Indonesian Army infantry battalions

The Indonesian Army has formed a large number of infantry battalions since it was formed from provisional militias during the Indonesian National Revolution against the Dutch colonial rule, 1945–1949. Today, the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance 2007 lists the Army with 2 brigades (6 battalions) plus 60 other battalions in the KODAMs, or Military Regional Commands, and nine battalions in KOSTRAD, the Army Strategic Reserve Command.[1] There are also around nine airborne battalions.

Infantry soldiers from the 134th Infantry Battalion (Yonif 134) being inspected during the opening ceremony for "Raider" specialization training

Indonesian military units are commonly referred to by compound words. Infantry battalions are routinely called as Yonifs which is a portmanteau from "batalyon infanteri" ('infantry battalion'). They are also commonly referred to by their battalion nicknames, for example: 511th Infantry Battalion - "Dibyatama Yudha".

Organization

The Infantry Branch is the principal and major unit of the Indonesian army combat element. The Infantry element is the largest and main combat troops within the Indonesian army. Kostrad and Kopassus are all part of this branch although it also consists of non-infantry units internally. In Indonesia, there are more than 100 Infantry Battalions spread throughout the country. Green berets are worn by Indonesian Army infantrymen. The Infantry of the Indonesian Army are under the auspices of the Infantry Weaponry Centre ("Pussenif") which is under the command of a major general. The Infantry branch of the Indonesian Army consists of huge numbers of units whereas the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance 2007 lists the Army with 2 brigades, (6 battalions), plus 60 other battalions in each Military districts ("Kodam") and nine battalions in Kostrad.[1]

The elite infantry battalions of the Indonesian Army are called "Raider Battalions" (raised on 2003) which are specially trained in Raid and Air assault operations (including counter-terrorism, Extraction, Guerrilla and Close combat operations).[2] By strength and capabilities, 1 battalion of Raider infantry is equal to 3 regular infantry battalions combined. There are currently about 49 raider battalions in the Indonesian Army Infantry branch, with the strength of 650 to 800 men per-battalion. It is larger compared to regular infantry battalions which only consists about 450 to 570 infantrymen. Even as the Chief of Staff of the Army (Kasad) is planning in the future to qualify all Infantry battalions (except mechanized) as "Raider"-ready,[2] there are now mechanized battalions which are "Raider"-qualified in addition to their mechanized role. Infantry battalions in the Indonesian Army originates from different combat organisations or corps, there are several infantry battalions part of Kostrad and some are part of the territorial military commands (Kodams), the same case also falls to Raider Infantry battalions. Currently, there are now 3 Airborne infantry brigades in the Indonesian Army which are all "Raider" qualified (called as: Para-raider), and are all part of the Kostrad. The Infantry beret colors of the Indonesian army are as shown below:

  • Regular Infantry soldiers wear: Light Green Beret with crossed-rifle insignia
  • Kostrad infantrymen wear: Dark Green Beret with Kostrad emblem, (Airborne units are added a paratrooper wing insignia on the beret)
  • Raider infantrymen wear: Dark Green beret with bayonet emblem
  • Mechanized Infantrymen wear: Dark Green beret with Mechanized Infantry emblem

There are today 5 types of Infantry battalions in the Indonesian Army, which are:

  1. Parachute-Raider Infantry Battalion (abbreviated "Yonif Para Raider"): are Airborne infantry battalions part of Kostrad which are able in Air assault and Raid operations.
  2. Mechanized-Raider Infantry Battalion (abbreviated "Yonif Mekanis Raider"): are Raider infantry battalions which are Mechanized that are special operations-capaable which also can carry out urban warfare and ground mechanized-infantry operations.
  3. Raider Infantry Battalion (abbreviated "Yonif Raider"): are infantry battalions which are basically trained for Raid warfare and Air assault operations.
  4. Mechanized Infantry Battalion (abbreviated "Yonif Mekanis"): are mobilized infantry battalions, equipped with APCs and IFVs.
  5. Infantry Battalion (abbreviated "Yonif"): are light Infantry battalions.

All infantrymen of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Army included, have capabilities in Jungle warfare.

Para-Raider infantry battalions
Para Raider Infantry Battalions
NoNameNicknamePart of
1.305th Para Raider Infantry BattalionTengkorak (Skeleton)17th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Kujang I
2.328th Para Raider Infantry BattalionDirgahayu17th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Kujang I
3.330th Para-Raider Infantry BattalionTri Dharma17th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Kujang I
4.501st Para Raider Infantry BattalionBajra Yudha18th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Trisula
5.502nd Para Raider Infantry BattalionUjwala Yudha18th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Trisula
6.503rd Para Raider Infantry BattalionMayangkara18th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Trisula
7.431st Para Raider Infantry BattalionSatria Setia Perkasa3rd Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Tri Budi Sakti
8.432nd Para Raider Infantry BattalionWaspada Setia Jaya3rd Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Tri Budi Sakti
9.433rd Para Raider Infantry BattalionJulu Siri3rd Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Tri Budi Sakti

