Prabowo Officially Opens Seskoad Library and Museum in Bandung
President Prabowo Subianto officially opened the renovated library and museum at the Army Staff and Command School (Seskoad) in Bandung, West Java, on Monday, 25 May 2026. According to the Presidential Secretariat, Seskoad has produced numerous graduates who have become national leaders, including former President Soeharto, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and President Prabowo Subianto himself. Three other Seskoad alumni have also served as vice-presidents: Vice-President Umar Wirahadikusumah, Vice-President Sudharmono, and Vice-President Try Sutrisno.
During the ceremony, Prabowo stated: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, today, Monday, 25 May 2026, I, Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby officially open the renovated museum and library of the Army Staff and Command School (Seskoad).”
The inauguration underscores Seskoad’s role as a strategic educational institution at both national and international levels. The Presidential Secretariat noted that Seskoad has previously trained four Singapore Army Chiefs of Staff: Neo Kian Hong (2007-2010), Melvyn Ong Su Kiat (2015-2018), David Neo Chin Wee (2022-2025), and the current Chief, Cai Dexian.
The newly inaugurated museum displays the institution’s history, journey, and the contributions of its leaders to inspire current officers. Colonel Arhanud Desi Ariyanto, Head of Seskoad’s Combat and Doctrine Department, stated that the museum serves as an important learning space for officers to understand military history and leadership. “As military personnel, we must know the history of wars and military affairs, which also encompasses leadership,” he said.
Seskoad’s library contains 42,000 books, with around 500 students annually, including 30 international students, undergoing training there. “They learn here. On the first floor of the museum, they study history; on the second floor, they develop their capabilities, skills, and intellectual abilities—not just military but also governance,” Desi added.