Indonesian Marine Corps
The Indonesian Marine Corps (Indonesian: Korps Marinir Republik Indonesia, KORMAR RI), officially the Marine Corps of the Indonesian Navy (Indonesian: Korps Marinir Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut)[1] previously known as the Commando Corps of the Indonesian Navy (Korps Komando Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut, KKO), is currently an integral part of the Indonesian Navy and is sized at the military corps level unit as the naval infantry and main amphibious warfare force of Indonesia. The Marine Corps is commanded by a two-star marine general. As of August 2018, it has three divisions, each led by a one-star marine general:
- Pasukan Marinir I / PASMAR I (Marine Force I) based in Sidoarjo.
- Pasukan Marinir II / PASMAR II (Marine Force II) based in Jakarta.
- Pasukan Marinir III / PASMAR III (Marine Force III) based in Sorong.
| Indonesian Marine Corps | |
|---|---|
| Korps Marinir Republik Indonesia | |
 Indonesian Marine Corps Emblem | |
| Founded | 15 November 1945 |
| Country |  |
| Allegiance |  |
| Branch |  |
| Type | Marines Naval Infantry Commando Rapid Deployment Force |
| Role | Amphibious Warfare Land Warfare |
| Size | 3 Divisions 1 Brigade |
| Part of |  |
| Headquarters | Kwitang, Jakarta |
| Nickname(s) | Hantu Laut (Ghost of the Sea) Baret Ungu (Purple Berets) |
| Motto(s) | Jalesu Bhumyamca Jayamahe (Sanskrit): Glorious On The Land And Sea |
| Beret color | Reddish Purple |
| Anniversaries | 15 November |
| Engagements |
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| Website | marinir.tnial.mil.id |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | President Joko Widodo |
| Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs | Mahfud MD |
| Minister of Defence | Lieutenant General (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto |
| Commander of TNI | ACM Hadi Tjahjanto |
| Chief of Staff of the Navy | Admiral Siwi Sukma Adji |
| Commandant of the Marine Corps | Major General Suhartono |
| Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps (id) | Brigadier General Nur Alamsyah |
The Marine Corps was initially formed as a special operations force for the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), then named Korps Komando abbreviated "KKO" (lit: "Commandos Corps"). The Marine Corps was actively involved in various confrontations and conflicts in Indonesia.
The Marine Corps also maintains a joint Navy-Marine special operations unit, known as Detasemen Jala Mangkara or "DENJAKA" (Jala Mangkara Detachment) created on 1 December 1984, and draws operators from the KOPASKA (Navy's Frogman Commando Force) and Taifib (Marine's Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion).
History
The forerunner of the Marine Corps was by the name of Corps Mariniers/ CM, formed on 15 November 1945 in Base IV of ALRI (previous name of Indonesian Navy), Tegal. The date was later commemorated as the birthday of the Marine Corps. The CM was originally intended to serve as 'training school' for Navy sailors to be able to fight at ground warfare in case of emergency. Most of its pioneer instructors were graduates of the sailing school. However, at least one of its instructors, Tatang Rusmaja, a former PETA personnel, actually had experience in ground warfare. Due to a lack of naval equipment or ships, the CM was forced to join guerrilla warfare in the jungles and mountains of Central Java. Marines were deployed several times along with the Army to fight the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and during this time, the commander of armed forces assigned the CM, which had combat experience as a ground unit, away from the Navy and transformed into a regiment within Diponegoro Division of Indonesian Army on 17 March 1948.
On 9 October 1948, the Ministry of Defense acknowledged the need for an amphibious commando unit and issued Minister Decree No. A/565/1948 regarding the establishment of a naval infantry Corps within the Navy named Korps Komando/ KKO or Naval Commando Corps. First recruitment batch of this new commando unit arrived in 1949 and almost all of the first recruits were veterans of the CM in Tegal. Later on, the huge number of CM veterans in active duty within this formation would later justify the date of the Marine Corps Birthday, being set and held annually every 15 November in memory of its foundation. In 1950 the armored element was raised, the basis of the 1st Marine Cavalry Regiment, armed at first with equipment left behind by the Dutch.
