Jakarta – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has called on newly inaugurated Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto to strengthen the unity of the TNI, tempo.co reported on Saturday.
"The TNI must be solid. It should not be fragmented. It must move as one. Its loyalty must be steadfast, to the President," he said on Saturday following the TNI Commander succession ceremony from Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo to Hadi at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
Ryamizard asked Hadi to work harder to face increasingly tougher challenges in the future.
Replacing Gatot who will retire on April 1, Hadi was installed as TNI Commander by President Joko Widodo on Saturday.
Hadi, who served previously as the Air Force Chief of Staff, said he was committed to developing military personnel that were professional, disciplined, combat-ready and humble. These qualities will make the TNI greater, stronger and more confident in all its active duties, he added.
"This is not rhetoric, but a goal that we must achieve through dedication," Hadi said during the ceremony. "We must be optimistic that we can achieve those goals," he added.
High-ranking military officials, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mulyono and Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Ade Supadi, National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) chief Air Vice Marshal M. Syaugi, also attended the event. (nmn/ebf)