Raider infantry battalions
Soldiers from the 500th Raider Infantry Battalion of the Indonesian Army

In the Indonesian Army, the Raider Infantry (In Indonesia known as Yonif Raider) is a type of specialized-infantry above of regular infantry which are trained to conduct Raids, military extraction (hostage rescue), counter-terrorist, airborne, Guerrilla and Air assault operations. It also is trained to conduct urban and jungle warfare.[3] The first ten battalions of the raider infantry which were inaugurated on December 22, 2003, were formed by transforming 8 battalions of territorial commands and 2 Kostrad battalions. As a counterweight force, the strength of a Raider Infantry Battalion (Yonif Raider) is equivalent to three times the strength of an ordinary/regular infantry battalion (Yonif) in the Army. This infantry unit is back grounded with "Raid" battle tactics known as "Depredation".

Each Raider battalion consists of approximately 810 personnel of all ranks, larger than the normal battalions of around 570 infantrymen. These personnel were given special education and training for six months for modern warfare, guerrilla and anti-guerrilla warfare, and protracted warfare tactics and strategies. Each of these battalions is trained to have triple combat capabilities of ordinary infantry battalions (Yonifs). Raider infantrymen are trained to perform ambushes, airborne and air assault operations, such as foray from helicopters and transport aircraft, while Raider infantrymen in the mechanized battalions are also trained in mechanized and urban warfare operations. 50 personnel each in a Raider battalion are Counter-terrorism qualified with other additional specialized skills. The Kopassus Special Forces Education and Training Center ("Pusdikpassus") located in Batujajar, West Java is where Raider infantrymen get their advance special operations training before being stationed to their respective Raider battalions. Aside from the Raider battalions, the Indonesian Army also fosters "Para-Raider" battalions which are Raider infantry units qualified as Airborne which all are within the Kostrad corps. There are also Raider infantry battalions which are Mechanised (Mekanis Raider) in the Army, the units are the 411th, 412th, and 413th Mechanized-Raider Infantry Battalions which are part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Kostrad Infantry Division and the 113th Raider Infantry Battalion (Mechanized) from the 25th Infantry Brigade, Kodam Iskandar Muda.

Raider Infantry Battalions
NoNameNicknamePart of
1100th Raider Infantry BattalionPrajurit Setia1st Military Regional Command/Bukit Barisan
2200th Raider Infantry BattalionBhakti Nagara2nd Military Regional Command/Sriwijaya
3300th Raider Infantry BattalionBanjar Kedaton3rd Military Regional Command/Siliwangi
4400th Raider Infantry BattalionBanteng Raider4th Military Regional Command/Diponegoro
5500th Raider Infantry BattalionSikatan5th Military Regional Command/Brawijaya
6600th Raider Infantry BattalionModang6th Military Regional Command/Mulawarman
7700th Raider Infantry BattalionWira Yudha Cakti14th Military Regional Command/Hasanuddin
8900th Raider Infantry BattalionSatya Bhakti Wirottama9th Military Regional Command/Udayana
9323rd Raider Infantry BattalionBuaya Putih13th Infantry Brigade/Galuh
10412th Raider Infantry BattalionBharata Eka Shakti6th Infantry Brigade/Trisakti Baladaya
11514th Raider Infantry BattalionSabbada Yudha9th Infantry Brigade/Daraka Yudha
12733rd Raider Infantry BattalionMasariku16th Military Regional Command/Pattimura
13112th Raider Infantry BattalionDharma JayaMilitary Regional Command Iskandar Muda
14641st Raider Infantry BattalionBeruang Hitam12th Military Regional Command/Tanjungpura
15411st Raider Infantry BattalionPhandawa6th Infantry Brigade/Trisakti Baladaya
16111st Raider Infantry BattalionKarma Bhakti25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
17712th Raider Infantry BattalionWiratama13nd Military Regional Command/Merdeka
18751st Raider Infantry BattalionVira Jaya Shakti17th Military Regional Command/Cenderawasih
19752nd Raider Infantry BattalionVira Yudha Sakti171st Military Area Command/Praja Vira Tama
20753rd Raider Infantry BattalionArga Vira Tama173nd Military Area Command/Praja Vira Braja
21756th Raider Infantry BattalionWimane Sili17th Military Regional Command/Cenderawasih
22509th Raider Infantry BattalionBalawara Yudha9th Infantry Brigade/Daraka Yudha
23303rd Raider Infantry BattalionSetia Sampai Mati (Loyal until Death)13th Infantry Brigade/Galuh
24.136th Raider Infantry BattalionTuah Sakti31st Military Area Command/Wirabima
25.321st Raider Infantry BattalionGaluh Taruna13th Infantry Brigade/Galuh
26.613th Raider Infantry BattalionRaja Alam24th Infantry Brigade/Bulungan Cakti
27.644th Raider Infantry BattalionWalet Sakti19th Infantry Brigade/Khatulistiwa
28.744th Raider Infantry BattalionSatya Yudha Bhakti21st Infantry Brigade/Komodo
29.408th Raider Infantry BattalionSuhbrasta74th Military Area Command/Warastratama
30.113th Raider Infantry BattalionJaya Sakti25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
31.515th Raider Infantry BattalionUgra Tapa Yudha9th Infantry Brigade/Daraka Yudha
32.614th Raider Infantry BattalionRaja Pandhita24th Infantry Brigade/Bulungan Cakti
33.621st Raider Infantry BattalionManuntung101st Military Area Command/Antasari
34.631st Raider Infantry BattalionAntang Elang102nd Military Area Command/Panju Panjung
35.114th Raider Infantry BattalionSatria Musara25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
36.115th Raider Infantry BattalionMacan Leuser25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
37.142nd Raider Infantry BattalionKsatria jaya42nd Military Area Command/Garuda Putih
38.754th Raider Infantry BattalionEme Neme kangasi20th Infantry Brigade/Ima jaya keramo
39.755th Raider Infantry BattalionYalet20th Infantry Brigade/Ima jaya keramo
40.301st Raider Infantry BattalionPrabu Kian Santang62nd Military Area Command/Taruma Nagara

