Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko submitted on Tuesday a series of reorganization steps to a limited Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace.

One of the reorganization items was the reactivation of the post of TNI deputy chief. "The deputy chief can take action when the TNI chief is absent," Moeldoko said after the meeting as reported by kompas.com.

This short-lived post started in 1998 when Gen. Wiranto led the then Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) as well as being the defense minister. Then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid abolished the post in September 2000 to streamline the TNI.

Other than the TNI deputy chief post, Moeldoko said there were also discussions to increase the division-level units in each service from two to three units.

In the Navy, there would be the Central Fleet Command in addition to the Eastern and Western Fleet Commands. The Air Force would have its third Air Force Operations Command (Koopsau) while the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) would get its third division.

Moeldoko said the reorganization steps had been studied in terms of recent conditions and needs. He said the reorganization would improve the TNI's performance. "The President has approved the reorganization with a request it be done in stages," he said. (nvn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/03/17/tni-deputy-chief-post-be-reactivated.html