The officers affected may help shape or contribute to the establishment of the country’s top political structure ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
major reshuffle within the Indonesian Military (TNI), as occurred recently, is an anticipated event, although it commonly affects highranking officers who enter their mandatory retirement age and those who are promoted or secure new posts.
The latest military reshuffle, commissioned by TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo through a decree dated Oct. 17, is observed by many as a one-step higher promotion for certain officers. Not all military academy graduates can pass the pyramid-shaped career development path, let alone reach its top leadership structure.
The tour of duty disclosed on Tuesday obviously offered more than the usual transfers of power at many key posts in the three services. It also served as a catalyst for potential appointment to top and strategic military posts in the future.
Besides internal organizational purposes, the officers affected may help shape or contribute to the establishment of the country’s top political structure ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Their track records, personal capacity and oftentimes ethnic or familial relations with the national leadership, therefore, matter.
The latest tour of duty affected 50 posts in the Army, 22 in the Air Force and 19 in the Navy.
Among the key promotions was the appointment of Central Java’s Diponegoro Military Command chief, Maj. Gen. Tatang Sulaiman, to the deputy Army chief of staff post, a post designated for a three-star general. Tatang will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Wuryanto, the current TNI spokesman.
Also worthy of notice is the appointment of Maluku’s Pattimura Military Command chief, Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo, as chief of western Java’s Siliwangi Military Command, assistant for security affairs to the Army chief Maj. Gen. Ilyas Alamsyah Harahap as chief of the TNI’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), replacing Maj. Gen. Hartomo, who will soon command the Army’s Territorial Operations Center (Pusterad), and Brig. Gen. Santos Gunawan Matondang as Jakarta Garrison chief of staff.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.