1 BUILDING INFANTRY UNITS BASED ON MINIMUM ESSENTIAL FORCE (MEF) TO FACE THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT CHANGES AND THE

ESSENCE OF THREATS IN 21ST CENTURY 1. Introduction

The strategic environment, as a matter of fact, are changing due to the rapid development of technology throughout the world, include Indonesia. As an impact, thus development has transformed the society and the nation life order. Furthermore, this changes have create such threats, interferences, barriers, and challenges in 21ST century which never been predicted. The global threats above have led new challenges which not only enrolling the security and military/defense areas but also non-military dimension which more dangerous because these are abstract/invisible, non-physical things that cannot be easily to detect and often being too late to anticipate. Some new phenomena have emerged like unprecedented natural disasters that occurred throughout Indonesia. These disaster such as Tsunami-followed earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanic eruption, typhoons and hurricanes have caused huge amount of dead victims and losses properties because the occurrence of such disasters are hardly to predict. As stated by Law No. 34 of 2004, the main duties of TNI (Indonesia National Armed Force) are to up hold the state sovereign, to keep the integrity of the Unitary States of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) based on Pancasila (The Five Principles) and the Constitution, and also to protect the whole nation and motherland. As an archipelago state, Indonesia consist of 17.504 islands spreads from Sabang to Merauke and it has 1.922.570 km2 wide. It is so not easy to deploy TNI soldiers along islands, especially at border territory

2.

Discussion

a. Observing current condition of the Infantry unit viewed from Human Resources, the Organization, the Main Weapon System, and the Budget. 1) The human resources of Infantry soldier is left behind by science and technology development. Means, Infantry soldier have not fully

2 understand about information technology, especially on how to apply and operate computer, communication device, and sophisticated information technology which grow among the society. As a matter a fact, there are some units which have not use internet technology yet resulting thus units lagged behind in transferring information. They were late in receiving and responding news by email. Moreover, the dislocations of some Infantry units are far from each other, there even some companies located separately from its battalion. Considering its benefit, Internet access is very useful in supporting Infantry main duties. But if this technology is not promptly applied, it would inhibit infantry unit operation. Indonesian Army is expected to have professional, reliable, and modern infantry units.

2) Organization.The composition of the Infantry Unit at present is as follows: a) Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad)
(1) (2)

2 Infantry Divisions (1st Inf DIV and 2nd Inf DIV) 7 Infantry Brigades: 3 Airborne Inf BDEs (Airborne Inf Bde 3,17, & 18)
(a)

(b)
(3)

4 Inf BDEs (Inf BDEs 6,9,13, & 22)

21 Infantry Battalions:
(a) (b) (c)

9 Airborne Infantry Battalions. 3 Raider Infantry Battalions.

9 Infantry Battalions (7 Inf Bns have been established and 2 Inf Bn is still in progress)

b) Military Area Command (Kodam)

(1)

9 Inf Brigades (Inf Bde 1,4,7,16,19,20,21 & 24)

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(2) (3) (4)

18 Inf Battalions (17 Inf Bn & 1 Mech Inf Bn) 10 Raider Inf Battalions

48 Inf Battalions (Under Military Sub Area Command/Korem) Indonesian Army Special Forces (Kopassus) 11 Special Force Battalions.
c)

Command

Among the Infantry Battalions mentioned above, there are differences in the number of personnel such as following: 63 Inf Battalions based on Top ROI 1995 consist of 747 persons in each Battalions.
a)

1 Inf Battalions based on Top ROI 2000 with 828 persons.

b) c) d)

13 Inf Raider Battalions with 747 persons in each Bn. 20 Enforced Inf Battalions with 1,039 persons in each

Bn.

It shows that the number of personnel is varying and therefore should be rearranged to meet the duty interest.

