Col. Kartini disciplined at home, at work

By Lela E. Madjiah

BANDUNG (JP): Col. Kartini Hermanus fits the Army's motto for servicewomen, which says: "We are not roses to beautify the garden, but jasmine to safeguard the nation."

A symbol of Indonesian women, jasmine represents purity, simplicity and inner strength. These are all traits that the Army hopes to instill in its servicewomen.

Like jasmine, Kartini demonstrates the strength and simplicity required by her profession. Kartini heads Pusdik Kowad, an Army training center for female recruits. As the only female officer to head a training center under the Army's Education and Training Doctrine Command, it is only natural that she stand out among her fellow officers.

Kartini must thank her predecessors, who worked hard to promote women in the military. More importantly, it was the Army leadership's trust in women's ability that cleared the path for female officers to head Pusdik Kowad.

Born in Surakarta (Solo) on Aug. 2, 1949, Kartini was a second year student at the School of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University in Manado, North Sulawesi, when her classmates urged her to enroll in Pusdik Kowad. At the time, although her father was in the Army, she had no idea that such a school existed.

"My friends said, 'Come on, let's join Kowad. It's good, it's all about perfect discipline, and once we're in we can go anywhere.' So, we registered with Pusdik Kowad and joined training there," said Kartini, who joined the center in 1969 and graduated in 1970.

"Initially I was quite shocked. I had no idea the training would be that tough and said to myself, 'Oh, no!'"

However, Kartini is not one to go back on her word. Once she says yes, she sticks to it.

"I had signed the training contract so I had to go on with it, and not once did I regret my decision. There were 40 of us, and, fortunately, we all made it," said Kartini, who was fortunate to have the support of her parents.

Kartini not only passed the training, but eventually achieved the rank of colonel, the highest level a female officer in the Army has so far managed to reach. Actually, Kartini wanted to continue her medical education after she finished her military training.

"When I enrolled in Pusdik Kowad, I was told I could continue my university studies. However, only morning classes were available for medical students. That clashed with my working hours and I had to prioritize my military duty," said Kartini, who was not disappointed that her dream of becoming a doctor came to an end.

In 1993, Kartini graduated from the Army Staff and Command College (Seskoad), an achievement that helped further her career. Four years after Seskoad, she was appointed commander of Pusdik Kowad, making her the 10th woman to head the center.

Being responsible for a training center that is expected to produce quality female soldiers is not a small task. Kartini guides the recruits in discipline and quality.

"Discipline is the soul of a soldier. A soldier who cannot show discipline is not a good soldier. All I ask of my students is that they become good soldiers who can be relied on to perform their tasks well," she said.

Mother, wife

Certainly being a servicewoman, a wife and a mother is not an easy job. She is lucky to have Pieter Hermanus, a 1965 graduate of the National Military Academy and now a retired Army colonel, as a very supportive husband.

"In the military, you are on call 24 hours a day, at least theoretically. Therefore, since childhood I taught my children to be independent," said Kartini, mother of four grownups.

As a mother-soldier, Kartini is guided by discipline.

"As soldier-parents, both my husband and I believe in discipline at home. We believe that we have to encourage our children to show discipline more than civilian parents do. For example, my children know what time to get up or when to discuss things with their parents," she said.

She taught her children discipline by asking them to write a monthly report of their personal spending.

"When they were in elementary school, I gave them a monthly allowance. They had to write a report on how they spent the money. If they used it to buy things they needed at school, they would receive a bonus. They would still receive a bonus if they spent their allowance on other things, but a smaller one," she said.

Although she gives the impression of a tough woman, Kartini believes in dialogue. She takes time to listen to her children, usually during meals.

"We have breakfast together and we use the opportunity to discuss things, including what my children need. Dinner is even better, it gives us more time to talk," she said.

Kartini and her family also try to do things together as much as possible. They perform their dawn prayers as a family, with her husband as imam (one who leads a prayer). At least once a week the family jogs around the housing complex where they live in the Cimahi area, Bandung.

"It's healthy and cost-free," she explains.

To make up for the busy, sometimes erratic working hours, once a week Kartini concentrates on her family, though without completely abandoning her military tasks.

"I can't completely take my mind off my responsibilities. When the school is full, I have up to 350 students and they are all my children. But I have a reliable staff who reports to me and can reach me wherever I am."

The family does not go out very often because that takes money. Kartini and her family have to adjust their lifestyles to her salary as a government employee.

"Mostly I spend my spare time cooking. I like cooking and once a week I cook my family's favorite dishes," she said, adding that because of her stay in North Sulawesi, she is very fond of Manadonese food.

Expert

Kartini is also an expert at makeup and hairdressing.

"I took a course on makeup and haircutting. Although I'm in the military, I'm a woman and I have to be able to take care of myself. The haircutting skill is particularly helpful here at Pusdik Kowad. I teach my staff the skill so that when new recruits arrive we do not have to hire a professional hairdresser to cut their hair. Imagine the amount of money we save by doing it ourselves," she explained.

Despite Kartini and Pieter's successful careers in the military, none of their children followed in their footsteps.

"One day, when the youngest was still at junior high school, we sat together and I asked them if any of them were interested in joining the military. To my surprise, none of them raised their hands. I demanded to know why no one raised their hand, and they said, 'No, thanks. You guys don't seem to stop working, from morning till night. Very tiring. And look at what you earn.' They said that because they know exactly how much my husband and I earn. We told them so they knew what to ask for from their parents. So, they decided not to join the military, given the small pay," said Kartini.

Her oldest child, Onde, holds an MBA degree. Her second, Martha, is in her final semester at the School of International Relations, Padjadjaran University. Her third, Jimmy, is a final year student of the civil engineering department at the Bandung Institute of Technology. The youngest, Terry, is studying computer engineering and hopes to graduate next year.

"It seems that they all follow their father, who is more of a technical person. My husband is now a special assistant to the president of PT Pindad (the Army's weapon industry)," said Kartini, who was not at all disappointed with her children's choices of careers.

"Times have changed. In the past, children were scared of voicing their minds and did what their parents told them to. It's different now. We don't want our children to be afraid of their parents. Otherwise, when they're in trouble, they dare not tell their parents," she said.