By: Prabowo Subianto [taken from the Book: Military Leadership Notes from Experience Chapter I: Exemplary Leaders of The Indonesian Armed Forces]
When Pak Sutiyoso served as KOPASSUS Chief of Operational Staff Division, he summoned me. I was still the 17th Airborne Head of Brigade Staff. He said, ‘Prabowo, I have proposed to Pak Tarub that you should be Army Special Forces Education Centre Commander (DANPUSDIKPASSUS) of Batujajar.’
Heading the Batujajar Education Centre is very prestigious, but at the time, I aspired to become the commander of the 17th Airborne Brigade. When I thought about it, I realised that all airborne troops and all Indonesian special force soldiers must pass through the school at Batujajar.
So, since I wanted to improve the TNI and Indonesia’s elite forces, I had to improve the curriculum and quality of training and the quality of trainers in Batujajar. That was why I agreed to Pak Sutiyoso’s request to return to KOPASSUS and serve as DANPUSDIK.
When I served as the DANPUSDIKPASSUS, he backed me all the way. When he was the Chief of Operational Staff Division at KOSTRAD, while I was the Head of Brigade Staff (KASBRIG), we both used to be under the leadership of the PANGKOSTRAD. Pak Sutiyoso is a very patriotic man. He’s also very good at making jokes.
Pak Sutiyoso graduated from the Military Academy in 1968. As a junior, I saw Pak Sutiyoso from afar in KOPASSUS. He started up with Group 2 in Magelang, while I was in Group 1 in Cijantung and Batujajar. I did not have much interaction with him. Still, I knew he was involved in various operations, including infiltration to East Timor under Pak Dading Kalbuadi.
Pak Sutiyoso was known for his sense of humour. He was an experienced field operator. He was also known for his hobby of shooting moving targets.
When he was a Colonel as KOPASSUS Assistant for Operations, he summoned me. I was still the 17th Airborne Brigade Chief of Staff (KASBRIG). He said, ‘Prabowo, I have proposed to Pak Tarub that you be made DANPUSDIKPASSUS in Batujajar.’
Surely, I aspired to be the commander of the prestigious 17th Airborne Brigade. KOPASSUS Education and Training Centre is also very prestigious. All airborne troops and all Indonesian special forces must undertake training and pass from the school. So since I wanted to do my best for the TNI by elevating the quality of Indonesia’s elite forces, I had to improve the quality of its curriculum, training and trainers. That was why I agreed to Pak Sutiyoso’s request to return to KOPASSUS and serve as DANPUSDIK (Commander of the Education Centre).
Pak Sutiyoso is a very patriotic man. He is also very good at telling jokes. These were the traits possessed by my seniors and mentors who nurtured me during my time in the Army.