The KKO was active in various military operations in Indonesia. One of the largest amphibious military operations would have been Operation Jayawijaya in which thousands of marines were planned to land on Biak in 1963 as a part of the Trikora Campaign to take West Irian from Dutch control. The operation was aborted as a consequence deals preceding the New York Agreement.[2] That campaign saw massive rearmament of the Corps as per the national policies of guided democracy in the later years of the Sukarno presidency, part of the increasing military ties between Indonesia and the Warsaw Pact, wherein the former US-made equipment would be replaced by Russian-produced APCs and IFVs including the PT-76 Amphibious light tanks, BTR-50 APCs and BM-13 MRLs (Southeast Asia's first-ever MRL system in service).
At the height of the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, Harun Hj Mohd Said and Usman Ali (hereinafter known as Usman Harun), two personnel of the KKO were dispatched to Singapore using rubber boats. Their main task was to infiltrate and sabotage the interests of Malaysia and Singapore. In reality, this operation was only able to blow up the MacDonald House and cause civilian and non-military casualties. In that incident, 20 fruit shops around the hotel were heavily damaged, 24 sedan vehicles were destroyed, 30 people died, and 35 people suffered mild and serious injuries. This incident is known as the MacDonald House bombing. Usman Harun was unable to escape from Singapore and was eventually arrested and sentenced to death by the Singaporean government.[3]
On 15 November 1975 (the Corps' 30th anniversary), Chief of Staff of the Navy issued a decree Skept/1831/XI/1975, which restored the Corps' name to its former name Korps Marinir.[4] (Corps Mariniers/ CM is the same word but using old spelling system in Indonesian.) Following this, a massive reorganization plan was implemented, followed up with another in 1984.
There was a plan in 1999 to expand the Marine Corps from its strength of 13,000 troops. Based on this plan, every Marine Base would have three combat brigades: the Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery and would be supported by one Combat Support Regiment and one Administration Support Regiment. The expansion would create three Kormar bases: Surabaya for Eastern area command, Jakarta for Central area command, and Rate Island in Lampung for Western area command.
The 1st Marine Brigade and all combat support and service support elements were consolidated in 2001 to form the 1st Marine Forces East (Pasmar 1). In 2004, the 2nd Marine Forces West (Pasmar 2) was established on the basis of the Marine Independent Brigade, now including the 2nd and 3rd Marine Brigades plus additional combat support and service support units. All these were a result of a massive modernization and expansion program that still continues until today. A 3rd division-sized unit would be raised in 2018 as part of the expansion.
Following a reorganisation introduced in March 2001, the corps consisted of the 1st Marine Corps Group (1,3,5 Battalions, 1st combat support regiment, and 1st administrative support regiment) at Surabaya and the Independent Marine Corps Brigade (2,4,6, battalions) at Jakarta (JDW 11 April 2001). The 8th Bn was formed in January 2004 and the 9th Bn was due to be formed in April 2004. They were planned to be part of a new group that would include the 7th Bn and support elements. (JDW 18 February 2004, p. 18) The same Jane's Defence Weekly story (Robert Karniol, 'Indonesia Reinforces Marines') said the Marine Corps leadership is reported to have ambitions for the service to expand to at least two full divisions. However, it was reported that the army was opposed, 'perhaps reflecting its leadership's concern over influence.'
