Indonesian Army to Establish Five New Regional Commands

Jakarta. The Indonesian Army is set to establish five new Military Regional Commands (Kodam) to enhance combat readiness and support government development programs, an army spokesman said on Wednesday.
A Kodam oversees one or multiple provinces and operates at a higher level than the Military Resort Command (Korem), which covers several regencies and cities. Currently, the Army has 15 Kodams across 38 provinces.
Army spokesman Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana said the new regional commands will be established in South Papua, Central Kalimantan, and Central Sulawesi, along with two joint commands covering Riau and Riau Islands and Lampung and Bengkulu in Sumatra.
“The process of establishing these new regional commands is underway and has become a priority for the Army chief of staff,” Wahyu said during a press briefing at Army headquarters in Jakarta.
He explained that expanding the number of regional commands is necessary to improve troop mobilization readiness across the country and help accelerate the implementation of government programs.
Military Involvement in Government Programs
President Prabowo Subianto, a former Army general, has increasingly involved the military in key government initiatives, including the free nutritious meal program for children, expectant mothers, and breastfeeding mothers across all provinces.
During the program’s initial rollout, many Military District Commands (Kodim) helped set up public kitchens to distribute meals to schools.
Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto announced last year that the military plans to expand to 37 Kodams by the end of 2025, meaning that 22 new regional commands will be established this year.
However, critics argue that an expanded military presence in nearly all provinces raises concerns about potential military intervention in civilian affairs, particularly in local elections. This, they say, could contradict the democratic reforms introduced in 1998, which aimed to reduce military involvement in governance and politics.
Indonesia currently has 15 active Kodams across the country:
- Kodam Iskandar Muda – Banda Aceh
- Kodam Bukit Barisan – Medan
- Kodam Sriwijaya – Palembang
- Kodam Jaya – Jakarta
- Kodam Siliwangi – Bandung
- Kodam Diponegoro – Semarang
- Kodam Brawijaya – Surabaya
- Kodam Mulawarman – Balikpapan
- Kodam Hasanuddin – Makassar
- Kodam Udayana – Denpasar
- Kodam Tanjungpura – Pontianak
- Kodam Pattimura – Ambon
- Kodam Cenderawasih – Jayapura
- Kodam Merdeka – Manado
- Kodam Kasuari – Manokwari
The Latest
Sri Mulyani Assures Foreign Investors: Budget Cuts Won't Hinder Growth
Sri Mulyani highlights Indonesia's budget cuts at the Mandiri Investment Forum, focusing on public programs and driving economic growth.OJK Introduces New Crypto Listing Rules After Taking Over from Bappebti
OJK introduces new crypto trading rules after taking over from Bappebti, focusing on investor protection, transparency, and market stabilityPrabowo Welcomes Erdoğan at Jakarta Airport
This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Turkey.Minister Bahlil Suspends Oil and Gas Director-General Achmad Muchtasyar
He didn’t mention the new role for Achmad, who had led the oil and gas directorate general for less than a month before his removal.Marcos Jr. Thanks Cambodia for Pardoning 13 Filipino Women Convicted of Illegal Surrogacy
The women have acted as surrogates for a criminal syndicate selling babies to foreigners for cash.Most Popular
