Bandung — A lighthearted moment unfolded before the start of the Operational and Military Honors Parade at Suparlan Field, Pusdiklatpassus Batujajar, West Bandung, on Sunday (10/8), led by President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.

As Prabowo greeted state officials in attendance, he suddenly stopped upon seeing Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar, better known as Cak Imin. Without hesitation, Prabowo reached out to adjust the minister’s beret, making sure it sat neatly.

A similar gesture followed when he encountered DPD Chairman Sultan Najamudin—Prabowo shifted his beret into proper position. The scene drew smiles from the officials standing nearby.

In his remarks, Prabowo explained why many state officials at the ceremony were wearing military fatigues.

“Behind me are many prominent figures in uniform. They wear these uniforms as a sign of their willingness to put themselves on the line alongside all the people,” he said.

“We will do nothing except defend the Indonesian nation. That is why our outlook is one of defensive defense,” he added.

Prabowo reaffirmed that the entire Indonesian people would stand ready to defend every inch of the nation’s territory.

“We will defend every village, every hamlet, every valley, every hill, every mountain, every district, every regency, every province—every inch of our land. We cannot be subdued, no matter what. Rather than be colonized again, it is better for us to die,” he declared.

During the ceremony, Prabowo conferred the honorary rank of four-star general, installed General Tandyo Budi Revita as Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and awarded the honorary rank of general to 10 recipients, the Bintang Sakti Medal of Honor to two recipients, and an honorary rank to one individual recognized for exceptional dedication and integrity.

The event also marked the inauguration of several new TNI units, including six new Regional Military Commands (Kodam), 14 Naval Regional Commands, three Air Force Regional Commands, one Air Operations Command, six Kopassus Groups, 20 Territorial Development Brigades, one Marine Infantry Brigade, one Pasgat Regiment, 100 Territorial Development Battalions, five Marine Infantry Battalions, and five Rapid Deployment Special Forces Battalions.

In total, the parade involved 27,384 TNI personnel, supported by 152 tactical vehicles with 388 crew members, and 124 defense assets—34 from the Army, 24 from the Navy, and 66 from the Air Force.

Also present at the ceremony were Vice President Gibran Rakabuming, state institution leaders, cabinet ministers and deputy ministers from the Merah Putih Cabinet, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, service chiefs from all military branches, agency heads, State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Muhammad Herindra, and defense attachés from friendly nations.