History of the beret color and Corps emblem (Gold Anchor and Black Kris)
In 1958, the color purple was used by the Marine Corps (when it was still called KKO-AL) in the form of a ribbon as security code to hold landing operations in Padang, West Sumatera during Operation 17 August (as a response to the PPRI/Permesta revolt by several Army officers). The purple beret was the first time used by the 1st Battalion KKO AL (1st Marine Battalion) in Operation Alugoro in Aceh in August 1961. Furthermore, the beret was equipped with emblems. Initially, the Marine Corps emblem was a red pentagon with the symbol of a golden tricorn hat and two crossed swords in the middle, the beret was pushed to the left where the emblem was located. In 1962, coinciding with the 17th anniversary of KKO-AL (old name of Indonesian Marines), there was a change in the emblem with the introduction of the Keris Samudera sword emblem surrounded by a ribbon with the words "Jalesu Bhumyamca Jayamahe" and there is a writing bearing "Commando Corps" underneath. In between the Corps and Commando writings, there was a printed 1945 number indicating the Marine Corps year of foundation and below the traditional sword, blue wavy lines reflecting the wide Indonesian seas. The emblem was rectangular. In 1968, another change was made to print "Yellow" strips on the outer rings of the rectangular emblem. In 1975, with the issuance of Naval chief of staff order No. / 1831 / XI / 1975 dated 14 November 1975, the name of the Naval Operations Commando Corps (KKO-AL) changed its name to the Marine Corps in accordance with the name of the Corps Mariniers since 1945, and the waves were thus replaced by a blue lotus, its petals symbolizing amphibious operations and with a silhouette map of Indonesia in black at the center, the emblem now being circular and the gold "Commando Corps" ribbon with the lettering in black changed to that of "Marine Corps". In 1976, the Chief of Staff of the Navy issued Decree No. Skep / 2084 / X / 1976 dated 20 October 1976, on the Change of the Marine Corps Emblem to comply with the earlier decree on the return to the former name of the corps. The change was to add the Anchor as the background of the emblem (to signify the Corps as a constituent service of the Indonesian Navy), the "Marine Corps" ribbon was partially modified and the number "1945" remained at the center as before. The emblem is mounted on a beret provided that the center of the emblem base is located just above the outer end of the left eye's forehead, and thus is pushed to the right. So the official Corps emblem officially began to be used exactly on the 31st Marine Corps Birthday Parade in Jakarta on 15 November 1976 when new colours were awarded to the Corps.
- The Naval Commando Corps (KKO-AL) Emblem was used in 1960-1962, Based on the KKO-AL Commandant's order dated 4 January 1961 Skept Number: 02/KP/KKO/1961.
- The Naval Commando Corps (KKO-AL) Emblem was used in 1962-1976, Based on the Commander-in-Chief's command dated 10 September 1962 Skept Number: 5030.6.
- The Marine Corps Emblem was Used in 1976–Present, Based on Chief of Staff of the Navy order dated 20 October 1976 Skept Number: Skep/2084/X/ 1976
Symbolism of the Gold Anchor and Black Kris
- Black Saber Kris Samudera (Saber of the Ocean) - honors the naval heritage of the early Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, the Christian Kingdom of Larantuka and later Islamic sultanates that form part of modern-day Indonesia
- Relief map on the blue Lotus - The relief map of Indonesia on the blue lotus flower symbolizes the national responsibility of the Corps in the defense of Indonesia through amphibious sea and ground combat operations
- Gold Anchor with Black Chain - acknowledges the naval tradition of the Marines and their continual service as a specialty branch and service within the Indonesian Navy
- Marine Corps Motto "Jalesu Bhumyamca Jayamahe" (Glorious On The Land And Sea) - The Sanskrit motto of the Corps reflects its duty to help the nation win victories in amphibious and conventional ground, air and sea operations, the gold scrolls which hold the motto also remember the cultural heritage of the country it defends
Organization
The order of battle of the Indonesian Marine Corps consists of three divisions which are the "Pasmar 1" (Marine Force I), "Pasmar 2" (Marine Force II), "Pasmar 3" (Marine Force III), one brigade and a Special operations unit (Taifib). Each Marine division oversees the Marine Infantry Brigade, the Marine Combat Support Regiment, the Marine Artillery Regiment and the Marine Cavalry Regiment. The 4th Marine Infantry Brigade covers 4 Marine Infantry Battalions plus other support units. The Marine Corps also maintain a special operations unit which are the Marine's Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Taifib) and also the joint Navy-Marine's counter-terrorism unit the "Jala Mengkara Detachment" (Denjaka).
Organizational Command Structure
As a component Principal Command of the Indonesian Navy, the Marine Corps is structured into the following in accordance with the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 66/ 2019:[5]
Marine Force
The Marine Force (Pasukan Marinir/ Pasmar) is the Marine Corps Executive Command. Pasmar's main operational missions are to foster the strength and capability of operational preparedness as the Navy's amphibious force in the framework of projection of power to the land by sea, coastal defense operations on strategic islands and other combat operations in accordance with the policy of the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Marine Corps Commandant and Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander.
