President Susilo retired from active military service in 1999, but deep in his heart he remains a true soldier.

To the surprise of Cabinet ministers and invitees attending the induction ceremony on Thursday, Susilo suddenly ordered them to stand at ease.

"Everybody, at ease!" he said before delivering his speech, causing giggles among journalists and other participants at the ceremony. "Maybe he forgot that he is the President and not a military commander," a journalist said.

Susilo retired from the military as a three-star general when he was appointed by former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid as minister of energy and natural resources in 1999. He was named an honorary four-star general by Gus Dur in 2000.