Kostrad
Encyclopedia
Kostrad is the Indonesian Army
's Strategic Reserve Command. Kostrad is a Corps
level command which has up to 35,000 troops. It also supervises operational readiness among all commands and conducts defense and security operations at the strategic level in accordance with policies of the TNI commander.
As a corps, Kostrad is commanded by a Panglima (Commander-in-Chief
), usually a lieutenant general
. Kostrad falls under the army chief of staff for training, personnel, and administration. However, it comes under the Commander-in-Chief
of the Indonesian National Armed Forces for operational command and deployment.
Starting 1984 the Panglima of Kostrad (Pangkostrad) has been charged to lead the conduct of combat operations, called defense and security operations.
in 1960, and was formally constituted on 6 March 1961. Initially designated the Army General Reserve Corps, its name was changed to Kostrad in 1963.
General Suharto, was appointed as the first head of Kostrad in 1961, and it was in this role that he was able assert the army's control in the days following the abortive coup attempt
on the evening of 30 September 1965, which ultimately led to Suharto replacing Sukarno as Indonesian president.
The command's troops have fought in most Indonesian military operations since their formation, such as G-30-S/PKI (30 September Movement
/Indonesian Communist Party
), Trisula, the PGRS (Sarawak People's Guerrilla Force) in Sarawak
, the PARAKU (North Kalimantan People's Force) in North Kalimantan
, and Operation Seroja in East Timor
.
Kostrad troops have also been used beyond Indonesia's borders, as was the case with Garuda troops in Egypt
(1973–78) and Vietnam
(1973–75) and with those in the United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group in the midst of the Iran–Iraq War of 1989 and 1990.
There were as of early 1998 a total of 33 airborne and infantry battalions within Kostrad. Each division contained three infantry and/or airborne brigades; an armoured battalion; cavalry reconnaissance company; field artillery regiment of three battalions; air defence artillery battalion; combat engineer battalion; supply and transportation battalion; medical battalion; signal company; military police company; field maintenance company; and a personnel and administrative detachment.
Indonesian Army
The Indonesian Army , the land component of the Indonesian Armed Forces, has an estimated strength of 328,517 regular personnel. The force's history began in 1945 when the Tentara Keamanan Rakyat "Civil Security Forces" served as paramilitary and police.Since the nation's independence struggle,...
's Strategic Reserve Command. Kostrad is a Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
level command which has up to 35,000 troops. It also supervises operational readiness among all commands and conducts defense and security operations at the strategic level in accordance with policies of the TNI commander.
As a corps, Kostrad is commanded by a Panglima (Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
), usually a lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. Kostrad falls under the army chief of staff for training, personnel, and administration. However, it comes under the Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Indonesian National Armed Forces for operational command and deployment.
Starting 1984 the Panglima of Kostrad (Pangkostrad) has been charged to lead the conduct of combat operations, called defense and security operations.
History
Kostrad came into being during military action for Indonesia's take over of Western New GuineaWestern New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
in 1960, and was formally constituted on 6 March 1961. Initially designated the Army General Reserve Corps, its name was changed to Kostrad in 1963.
General Suharto, was appointed as the first head of Kostrad in 1961, and it was in this role that he was able assert the army's control in the days following the abortive coup attempt
30 September Movement
The Thirtieth of September Movement ) was a self-proclaimed organization of Indonesian National Armed Forces members who, in the early hours of 1 October 1965, assassinated six Indonesian Army generals in an abortive coup d'état. Later that morning, the organization declared that it was in control...
on the evening of 30 September 1965, which ultimately led to Suharto replacing Sukarno as Indonesian president.
The command's troops have fought in most Indonesian military operations since their formation, such as G-30-S/PKI (30 September Movement
30 September Movement
The Thirtieth of September Movement ) was a self-proclaimed organization of Indonesian National Armed Forces members who, in the early hours of 1 October 1965, assassinated six Indonesian Army generals in an abortive coup d'état. Later that morning, the organization declared that it was in control...
/Indonesian Communist Party
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
), Trisula, the PGRS (Sarawak People's Guerrilla Force) in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, the PARAKU (North Kalimantan People's Force) in North Kalimantan
Kalimantan
In English, the term Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, while in Indonesian, the term "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo....
, and Operation Seroja in East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
.
Kostrad troops have also been used beyond Indonesia's borders, as was the case with Garuda troops in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
(1973–78) and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
(1973–75) and with those in the United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group in the midst of the Iran–Iraq War of 1989 and 1990.