Main Weaponry System (Alutsista). In fact, the Main Weapon System of Infantry Unit has significantly increased toward a modernization. However, some Inf Battalions still using old and out of date weapons, particularly in some types of support weapons, Optical devices, GPS, and communication devices. There even some Battalions with no Anti Tank Weapon (SLT), Mo 60, Mo 81, Middle Machine Gun (SMS), and Heavy Machine Gun (SMB) in their arsenals. Some other Battalions equipped with that weapons above but not enough to meet the requirements and many of these weapons were in out of order conditions. Worse, the lack of ammunition/exercising grenade caused the soldiers have never carry out a live support weapon shooting exercises with either
3)

4 dummy grenade nor live hand grenade. These all are truly related to the limited budget allocated from higher command but if this conditions were not immediately solved, it may inhibit the professionalism of the infantry soldier, and make us left further behind the Main Weapon System possessed by neighbor states in south east Asia community.

4) Budget. The limitedness of defense budget to build an ideal essential Force. The defense budget allocated for the army in 2010 was IDR 18,756 Trillion, while in 2011 was IDR 21,506 Trillion. Though the fund was raised by 12,7 %, it only enough to support about 38 % of minimum needs. This strongly impacts on the army operation readiness level in enhancing both human resources and the main weapon system. Ideally, to build an Indonesian army posture with ground aspect deterrence will require bigger budget at least 3 times from the present. Considering the condition above, Indonesian army need to formulate an appropriate policy to maintain the arrangement process and achieve the pre determined target and accountable also.

b. Changes of strategic environment and threats in 21st century.

The changes of strategic environment in 21st century has essentially been driven by very rapid development of technology. This development gave not only positive influence which is improving human life but also utilized by certain people or group to commit crime. Terrorists use this technology to build an International Network (people network, money transferred) and established communication network with high encryption capacity to create secret codes that cannot easily detected or interpreted. They also operated various technology based equipments and weapons. These all are the real challenges for our defense system. The increased of quality of Transnational crimes in the forms of illegal drugs smuggling, pirate crime in remote islands, illegal fishing, transnational smuggling, money laundry, intellectual rights pirate, law case broker crime, and big-scale corruption which the money saved in many countries throughout the world. The armed conflicts in the cold war era are generally in the form of conflict between states or some states, but currently it has changed. In

5 fact, the conflicts today are mostly internal within a state. The occurrence of conflict in 21st century is very complex and involves non-military factors with a character of NON-CONTACT WAR and military factors with a character of CONTACT WAR. Non military based conflict even more conspicuous than military-based one. The competition between states in globalization era will be more intensive which every state race to be more competitive and develop hegemony over the others. A conflict with non military dimension will be more dangerous because its war field is abstract in nature, invisible ,and unphysical so it cannot be easily detected and often lately anticipated. However, threats with military dimension in form of aggression or other forms are still seriously calculated. The advancement of technology has influenced the development of Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), armed conflict in the future with high accurate military force dimension and space controlling to incapacitate a states strategic force accompanied by very high sustainment mobility. That remind us on asymmetric threats which means that a smaller power can defeat, destruct, and bother a larger/stronger enemy. For example, Al Qaeda (an international terrorist organization) led by Osama Bin Laden that has no real state (non state) but can effectively commit their terror actions throughout the world, including a superpower state like USA. The power of Osama Bin Laden group and their followers has been supported by a very strong ideology that was embodied in form of fanaticism and militancy by the faith to sacrifice themselves to gain a better afterworld life (Jihad). This is a new form of war, where a big entity was bothered by a smaller one. Globalization has brought about a change in warfare form, or the method a state applies in attempt to control other state or nation. A war method by using armed force or hard power is deemed as no longer efficient, so that a new, far more efficient method emerges by using soft power through some forms of war such as Cultural Warfare, Economic and Financial Warfare, Information Warfare, etc. The power of weapon has been replaced by information to build perception (war perception) and capital/financial power to control economy. Multinational company (MNC) and NGO are new soldiers for powerful states to defeat other weak, undeveloped states. Currently, the Goals of War have switched from Territory control to Source control, or in other words economic oriented. The contemporary warfare method usually conducted in stages, begging with a war state, particularly its elites. This process id frequently

