Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) will add six new regional military commands (Kodam) to strengthen the Army's presence and improve operational readiness nationwide, the military confirmed on Friday. A symbolic launch ceremony will be held this Sunday in Bandung, West Java.
The expansion has been in discussion for some time and will raise the total number of Army regional commands from 15 to 21.
A Kodam oversees one or several provinces and operates above the Military Resort Command (Korem), which covers multiple districts and cities. The Army currently has 15 Kodams spread across Indonesia's 38 provinces.
"Establishing these new regional commands has become a priority for the Army chief of staff," Army spokesman Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana said in February.
The six new Kodams will be:
1. Kodam Tuanku Tambusai – Riau and Riau Islands
2. Kodam Tuanku Imam Bonjol – West Sumatra and Jambi
3. Kodam Raden Inten – Lampung and Bengkulu
4. Kodam Tambun Bungai – Central and South Kalimantan
5. Kodam Palaka Wira – Central and West Sulawesi
6. Kodam Mandala Trikora – Merauke
The Army has yet to announce the commanders who will lead the new regional units.
Strategic and political context
The military says the expansion will improve troop mobilization and accelerate the implementation of government programs.
Under President Prabowo Subianto, a former Army general, the military has taken on a more prominent role in civilian initiatives, such as the free nutritious meals program for schoolchildren, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers nationwide. In the program's rollout, many Military District Commands (Kodim) helped set up public kitchens to deliver meals to schools.
Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto announced last year that the military aims to expand to 37 Kodams by the end of 2025, meaning 22 new regional commands are scheduled for establishment this year.
Critics warn that an expanded military presence in nearly every province could blur the line between defense and civilian affairs. They argue this may undermine democratic reforms introduced in 1998, which were intended to curb the military's political influence.
Existing Kodams
Indonesia's current 15 Kodams are: Iskandar Muda (Banda Aceh); Bukit Barisan (Medan); Sriwijaya (Palembang); Jaya (Jakarta); Siliwangi (Bandung); Diponegoro (Semarang); Brawijaya (Surabaya); Mulawarman (Balikpapan); Hasanuddin (Makassar); Udayana (Denpasar); Tanjungpura (Pontianak); Pattimura (Ambon); Cenderawasih (Jayapura); Merdeka (Manado); and Kasuari (Manokwari).