The Pasmar organization typically consist of the following components:
- Force HQ
- HQ Services Company
- Marine Infantry Brigade
- Brigade HQ
- 3 Marine Infantry Battalions
- Marine Artillery Regiments
- Regiment HQ
- Marine Field Artillery Battalion
- Marine Air Defense Artillery Battalion
- Marine Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion
- Marine Cavalry Regiments
- Regiment HQ
- Marine Amphibious Landing Vehicle Battalion
- Marine Amphibious Tank Battalion
- Marine Artillery Carrier Amphibious Vehicle Battalion
- Marine Combat Support Regiments
- Regiment HQ
- Marine Motorized Transport Battalion
- Marine Communication and Electronics Battalion
- Marine Supply and Equipment Battalion
- Marine Combat Engineers Battalion
- Marine Medical Battalion
- Marine Military Police Battalion
- Marine Base
- Headquarters and HQ Services
- Transport Detachment
- Supply Detachment
- Maintenance Detachment
- Marine Band
- General Maintenance Detachment
- Public Relations Detachment
- Marine Hospital
- Marine Base Defense Battalions
- Marine Taifib Battalion, Special Forces
As of August 2018, there are three marine forces, which are led by one-star marine general, which are as follows:
- Marine Force I (Pasmar 1), covering central Indonesia. It was established based on the Navy Chief of Staff decree No. 08/III/2001 dated 12 March 2001. The base is located in Sidoarjo, East Java.
- Marine Force II (Pasmar 2), covering western Indonesia. It was established based on the Navy Chief of Staff decree 03/II/2004, dated 13 February 2004. The base is located in Jakarta. The 4th Marine Infantry Brigade, based in Lampung province, reports to the Commandant General of the Pasmar 2.
- Marine Force III (Pasmar 3), is the latest Marine Corps Executive Command, created as part of the massive Armed Forces-wide expansion and modernization programs of the national government. Pasmar 3 was established based on the Navy Chief of Staff decree No. Kep/450/V/2018 dated 5 May 2018. The force HQ is located in Sorong, West Papua, and this force serves the eastern provinces of the republic.
4th Marine Infantry Brigade
The 4th Brigade is a marine infantry brigade without support units, located in Bandar Lampung, Lampung, whose commander reports to the commanding general of the 2nd Marine division (Pasmar 2). It was raised in 2004 as part of the expansion of the Corps. With 4 battalions rather than the three of other brigades, it is also its largest brigade.
- Brigade HQ
- 4 Marine Infantry Battalions
- Brigade Combat Support Battalion
Taifib
Batalion Intai Amfibi or Taifib is the Marine Corps' Amphibious reconnaissance Battalion, it has capabilities in Special reconnaissance (SR) and also in Airborne (Para-Commando). They were officially formed on 18 March 1961 as marine commandos and was first deployed in Irian Jaya (Papua) during Operation Trikora in April 1962. Starting from November 1971 it was called as Batalyon Intai Amphibi/ Yon Taifib or Amphibious Recon Battalion. To become a Taifib personnel, a candidate is selected from the Marine Corps who has already fulfilled the thorough mental and physical requirements, and at least has served the corps for two years. The certification of amphibious reconnaissance is notoriously difficult that the passing rate of these candidates in each class is only ten percent. Two battalions of this special unit are today in service within the 1st and 2nd Marine Forces, with a third being planned for formation.
Denjaka
Detasemen Jala Mangkara or Denjaka is the special operations and counter-terrorism forces of the Indonesian Navy. This is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Underwater Special Frogmen Unit (Kopaska) and the Marine Corps' Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Taifib). According to the directory of the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Denjaka is a Marine Corps task force under the Indonesian Navy, with the commandant of the Marine Corps holding responsibilities for general training, while specific training falls under the responsibilities of the chief of Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency. Operational command falls directly under the commander of the National Armed Forces.