6 carried out by using a proxy (War by Proxy) that consists of NGOs or political elites it successfully influenced. The stage is legislations and even Constitution and Values the targeted state upholds in order to facilitate political and economic exploitation. The next state is cultural infiltration to change local cultural values and financial/stock infiltration by big companies (MNC) in attempt to control economics. Indonesia's current internal situation has changed very substantive. There have been many advances in various fields especially in the field of politics in democracy, socio-cultural field, particularly in the field of education and the press matters. In addition, significant internal challenges such as sustainability of national reform, economic recovery, the establishment of regional economy, election issues that impact anarchist, natural disasters and the impact of global warming. Besides weakening the handling of various issues concerning the interests of humanity to the international community as well as democratization, human rights and the environment. The issue of global warming, such as environmental pollution has become a global problem which is caused by industrial waste from developed countries and major industries that can bring tensions between countries due to blame each other. Also the environmental damage by cutting forest massively will damaging ecosystem in one country could lead to neighboring countries and other countries around the world. The increase of forest burning in the dry season in the region of Sumatera and Kalimantan that pollute the air which affects not only Indonesia but also Singapore, Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia. The issue of border matters, the outer islands and remote areas with neighboring countries who claim to each other. These become sources of dispute and threats in the future. Another threat that will befall the nation of Indonesia in future is natural disasters. Although during the year 2010 there have been 644 times of natural disasters such as floods, flash floods, landslides, cyclones, earthquakes, tsunami and volcano eruption / eruptive, will not just stop. According to observers of Volcanology and geological hazard reduction (PVMBG), in the future, a number of hydro meteorological disasters remains a threat to some areas. So far, national and local government less readiness in order to handle natural disasters. This requires vigilance and high preparedness for community to care each other.

7 c. Building Infantry unit in order to deal with strategic environmental changes and the nature of threats in the 21st century. Operational readiness, deterrence and operational resilience that must be faced by infantry units when faced with the entire spectrum of tasks and operations are entrusted by the state through Act No. 34 of 2004, includes a duty to the Military Operations for War (MOW) and Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW), which includes: One. Joint Operations such as Airborne operation, Air Defense Operation and administrative landing operations. Two. Ground operation, consist of Combat operation (Offensive operation, Defensive Operation, Retrograde Operation, Surveillance Operation, Operation in Special Condition, Operation with Biological and Chemical influence, Air Assault Operation, Special Task Operation, Guerilla warfare Operation, Counter insurgency Operation), Intelligence Operation and Territorial Operation. Infantry units can be involved in military operations Other Than War, including: One. Military Operation in order to overcome the separatist movement. Two. Military Operation in order to cope with armed rebellion. Three. Military Operation in order to cope with terrorism. Four. Military Operation in order to secure the border areas. Five. Military Operations in order to secure the national vital objects that are strategic. Six. Military Operations in order to carry out the task of world peace in accordance with foreign policy. Seven. Military Operations in order to secure the President and Vice President and his family. Eight. Military Operations in order to help secure the state guestlevel Foreign Heads of State and Representatives who were in Indonesia. Nine. Operations in order to empower the region's defense and supporting force. Ten. Operations in order to assist the government in the area. Eleven. Operations in order to help the RI State Police for security and public order duties set forth in the Act. Twelve. Operations in order to help natural disaster relief, refugee and humanitarian relief. Thirteen. Operations in order to assist search and rescue in accidents (Search and Rescue). Fourteen. Operations in order to assist the government to shipping and aviation security against piracy, piracy and smuggling. The main factors that should be owned by infantry unit in order to face changing strategic environment and the nature of threats in the 21st century that can be used for deterrent power, readiness and operational

