1,500 Kostrad Soldiers Demonstrate Agility in Front of the TNI Commander at Kostrad's 65th Anniversary

JAKARTA — Some 1,500 soldiers of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) displayed a variety of agility demonstrations at the 65th Kostrad anniversary ceremony held at the Infantry Division Headquarters (Madivif) 1 Kostrad, Cilodong, Depok, West Java, on Friday, 6 March 2026. The performances were staged before the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, who acted as the parade inspector for the anniversary of the elite unit of the Indonesian Army. ‘The atmosphere grew livelier with Kostrad soldiers’ demonstrations of agility demonstrating discipline, cohesion, and combat readiness, including Rampak Bedug, Toya, double sticks, military pencak silat, breaking dragon iron and Hebel bricks, and a troop defile,’ said Kostrad spokesman Colonel Arm Eko Pristiono in a statement on Saturday, 7 March 2026. Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Tonny Harjono and Kostrad veterans from various generations were also in attendance. In his address, the TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto conveyed birthday greetings to all Kostrad soldiers and their families. He urged Kostrad personnel to continue boosting readiness and combat capabilities in facing the dynamics of global conflicts and the increasingly complex threats of hybrid warfare. He said rivalries among major world powers could trigger conflicts affecting security stability. ‘Therefore Kostrad soldiers must always be ready, adaptive, and professional in facing every challenge,’ Agus said. The ethos symbolises honour, resilience, victory, and achievement, and serves as a fresh spirit to enhance soldier professionalism. This year’s Kostrad anniversary theme, ‘Kostrad Prima untuk Indonesia Maju’, reinforces the unit’s commitment as a professional, responsive, integrative, modern, and adaptive force. On the occasion, Agus also performed the cutting of a tumpeng which was then presented to two soldiers who were wounded by gunfire while on operational duties in Papua. The two soldiers were Private Mohammad Khoirun Nazil of Infantry Battalion 502/Ujwala Yudha and Private Megan Saputra of Infantry Battalion 431/SSP, who are part of Task Force Rajawali 2. Since its establishment in 1961, Kostrad has been known as the Army’s strategic strike force, involved in various Military Operations (OMP) and Operations Other Than War (OMSP), including disaster response and humanitarian missions across Indonesia.