Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Wednesday inaugurated General Andika Perkasa as the Commander of the Indonesian Military Forces (TNI) in place of Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto at the State Palace in Jakarta.

The inauguration was based on Presidential Decree Number 106/ TNI of 2021 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of the TNI Commander, which was scheduled for November 17, 2021.

“In carrying out my duties, I will uphold the rules, work to the best of my ability and full of responsibility, as well as maintain the oath of soldiers,” the general stated as part of his oath of office, guided by the President.

President Widodo put epaulets and insignias on Perkasa’s shoulders and handed over the baton of the TNI commander during the ceremony.

On November 8 this year, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) approved Widodo’s proposal for making Perkasa a candidate for the post of TNI commander.

Earlier, Commission I of the DPR had conducted a fit and proper test for Perkasa on November 6.

Before his appointment as the TNI Commander, he served as the Army Chief of Staff (Kasad). Born in Bandung on December 21, 1964, Perkasa graduated from the Military Academy (Akmil) in 1987.

He started his career as a lower-ranking commissioned officer in the 2nd Para Commandos Group and served in the SAT-81 Gultor Counter-Terrorism Group (Gultor) of the Army’s Special Strike Force (Kopassus) for 12 years.

On October 23, 2014, he was inaugurated as the Commander of the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres).

Furthermore, deemed the best graduate at the Military Command and Staff College (Sesko) in 2000, he took over as the Army Chief of Staff (Kasad) on November 22, 2018.

During his tenure as Army Chief of Staff he assisted the government in implementing the mass vaccination program by deploying Indonesian Army (TNI AD) personnel for immunizations.

He also took firm action by firing 31 TNI AD soldiers connected to an attack on the Ciracas Police Sector office in East Jakarta on August 29, 2020.

Furthermore, in a statement issued on August 11, 2021, he nixed the virginity test requirement in the recruitment process for TNI soldiers.

Source: Antara News