8 sustainability, lies in human resources that has been prepared on the composition of a formidable organization and major equipment of weapons systems, equipment and logistical support. Infantry unit must be built to be professional which are supported by following aspects: (1) Well Trained. They should be trained and educated properly and be given the high competitive ability and the ability to operate information technology, able to carry out information warfare, Computer Network. (2) Well equipped. They must be armed with sophisticated defense equipment, sophisticated and modern in accordance with state budget capabilities. The main weaponry system must be sustainable and not merely depends from foreign countries that will make it vulnerable to the embargo and not controlled by other countries. (3) Well Organized. Infantry Unit should be established and validated through an organization formed in stages with emphasis on meeting the needs of a very urgent and pressing, so that the infantry unit that has unfolded a high flexibility in order to realize a formidable deterrent power in order to deal with changing strategic environment and the nature of threats in the 21st century. (4) Well Paid. All Army soldiers should be given adequate welfare so they can concentrate on their duties and also proud of his profession. Given the increasingly rapid advances in information technology so it can be used as a means for use in war of information, then information technology will greatly affect the strategy to be taken in order to achieve information superiority. This has resulted in changes to duties that must be carried out by infantry units. Information and communication technology are increasingly sophisticated and advanced will be able to simplify, accelerate to obtain information, data and other findings that can be used as material information by an infantry unit in order that make proper and accurate decision making to perform basic tasks. At first, the army used a control device K3I (Command, control, communications and intelligence), now it is developed into K4IPP control device (Command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance). Control devices such as the leader Command and control to facilitate communication and control throughout the Infantry units in home base and the area of assignment, especially in outer islands and border areas with neighboring countries. Outer islands are located in the territory of Kodam IM (P. Rondo), Kodam I/BB (P. Berhala, P. P. Sekatung and Nipah), Kodam VII/WRB (P. Miangas, P.

9 Marore and P. Marampit) , Kodam IX/UDY (P. Dana / Rote and P. Batek) and Kodam XVII/CEN (P. Fran. P. Brasi and P. Fanildo). As a matter of fact, the Republic of Indonesia are bordered by Malaysia, the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (East Timor), Papua New Guene, Australia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, India, Vietnam and Myanmar. Meanwhile, the Infantry Units which located in RI-Malaysia border are in the West Kalimantan, territory of Kodam XII/TPR and the East Kalimantan, territory of Kodam VI/MLW. For the border area between RI - Timor-Leste in Kupang NTT is territory of Kodam IX/UDY and while the border area between RI - PNG in Papua is territory of Kodam XVII/CEND. In order to realize the balance of infantry unit in face with broad and complex duty spectrum, it is necessary for the development, structuring and validation stages of development through the organization. In order to realize the balance of infantry unit with exposed power spectrum is broad and complex task it needs an arrangement, structuring and development through organizational validation gradually. Establishment of new units, that are urgent and vital to the defense, which is prioritized for areas prone to conflict and border areas. Infantry Unit which is a centralized power as a Quick Reaction Force of Indonesian Armed Forces comprises Airbornee Division, Raider Division and Kostrad Mechanize Division,which in turn,is projected to be able to overcome 3 Trouble Spots simultaneously and capable of rapidly mobilized at any time to conflict area according to the intensity of threats. Infantry units that unfold would have high flexibility in order to realize a formidable deterrent power in order to deal with changing strategic environment and the nature of threats in the 21st century. To deal with changing strategic environment and the nature of threats in the 21st century, the Infantry Units are spread out as follows: One. Kostrad (Army Strategic Reserve Command) consist of Airbornee Division, Raider Division and Mechanize Division. Airborne Division consists of : Inf Brigade-3/Airborne: Inf Bn-431/Airborne. Inf Bn 432/Airborne and Inf Bn-433/Airborne. - Inf Brigade -17/Airborne: Inf Bn-305/Airborne, Inf Bn and Inf Bn 328/Airborne 330/Airborne. Inf Brigade-18/Airborne: Inf Bn-501/Airborne, Inf Bn502/Airborne and Inf Bn-503/Airborne. Raider Division consists of : - Inf Brigade-2/Raider: Inf Bn-400/Raider, Inf Bn 500/Raider and Inf Bn-514/Raider. Inf Brigade-13/Raider: Inf Bn-300/Raider, Inf Bn323/Raider and Inf Bn-412/Raider.

10 Inf Brigade-22/Raider: Inf Bn-221/Raider, Inf Bn222/Raider and Inf Bn-223/Raider. Mechanize Division consists of : Inf Brigade-6/ Mechanize: Inf Bn-403/M, Inf Bn-411/M and Inf Bn-413/M. Inf Brigade-9/ Mechanize: Inf Bn-509/M, Inf Bn-515/M and Inf Bn-516/M. Inf Brigade-12/ Mechanize: Inf Bn 314/M, Inf Bn-327/M and Inf Bn-331/M.

