Military Police Corps gets two-star general

JAKARTA (J): Military Police Corps chief Syamsu D. was promoted from brigadier general to major general yesterday, becoming the corps' first two-star general.

After the promotion, Syamsu reported to Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono at the Army headquarters.

"The promotion has nothing to do with restructuring the Military Police Corps," Hartono said after a transfer of duty ceremony for Deputy Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. F.X. Sudjasmin, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 55 Friday.

"The promotion was urgent because of the (corps') large range of supervision duties including the country's eight regional military commands, which are led by two-star generals.

"The Military Police Corps cannot optimally supervise military personnel nationwide if it is led by a one-star general," he said.

Syamsu's deputy, Yoyo Kusnadi, was also promoted yesterday from colonel to brigadier general.

There have been promotions in all the Armed Forces' units in the last year. The Army's Kopassus (special force) was restructured last year and its chief promoted.

In June 1966, the special force was expanded from three to five groups and its chief's title was changed from commandant to commandant general; who was promoted from brigadier general to major general.

The Army Strategic Reserves Commander was then promoted from a two-star general to a three-star general.

The police special force, Mobile Brigade, was inaugurated as an autonomous corps in September, with 700 personnel joining its ranks of 5,000. The brigade's commander was promoted from colonel to brigadier general.

On Sudjasmin's performance in 33 years of military service, Hartono said the newly appointed three-star general had served the armed forces without any record of misconduct.

Hartono formally took over the post of Army deputy chief yesterday because the Army headquarters was still awaiting a presidential decree on Sudjasmin's replacement.

"Potential candidates to fill the position are two-star generals," Hartono said.

He said a replacement would soon be appointed although he could hold the position indefinitely.

Hartono said he did not know what his own military future would be. "A soldier will be very happy if he can fulfill his duties smoothly without error," he said.

Hartono, who will turn 56 next Tuesday, graduated from the National Military Academy in 1962. He was supposed to have retired last year, but the President kept him on for another year.

Sudjasmin said he was grateful that he could complete his career smoothly.

"I can say that it was only because of God's blessing," said the National Military Academy 1964 graduate.

Sudjasmin said his biggest experience was when he was a lieutenant colonel, leading a battalion of soldiers in an operation in East Timor.

"Not all infantry soldiers can become battalion commanders. And not all battalion commanders can jump into military operations. I am glad that I could have done both," he said. (imn)