Army Chief Describes Ryamizard as Passionate Advocate for Military Unit Development

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Army Chief General Maruli Simanjuntak paid tribute to the late former Defence Minister General (Ret) Ryamizard Ryacudu as a figure of exceptional dedication to soldier professionalism. Maruli described the late general as consistently enthusiastic and passionate, particularly when discussing military exercises and unit development. “There is much to learn from him, especially how enthusiastic he was when talking about training and unit development. We remember many of his contributions,” Maruli said after visiting the late general’s residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java, on Sunday (31 May 2026). The legacy was directly felt by Maruli throughout his military career, including during his tenure as Commander of Kostrad. Maruli stated that the late general played a major role in modernising the Indonesian Army’s training infrastructure and establishing new elite units. “He was the one who shaped Kostrad’s training programmes. During my time as Kostrad Commander, there was much he had already left behind. The training areas he built and the units he established, such as the Raider battalions,” he said. “I am confident that his contributions will continue to be built upon,” he added.