KEPULAUAN RIAU | INDATANEWS.COM - Commander of Kodaeral IV, Rear Admiral TNI Berkat Widjanarko, accompanied the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia, General TNI (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, during an inspection of the 2026 Fiscal Year Integrated TNI Operational Exercise at the Marine Combat Operations Training Center (Puslatpurmar) 9 Pantai Todak, Lingga Regency, Kepulauan Riau, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
The event was attended by the Indonesian Defense Minister together with Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Utut Adianto, TNI Commander General TNI Agus Subiyanto, Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali, Chief of Army Staff (KSAD) General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, and Chief of Air Staff (KSAU) Air Marshal TNI Mohamad Tonny Harjono.
The presence of the highest leadership elements of the TNI and the Ministry of Defense demonstrated the government's strong commitment to ensuring the readiness of joint TNI operations that are professional, modern, and capable of responding to continuously evolving threat dynamics.
Rear Admiral TNI Berkat Widjanarko attended the entire series of activities together with the Kodaeral IV Assistant for Intelligence Affairs, Assistant for Operations, Assistant for Communications and Electronics, Commander of the Kodaeral IV Intelligence Unit, and Commander of Dabo Singkep Naval Base.
All participating units worked closely together to support the smooth implementation of the exercise, which is part of Indonesia's strategic national defense programs.
Integrated Exercise Evaluates TNI Joint Force Capabilities
The 2026 Fiscal Year Integrated TNI Operational Exercise is one of the strategic exercises designed to evaluate the joint operational capabilities of all military branches through cooperation between the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The TNI developed various integrated operational scenarios to test the readiness of personnel, main weapon systems, command and control structures, and interoperability among all branches in addressing various threats to the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.
During the exercise, all participating forces evaluated their ability to coordinate between branches, ensuring that every unit could respond quickly, accurately, and effectively to various operational situations.
The exercise also serves as an important part of improving combat capabilities while strengthening TNI operational readiness in facing increasingly complex defense challenges.
The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia, together with the TNI Commander and military service chiefs, directly observed the implementation of the exercise on site. They received briefings regarding operational planning, the readiness of all participating elements, and the achievement of the established exercise objectives.
The inspection also became part of the evaluation process to improve training programs, develop military capabilities, and strengthen TNI operational readiness in carrying out its responsibilities to protect national sovereignty.
EXERCISE IMPLEMENTATION OPTIMALLY SECURED: Commander of Kodaeral IV Rear Admiral TNI Berkat Widjanarko ensures optimal support for the 2026 Integrated TNI Operational Exercise in Dabo Singkep through logistical preparation, security measures, and coordination among participating units. (PHOTO: Dalil Harahap)
Marine Corps Honors Defense and Military Leaders
In addition to the exercise inspection, the series of activities also included a ceremony awarding honorary Marine Corps membership status to Defense Minister General TNI (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Chairman of DPR RI Commission I Utut Adianto, Deputy TNI Commander General TNI Tandyo Budi R., Army Chief of Staff General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, and Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal TNI Mohamad Tonny Harjono.
The Marine Corps presented the purple beret as a symbol of honor and recognition for the support, commitment, and contributions of the recipients in strengthening national defense capabilities and advancing the development of the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps.
The special ceremony also reflected the close cooperation between the government, TNI, and DPR RI in strengthening the national defense system through human resource development, organizational strengthening, and improvement of soldiers' combat capabilities.
PURPLE BERET HONORARY AWARD: Defense Minister General TNI (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and several senior state and military officials receive the purple beret as an honorary recognition from the Marine Corps for their contributions to strengthening national defense capabilities.
(PHOTO: Dalil Harahap)
Strengthening Cooperation and Operational Preparedness
On the occasion, Rear Admiral TNI Berkat Widjanarko ensured that all supporting measures for the implementation of the exercise in the Dabo Singkep area were carried out optimally.
He coordinated the preparation of the exercise area, logistical support, security measures, and cooperation among all units involved in the activity.
The collaboration between military units and supporting institutions became a key factor in the success of the national-scale exercise. Through integrated support, all stages of the exercise were carried out according to plan while providing a realistic picture of TNI readiness in conducting joint operations.
Through the implementation of the 2026 Fiscal Year Integrated TNI Operational Exercise at Puslatpurmar 9 Pantai Todak, the TNI continues to strengthen joint operational capabilities, enhance soldier professionalism, and reaffirm its readiness to safeguard national sovereignty.
The exercise is also part of an ongoing effort to protect the Indonesian people and secure national interests throughout all regions of the Republic of Indonesia. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Dalil Harahap | EDITOR: Fik Sagala