jokowi also mentioned the possibility of changing the face of Indonesia with the Y generation. He mentioned, they are the creative, innovative generation, whose needs and demands are very different from the last generation. And their creativity, according to the President, their innovation will change the way of work of the whole life of the nation, be it regarding public services, or business, and others.

Therefore, the President requested that the TNI and Polri be able to anticipate such changes by continuously improving and adapting the standard of professional services. “Let us take criticism as input to be a source of strength for transformation,” the President said. Finally, President Jokowi requested that all Youth Officers perform their duties, mandate, and service professionally, proportionally and procedurally by upholding the provisions of the laws and regulations of professional codes of ethics.

The graduation ceremony was attended by First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Ibu Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Research and Higher Education M. Nasir, the TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, the Polri Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Ade Supandi, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mulyono, and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto. (FID/JAY/ ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).