TNI Clarifies Pramuka Certificate Cannot Replace Recruitment Tests

TNI headquarters has responded to a statement by Budi Waseso, chairman of the National Scout Movement’s National Quarter (Kwarnas), who said that a Pramuka Garuda certificate could be used to enlist in the TNI and National Police without testing.

Head of the TNI Information Centre, Major General Muhammad Nas, said that achievement documents, including the Pramuka Garuda certificate, would be taken into consideration by recruitment committees at every level.

According to him, achievement documents provide an additional administrative advantage. However, Nas said the document is not the deciding factor in whether someone is accepted as a TNI soldier.

“Nevertheless, the decision to accept someone as a TNI soldier remains within the parameters of Commander Regulation 179 of 2025 concerning the Provision of Voluntary TNI Soldiers,” Nas said when contacted on Friday (7/8).

Head of the Army Information Service, Brigadier General Donny Pramono, had previously said that possession of a national achievement certificate or charter could be an added value in the selection process.

“Based on the current soldier recruitment provisions, possession of a national-level achievement certificate or charter, including Pramuka Garuda, is an added value in the selection process and can be one of the considerations at the assessment stage in accordance with applicable regulations,” Donny said when contacted on Thursday (6/8).

However, he stressed that all prospective soldiers must still follow the established selection mechanism, from administrative checks, health, physical fitness, psychology, and mental ideology, to other selection stages.

Donny said this is important to ensure that every accepted soldier truly meets the quality, competency and readiness standards required by the Army.

“In principle, the Army continues to support synergy with the Scout Movement in shaping a young generation of character. Going forward, the implementation of various forms of cooperation will certainly continue to be coordinated with Kwarnas so that it is understood in the same way and does not cause differences in perception in the community,” he said.

Budi Waseso, also known as Buwas, had previously said that the Pramuka Garuda certificate could be used as one of the requirements in the TNI and National Police recruitment process.

Holders of the certificate have the opportunity to take part in selection without testing in accordance with the agreed provisions.

Budi explained that the policy is part of Kwarnas’ cooperation with the TNI, the National Police, and a number of universities. The move is also expected to encourage young people’s interest in being active in scouting activities.

“Every Pramuka Garuda, that is, those from the Penegak level who meet the requirements as Pramuka Garuda, if they want to become a police officer can go directly without testing. The same goes for the TNI, including universities, and it is already running now,” said Budi, also known as Buwas, after a pilgrimage to Bung Karno’s grave on Tuesday (4/8).

According to Budi, the recruitment mechanism through the Pramuka Garuda pathway has been refined, including the assessment system, so that it complies with the rules and procedures applicable in each institution.