Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Special Advisor to the President for National Defense, Dudung Abdurachman, raised the issue of the absence of mandatory military service in Indonesia, citing that several countries, such as South Korea and Singapore, have implemented this practice.
Retired General Dudung mentioned that implementing mandatory military service is challenging in the country, partly due to budget constraints faced by stakeholders.
"It's difficult not because of unwillingness but the cost is very high," said Dudung during a discussion held by the Concern for National Defense (Peduli Hankam) in South Jakarta on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
He says there are several aspects to consider when implementing mandatory military service, including recruitment, training, and mentoring. "There is no budget for that," said the former Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army.
Furthermore, he stated that Indonesia's defense budget is still below one percent of the National Budget. He mentioned that the budget for procuring the main defense equipment and preparing military units is already allocated. "So, it's very small, because indeed we cannot fulfill that," added Dudung.
Despite not enforcing mandatory military service, Indonesia has a voluntary reserve component program, mandated by Law Number 23 of 2019 concerning the Management of National Resources for State Defense.
The Reserve Component (Komcad) is established based on the national defense doctrine inherited from the nation's founding fathers, known as Total People's Defense. This doctrine is considered necessary to be implemented, and Komcad is one of its implementations.
The Reserve Component serves as a national resource prepared for mobilization to enhance and strengthen the primary military component, namely the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).
According to the Ministry of Defense's Information and Documentation Center (PPID), the Reserve Component is divided into four parts, namely human resources, natural resources, artificial resources, and facilities and infrastructure.
These components are prepared for use in the event of a military emergency or natural disaster. The President may only authorize the mobilization of the Reserve Component for national defense purposes with the approval of the Indonesian House of Representatives.