Marine Corps Training Command
The Marine Corps Training Command (Komando Latih Marinir) located in Grati, Pasuruan, East Java oversees the following:
- Special Forces Training Center (Pusat Latihan Pasukan Khussus - Puslatsus)
- Amphibious Forces Training Center (Pusat Latihan Pasukan Pendarat - Puslatpasrat) trains Marines in:
- Amphibious operations
- Shooting Coordination Exercise
- Personnel Embarkation and De-embarkation Exercise
- Materialistic courses
- Marine Combat Training Centers (Pusat Pelatihan Tempur Marinir):
- Amphibious Landings and Combat Readiness Training Center (Pusat Latihan Pendarat Amfibi & Kesiapan Tempur)
Insignias and Badges
Note: Indonesia is not a member of NATO, so there is not an official equivalence between the Indonesian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only.
In the Marine Corps, as part of the Indonesian Navy, the rank structure consists of officers known as in Indonesian as "Perwira", NCOs ("Bintara") and enlisted personnel ("Tamtama".) While the Marine Corps wears the blue shoulder boards (for officers and WOs) and blue stripes (for enlisted personnel) or blue/gold chevrons (for NCOs) as a component service of the Navy its ranks follow those of the Indonesian Army, with the exception of a five-star rank.
The highest rank obtainable in the Marine Corps is Major General, as it is the rank of Commandant of the Marine Corps. However, it is possible to be promoted into higher rank if appointed into a position in Navy or National Armed Forces HQ that requires 3-star rank or higher. Only few people managed to obtain rank of Lieutenant General, one of most notable person is Lt Gen (KKO) Ali Sadikin. Also there is Lieutenant General R. Hartono, which prominently acts as Vice Chief of Staff of the Navy. And as of present no Marine Corps officer has ever been promoted to General (as 4-star rank in the Navy, only held by Chief of Staff of the Navy, which is an officer with a seaman-career).
Officers rank insignia
| Equivalent NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) and student officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(Marine Corps) |
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| Jenderal | Letnan Jenderal | Mayor Jenderal | Brigadir Jenderal | Kolonel | Letnan Kolonel | Mayor | Kapten | Letnan Satu | Letnan Dua | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant General | Major General | Brigadier General | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | First Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) and student officer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
NCOs and enlisted
| Equivalent NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Pembantu Letnan Satu | Pembantu Letnan Dua | Sersan Mayor | Sersan Kepala | Sersan Satu | Sersan Dua | Kopral Kepala | Kopral Satu | Kopral Dua | Prajurit Kepala | Prajurit Satu | Prajurit Dua | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer | Sergeant Major | Gunnery sergeant | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Master corporal | Corporal | Lance corporal | Specialist | Private first class | Private | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other patches
- General Patches
Patch worn on camouflage uniform 
Patch worn on service uniform .jpg)
Patch worn by Taifib marines 
Patch worn by a marine lance corporal rank insignia below
Honorary Wearers of the Magenta Beret
As of March 2018, 37 have been given the extraordinary privilege of the Commandant, Indonesian Marine Corps to become Honorary Marines (Warga Kehormatan Kormar TNI-AL) which include the wearing of the Marine Corps combat dress uniform and the magenta beret with the Corps Emblem.
List of Commandants
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is a position that is filled by either a two or three star general officer of the Marine Corps by appointment of the Chief of Staff of the Navy.
Heavy equipment
Light Weaponry
- SS1-R5 Raider
- SS1-M1
- Pindad SS2
- Denel NTW-20
- Pindad SPR
- FN Minimi
- Pindad SM2
- Vz. 58
- AK-47
- AK-101
- M4
- MP5
- RPG-7
- 9K115-2 Metis-M
- MILAN
References
- http://www.marinir.mil.id Archived 29 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- "INDONESIA: OPERATION "DJAJAWIDJAJA" OF THE NAVY". Reuters. 10 December 1963. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- "TNI AL, Lemah di Laut tapi Ingin Berkuasa di Darat". KOMPASIANA. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- "NEWS STORY: Riwayat Marinir yang Pernah Dipisahkan dari TNI AL"
- "Presidential Decree No. 62/ 2016" (PDF). kemendagri.go.id. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
External links
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