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Indonesian Army infantry battalions

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

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. 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 Branch of the Indonesian Army are under the auspices of the Infantry Branch Centre ("Pussenif") which is under the command of a Lieutenant general.

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).[1] 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,[1] 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 International Institute for Strategic Studies' The Military Balance 2024 report listed 47 independent infantry battalions: 3 mechanized, 20 raider, and 24 regular. More battalions are part of infantry brigades, with 2 mechanized infantry brigades containing 3 mechanized battalions and eleven infantry brigades typically containing 3 battalions each, both raider and regular.[2]

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
No Name Nickname Part of
1. 305th Para Raider Infantry Battalion Tengkorak (Skeleton) 17th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Kujang I
2. 328th Para Raider Infantry Battalion Dirgahayu 17th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Kujang I
3. 330th Para-Raider Infantry Battalion Tri Dharma 17th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Kujang I
4. 501st Para Raider Infantry Battalion Bajra Yudha 18th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Trisula
5. 502nd Para Raider Infantry Battalion Ujwala Yudha 18th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Trisula
6. 503rd Para Raider Infantry Battalion Mayangkara 18th Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Trisula
7. 431st Para Raider Infantry Battalion Satria Setia Perkasa 3rd Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Tri Budi Sakti
8. 432nd Para Raider Infantry Battalion Waspada Setia Jaya 3rd Parachute Raider Infantry Brigade/Tri Budi Sakti
9. 433rd Para Raider Infantry Battalion Julu Siri 3rd 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
No Name Nickname Part of
1 100th Raider Infantry Battalion Prajurit Setia 1st Military Regional Command/Bukit Barisan
2 200th Raider Infantry Battalion Bhakti Nagara 2nd Military Regional Command/Sriwijaya
3 300th Raider Infantry Battalion Banjar Kedaton 3rd Military Regional Command/Siliwangi
4 400th Raider Infantry Battalion Banteng Raider 4th Military Regional Command/Diponegoro
5 500th Raider Infantry Battalion Sikatan 5th Military Regional Command/Brawijaya
6 600th Raider Infantry Battalion Modang 6th Military Regional Command/Mulawarman
7 700th Raider Infantry Battalion Wira Yudha Cakti 14th Military Regional Command/Hasanuddin
8 900th Raider Infantry Battalion Satya Bhakti Wirottama 9th Military Regional Command/Udayana
9 323rd Raider Infantry Battalion Buaya Putih 13th Infantry Brigade/Galuh
10 412th Raider Infantry Battalion Bharata Eka Shakti 6th Infantry Brigade/Trisakti Baladaya
11 514th Raider Infantry Battalion Sabbada Yudha 9th Infantry Brigade/Daraka Yudha
12 733rd Raider Infantry Battalion Masariku 16th Military Regional Command/Pattimura
13 112th Raider Infantry Battalion Dharma Jaya Military Regional Command Iskandar Muda
14 641st Raider Infantry Battalion Beruang Hitam 12th Military Regional Command/Tanjungpura
15 411st Raider Infantry Battalion Phandawa 6th Infantry Brigade/Trisakti Baladaya
16 111st Raider Infantry Battalion Karma Bhakti 25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
17 712th Raider Infantry Battalion Wiratama 13nd Military Regional Command/Merdeka
18 751st Raider Infantry Battalion Vira Jaya Shakti 17th Military Regional Command/Cenderawasih
19 752nd Raider Infantry Battalion Vira Yudha Sakti 171st Military Area Command/Praja Vira Tama
20 753rd Raider Infantry Battalion Arga Vira Tama 173nd Military Area Command/Praja Vira Braja
21 509th Raider Infantry Battalion Balawara Yudha 9th Infantry Brigade/Daraka Yudha
22 303rd Raider Infantry Battalion Setia Sampai Mati (Loyal until Death) 13th Infantry Brigade/Galuh
23. 136th Raider Infantry Battalion Tuah Sakti 31st Military Area Command/Wirabima
24. 321st Raider Infantry Battalion Galuh Taruna 13th Infantry Brigade/Galuh
25. 613th Raider Infantry Battalion Raja Alam 24th Infantry Brigade/Bulungan Cakti
26. 644th Raider Infantry Battalion Walet Sakti 19th Infantry Brigade/Khatulistiwa
27. 744th Raider Infantry Battalion Satya Yudha Bhakti 21st Infantry Brigade/Komodo
28. 408th Raider Infantry Battalion Suhbrasta 74th Military Area Command/Warastratama
29. 113th Raider Infantry Battalion Jaya Sakti 25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
30. 515th Raider Infantry Battalion Ugra Tapa Yudha 9th Infantry Brigade/Daraka Yudha
31. 614th Raider Infantry Battalion Raja Pandhita 24th Infantry Brigade/Bulungan Cakti
32. 621st Raider Infantry Battalion Manuntung 101st Military Area Command/Antasari
33. 631st Raider Infantry Battalion Antang Elang 102nd Military Area Command/Panju Panjung
34. 114th Raider Infantry Battalion Satria Musara 25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
35. 115th Raider Infantry Battalion Macan Leuser 25th Infantry Brigade/Siwah
36. 142nd Raider Infantry Battalion Ksatria Jaya 42nd Military Area Command/Garuda Putih
37. 754th Raider Infantry Battalion Eme Neme kangasi 20th Infantry Brigade/Ima jaya keramo
38. 755th Raider Infantry Battalion Yalet 20th Infantry Brigade/Ima jaya keramo
39. 301st Raider Infantry Battalion Prabu Kian Santang 62nd Military Area Command/Taruma Nagara
40. 641st Raider Infantry Battalion Beruang 19th Infantry Brigade/Khatulistiwa
41. 715th Raider Infantry Battalion Motuliato 22nd Infantry Brigade/Ota Manasa

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. 403rd Infantry Battalion
  17. 405th Infantry Battalion
  18. 406th Infantry Battalion
  19. 407th Infantry Battalion
  20. 410th Infantry Battalion
  21. 511th Infantry Battalion
  22. 527th Infantry Battalion
  23. 611th Infantry Battalion
  24. 623rd Infantry Battalion
  25. 642nd Infantry Battalion
  26. 644th Infantry Battalion
  27. 645th Infantry Battalion
  28. 711th Infantry Battalion
  29. 713th Infantry Battalion
  30. 714th Infantry Battalion
  31. 721st Infantry Battalion
  32. 725th Infantry Battalion
  33. 726th Infantry Battalion
  34. 731st Infantry Battalion
  35. 732nd Infantry Battalion
  36. 734th Infantry Battalion
  37. 742nd Infantry Battalion
  38. 743rd Infantry Battalion
  39. 757th Infantry Battalion
  40. 761st Infantry battalion
  41. 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 14th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Kostrad (Brigade Infanteri Mekanis 14/"Mandala Yudha")
  1. 318th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  2. 320th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
  • 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.[citation needed]
  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)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Kasad: Pembentukan Seluruh Yonif non Mekanis Jajaran TNI AD Jadi Yonif Raider – siagaindonesia.com". Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (13 February 2024). The Military Balance 2024. Taylor & Francis. p. 272. ISBN 978-1-040-05115-3.
  3. ^ "Mengenal Batalion Raider, pasukan elite TNI AD". 14 December 2013.

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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