Strength
Kostrad had a strength of 27,000 in 1998 and its primary components consist of two infantry divisions.There were as of early 1998 a total of 33 airborne and infantry battalions within Kostrad. Each division contained three infantry and/or airborne brigades; an armoured battalion; cavalry reconnaissance company; field artillery regiment of three battalions; air defence artillery battalion; combat engineer battalion; supply and transportation battalion; medical battalion; signal company; military police company; field maintenance company; and a personnel and administrative detachment.
- Infantry Division 1 KostradInfantry Division 1 KostradInfantry Division 1, KOSTRAD is an infantry division of the Indonesian Army. The divisional commander is a two-star Major General. In 1996 the division commander was Major General Ismed Yuzairi.-Order of battle:The division's composition is:...
, headquartered at Cilodong, West JavaWest JavaWest Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population... - Infantry Division 2 KostradInfantry Division 2 KostradInfantry Division 2, KOSTRAD is an infantry division of the Indonesian Army. The divisional commander is a two-star Major General. The divisions headquarter is in Malang .-Order of battle:The division's composition is:...
, headquartered at MalangMalangMalang is the second largest city in East Java province, Indonesia. It has an ancient history dating back to the Mataram Kingdom. The city population at the 2010 Census was 819,708. During the period of Dutch colonization, it was a popular destination for European residents. The city is famous for...
, East JavaEast JavaEast Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and... - 3rd Airborne Infantry Brigade (Ujung Pandang)(Former Kopassus 3 Group)
List of Kostrad Commanders
Many Kostrad commanders have gone on to very senior Indonesian posts. Suharto became President; General Rudini became Minister of Home Affairs; General Wismoyo is married to the sister of Suharto's late wife; and Lieutenant General Tarub became the armed forces' Chief of the General Staff.- Suharto (March 1961 – December 1965)
- Umar WirahadikusumahUmar Wirahadikusumahwas the fourth Indonesian Vice President; he served from 1983 to 1988.-Early life:Umar Wirahadikusumah was born on 10 October 1924 to Raden Rangga Wirahadikusumah and Raden Ratnaringrum...
(December 1965 – May 1967) - Kemal Idris May 1967 – March 1969
- Wahono (March 1969 – February 1970)
- Makmun Murod (February 1970 – December 1971)
- Wahono (December 1971 – March 1973)
- Poniman (March 1973 – May 1974)
- Himawan Susanto (May 1974 – January 1975)
- Leo Lopulisa (January 1975 – January 1978)
- Wiyogo Atmodarminto (January 1978 – March 1980)
- Ismail (March 1980 – January 1981)
- Rudini (January 1981 – May 1983)
- Suweno (May 1983 – January 1986)
- Suripto (January 1986 – August 1987)
- Adolf Sagala Rajagukguk (August 1987 – March 1988)
- Sugito (March 1988 – August 1990)
- Wismoyo Arismunandar (August 1990 – July 1992)
- Kuntara (July 1992 – September 1994)
- Tarub (September 1994 – April 1996)
- WirantoWirantoWiranto is a retired Indonesian army General. He was Commander of the military of Indonesia from February 1998 to October 1999, and ran unsuccessfully for President of Indonesia in 2004 and the vice-presidency in 2009....
(April 1996 – June 1997) - Sugiyono (June 1997 – March 1998)
- Prabowo Subianto (March 1998 – May 1998)
- Johnny J. Lumintang (May 1998/12 hours)
- Djamari Chaniago (May 1998 – November 1999)
- Djaja Suparman (November 1999 – March 2000)
- Agus WirahadikusumahAgus WirahadikusumahAgus Wirahadikusumah , was a high-ranking Indonesian military officer and commander of Kostrad, the Indonesian Army Strategic Reserves Command.- Military career :...
(March 2000 – August 2000) - Ryamizard Ryacudu (August 2000 – July 2002)
- Bibit Waluyo (July 2002 – November 2004)
- Hadi Waluyo (November 2004 – May 2006)
- Erwin Sujono (May 2006 – September 2007)
- George Toisutta (September 2007 – 10 November 2009) Toisutta became chief of the Indonesian ArmyIndonesian ArmyThe Indonesian Army , the land component of the Indonesian Armed Forces, has an estimated strength of 328,517 regular personnel. The force's history began in 1945 when the Tentara Keamanan Rakyat "Civil Security Forces" served as paramilitary and police.Since the nation's independence struggle,...
.
External links
- Watchindonesia.org, Here come the Kostrad boys again