Two. Military Area Command (Kodam) consists of 9 Inf BDEss : - Inf Brigade-1/ Mechanize Capital City: Inf Bn-201 / M, Inf Bn-202 / M and Inf Bn 203 / M. - Inf Brigade-7/Dam I: Inf Bn-121, Inf Bn-122 and Inf Bn-125. - Inf Brigade-15/Dam III: Inf Bn-310, Inf Bn-312 and Inf Bn-315/Dam III. - Inf Brigade-4/Dam IV: Inf Bn-405, Inf Bn-406 and Inf Bn-407. - Inf Brigade-16/Dam V: Inf Bn-511, Inf Bn-521 and Inf Bn-527. - Inf Brigade-24/Dam VI: Inf Bn-613, Inf Bn-614 and Inf Bn-621. - Inf Brigade-21/Dam IX: Inf Bn 741, Inf Bn 742 and Inf Bn 743. - Inf Brigade-19/Dam XII: Inf Bn-641, Inf Bn-642 and Inf Bn-643. - Inf Brigade-20/Dam XVII: Inf Bn-754, Inf Bn-755 and Inf Bn-756. - Raider Inf Battalions of Military Area Command (Kodam) consisting of: Inf Bn-100/Raider, Inf Bn-200/Raider, Inf Bn-600/Raider, Inf Bn700/Raider, Inf Bn-900/Raider, Inf Bn-733/Raider and Inf Bn-112/Raider. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam I: Inf Bn-123, Inf Bn-126 , Inf Bn-131, Inf Bn-132, Inf Bn-133 and Inf Bn-134. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam II: Inf Bn-141, Inf Bn-142, Inf Bn-143 and Inf Bn-144. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam III: Inf Bn-301 and Inf Bn320. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam IV: Inf Bn-408 and Inf Bn410. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam V: Inf Bn-512. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam VI: Inf Bn-611 and Inf Bn623. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam VII: Inf Bn-711, Inf Bn712, Inf Bn-713, Inf Bn-714, Inf Bn-721, Inf Bn-725 and Inf Bn 726. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam IX: Inf Bn-744 Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam XII: Inf Bn-631 and Inf Bn644. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam XVI: Inf Bn-731, Inf Bn732 and Inf Bn-734. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam XVII: Inf Bn-751, Inf Bn752 and Inf Bn-753. Military Sub Area Command (Korem)/Dam IM: Inf Bn-111, Inf Bn112, Inf Bn-113, Inf Bn-114, Inf Bn-115 and Inf Bn-116.

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Three. Indonesian Army Special Forces command (Kopassus) composed of 11 Infantry Battalions. All Infantery units will refer to the table of Infantery Organization and Personnel (TOP ROI) 2000 with the number of personnel is 828 persons. Indonesian Army Infantry Unit has begun to be equipped to more modern Main weaponry systems (Alutsista) by adjusting the operational needs, besides that, it is still also maintaining Main weaponry systems (Alutsista) which still feasible and meets the standard. The Supply of Main weaponry systems (Alutsista) still give priority to domestic production of materials in cooperation with PT. Pindad through research and development and testing in a thorough and detailed as we give priority to the requirements of material that has resistance, durability, ease of maintenance, easy in service and easy to be operated and easy to obtain spare parts. If we would want sophisticated, advanced and modern Main Weaponry Systems (Alutsista) than foreign products must go through the process of research and development and more rigorous testing again. It is expected that the Main Weaponry Systems (Alutsista) must be held continuously and not be bound and controlled by a country producers, especially related to the embargo. In the procurement and development of Infantery units Main Weaponry Systems (Alutsista) remains guided by the policy direction of the army high control. By considering the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) which adjusted for the calculation of the budget and resources available. According to the draft document of Indonesian Army Posture Year 20052024 and the draft working document of the Indonesian army in particular about the systematic management of the budget each year has increased / improved significantly. Hopefully, in the future the army in its sole discretion consider to raise the status of the Minimum Essential Force ( MEF) to Ideal Essential Force (IEF) needs an ideal defense forces. 3. Conclusion. In order to build infantry units equipped sophisticated Main Weaponry Systems, up to date and modern by considering the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) and supported by an adequate defense budget so that the title of the Infantry units can be arranged in a balanced and flexible in order to deal with environmental change and the nature of the Strategic threats of the 21st century to guarantee for upholding the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).