Army Chief Honours Ryamizard Ryacudu's Lasting Legacy for the Indonesian Army

Army Chief General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak stated that former Army Chief and Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu left a significant legacy in soldier development and the Indonesian Army’s organisational growth. This was conveyed by Simanjuntak following his visit to Ryamizard’s residence in Puri Wira Bhakti housing complex, Cikeas, Gunungputri, on Sunday, 31 May 2026. He described Ryamizard as a leader who imparted valuable lessons to subsequent generations of officers, particularly in unit training and development. “During our early days when he was Kostrad Commander, there were many lessons for us, especially his enthusiasm when discussing unit training and development,” he said. He noted that Ryamizard’s policies and programmes initiated during his tenure as Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) continue to benefit the organisation today. Simanjuntak recalled Ryamizard as someone who prioritised enhancing soldiers’ combat capabilities through strengthened training systems and infrastructure development across various regions. “We remember much of what he did for us. He was instrumental in shaping how Kostrad’s training programmes operated and evolved,” he added. Moreover, Ryamizard was known for developing several training areas, which are crucial facilities for building the Indonesian Army’s capabilities. According to Simanjuntak, the facilities and development concepts established by Ryamizard form the foundation still used today to enhance soldiers’ professionalism. He also highlighted Ryamizard’s role in developing the Indonesian Army’s structure through the establishment of combat units that bolstered operational capabilities. “He established numerous units. For instance, he created the Raider units and many other contributions left for the Indonesian Army,” Simanjuntak said. Ryamizard was a retired high-ranking Indonesian Army officer who served as Army Chief from 2002 to 2005. During President Joko Widodo’s seventh term as Indonesia’s president, Ryamizard served as Defence Minister from 2014 to 2019. Ryamizard Ryacudu passed away at the age of 75. As of Sunday evening, mourners including family members, military figures, government officials, and members of the public continued to pay their final respects at his residence.