Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces

Highest position in the Indonesian National Armed Forces

The Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Indonesian: Panglima Tentara Nasional Indonesia, known as Panglima TNI) is the professional head and highest-ranking officer of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Directly answerable to the president of Indonesia (the commander-in-chief), the position is held by any four-star officer who previously served as Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (KSAD), Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) or Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (KSAU).^[1]

As the Commander, the officeholder has direct command and control over all of the Indonesian National Armed Forces' principal operational commands such as Army Strategic Command, Kopassus, Indonesian Marine Corps, Fleet Commands, Air Ops Commands, etc. Per the president's decree 66/2019, a four-star officer acting as Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces deputises for the Commander, but as of 2019, the office is still vacant.^[2] The name of the office has evolved over the years, with the present name being finalized once the Indonesian National Police was separated from the Armed Forces in 1999.^[a]

The present Commander is General Agus Subiyanto, an Indonesian Army officer, who was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on 22 November 2023.

Responsibilities

As per Presidential Decree No. 66 of 2019, the responsibilities of the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces are to:^[2]

• lead the Armed Forces
• implement the national defense policy
• exercise the military strategy & operations
• develop the doctrinal policies
• exercise Armed Forces power projection for military operation matters
• exercise Armed Forces power development and maintain operational readiness
• provide advice to the Minister of Defense on national defense policy
• provide advice to the Minister of Defense on the Armed Forces' demand fulfillment and other defense components
• provide advice to the Minister of Defense on the development and execution of strategic planning of national resources for national defense matters
• utilize reserve components after mobilized for military operation matters
• utilize supporting components which has been prepared for military operation matters
• exercise other roles and responsibilities entrusted to his office by the Constitution and laws of the Republic

List of commanders

See also

• Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army
• Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy
• Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force
• Chief of the Indonesian National Police

Notes

1. Prior to its current name, the Panglima TNI, the position was known as Grand Commander of the People's Security Forces (Panglima Besar Tentara Keamanan Rakyat), Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (Panglima Tentara Republik Indonesia), Commander of the War Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (Panglima Angkatan Perang Republik Indonesia), Chief of Staffs of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (Kepala Staf ABRI), Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (Panglima ABRI), and finally Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Panglima TNI).^[3]
2. Position known as Grand Commander of the People's Security Armed Forces and later as Commander of the National Armed Forces (Panglima Besar Tentara Keamanan Rakyat until 1946, Panglima Besar TNI from 1948–1950 )
3. Also served concurrently as Chief of Staff of the Army.
4. Also served concurrently as Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
5. Also served concurrently as President and Minister of Defense and Security.
6. Also served concurrently as Commander of the Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order (Kopkamtib). First Commander of the Armed Forces who was not also appointed as Minister of Defense.
7. Also served concurrently as Minister of Defense and Security (from 17 March 1993) and Chief of Staff of the Army (until 23 March 1993).
8. Also served concurrently as Minister of Defense and Security.
9. also served concurrently as Chief of Staff of the Air Force (until 17 January 2018).

References

1. Undang-undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 34 Tahun 2004 Tentang Tentara Nasional Indonesia [Law No.34/2004 on Indonesian National Armed Forces] (PDF) (Law 34) (in Indonesian). People's Representative Council. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
2. Peraturan Presiden Nomor 66 Tahun 2019 tentang Susunan Organisasi Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Presidential Decree 66) (in Indonesian). President of Indonesia. 2019.
3. Bartain, Simatupang (13 August 2005). "Kedudukan Panglima TNI". Pikiran Rakyat (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 9 October 2007.
4. "Indonesian Parliament Endorse Djoko Suyanto as Military Chief". Antara. 5 February 2006. Archived from the original on 5 February 2006.
5. "Adm. Agus Suhartono to be installed as new TNI chief Tuesday". The Jakarta Post. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010.
6. Rinaldo (30 August 2013). "Presiden SBY Lantik Panglima TNI dan KSAD Pagi Ini". liputan6dotcom. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
7. "Gatot Nurmantyo officially becomes TNI commander". The Jakarta Post. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.