Other infantry battalions

Regular infantry battalions

Regular infantry battalions below are categorized as Light infantry battalions, which some are "Raider" qualified. They are addressed as "Yonif" (abbreviated from Batalyon Infanteri) in Indonesia, for example Yonif 125 means: 125th Infantry Battalion. The lists are as shown below:

  1. 116th Infantry Battalion
  2. 121st Infantry Battalion
  3. 122nd Infantry Battalion
  4. 123rd Infantry Battalion
  5. 125th Infantry Battalion
  6. 126th Infantry Battalion
  7. 131st Infantry Battalion
  8. 132nd Infantry Battalion
  9. 133rd Infantry Battalion
  10. 141st Infantry Battalion
  11. 143rd Infantry Battalion
  12. 144th Infantry Battalion
  13. 310th Infantry Battalion
  14. 312th Infantry Battalion
  15. 315th Infantry Battalion
  16. 320th Infantry Battalion
  17. 403rd Infantry Battalion
  18. 405th Infantry Battalion
  19. 406th Infantry Battalion
  20. 407th Infantry Battalion
  21. 410th Infantry Battalion
  22. 511th Infantry Battalion
  23. 527th Infantry Battalion
  24. 611th Infantry Battalion
  25. 623rd Infantry Battalion
  26. 642nd Infantry Battalion
  27. 644th Infantry Battalion
  28. 645th Infantry Battalion
  29. 711th Infantry Battalion
  30. 713th Infantry Battalion
  31. 714th Infantry Battalion
  32. 715th Infantry Battalion
  33. 721st Infantry Battalion
  34. 725th Infantry Battalion
  35. 726th Infantry Battalion
  36. 731st Infantry Battalion
  37. 732nd Infantry Battalion
  38. 734th Infantry Battalion
  39. 742nd Infantry Battalion
  40. 743rd Infantry Battalion
  41. 757th Infantry Battalion
  42. 761st Infantry battalion
  43. 764th Infantry Battalion

Mechanized infantry battalions (including Raider battalions)
  1. 201st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  2. 202nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  3. 203rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  • Part of the 6th Mechanized Raider Infantry Brigade, Kostrad (Brigade Infanteri Mekanis 6/"Trisakti Baladaya")
  1. 411th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Raider qualified)
  2. 412th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Raider qualified)
  3. 413th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Raider qualified)
  • Part of the 16th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Kodam V/Brawijaya (Brigade Infanteri 16/"Wira Yudha")
  1. 512th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  2. 516th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  3. 521st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  1. 643rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.[4]
  1. 741st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  1. 403rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  • Part of 091/Aji Surya Natakusuma Military Area command
  1. 611th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  1. 113th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (Raider qualified)
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See also

Notes
  1. IISS Military Balance 2007, Routledge for the IISS, London, p.352
  2. http://www.siagaindonesia.com/149876/kasad-pembentukan-seluruh-yonif-non-mekanis-jajaran-tni-ad-jadi-yonif-raider.html
  3. https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/mengenal-batalion-raider-pasukan-elite-tni-ad.html
  4. http://defense-studies.blogspot.co.id/2015/03/yonif-643-pontianak-dipersiapkan.html

Further reading
  • Ken Conboy, Kopassus: Inside Indonesia's Special Forces, Equinox Publishing, Jakarta/Singapore, 2003 - mentions many Indonesian battalions in his history of the special forces from the 1950s to the present.
  • Kostrad order of battle 1999, listing infantry battalions among other units
  • Douglas Kammem, Notes on the Transformation of the East Timor Military Command and its Implications for Indonesia, Indonesia 67, April 1999
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