The Indonesian Military Regional Commands (Indonesian: Komando Daerah Militer; abbreviated Kodam) also known officially as Military Area Commands are military districts of the Indonesian Army that function for the territorial defense of various regions within the country. They cover one or multiple provinces.
The Armed Forces' military regions are known as Kodam. Their organization was established by General Soedirman, following the model of the German Wehrkreise system. The system was later codified in Strategy Order No.1 (Surat Perintah Siasat No.1), signed by General Soedirman in November 1948.[1]
The Army's structure underwent various reorganisations throughout its early years. From 1946 to 1952, the Army was organized into combined arms divisions. These were consolidated in 1951 and then dissolved in 1952. From 1952 to 1958–59, the Army was organised into seven Territorial Armies (Tentara & Teritorium) composed of regiments and independent formations at battalion level and below. In August 1958, the Indonesian Army reconsolidated its territorial organization. This created sixteen regional commands, which retained earlier divisional titles; the Siliwangi Division, for example, became Kodam VI/Siliwangi.[2] The Kodam were subdivided administratively into Areas (the former territorial regiments), Districts (the former regimental battalions), and District Sectors, and operationally composed of several specialty battalions and in some regional commands, an infantry brigade.
A reorganisation in 1985 made significant changes in the army chain of command. The four multiservice Regional Defence Commands (Komando Wilayah Pertahanan) and the National Strategic Forces Command (Komando Strategis Nasional) were eliminated from the defense structure, re-establishing the Military Regional Commands (Komando Daerah Militer) as the key organisation for strategic, tactical, and territorial operations for all services. The 16 regions were reduced to just 10.[3] The chain of command flowed directly from the ABRI commander via the Chief of Staff of the Army to the ten territorial commanders, and then to subordinate army territorial commands. In 1999, the number of regions grew to 10, and as of 2024, there are around 15 in active operation.
The territorial commands incorporate provincial and district commands each with infantry battalions, sometimes a cavalry battalion, artillery, or engineers. The number of activated infantry brigades is increasing.[4] Some have Raider battalions attached.
Six new regional commands were created on 10 August 2025, and so the number of regions grew to 21.[5][6]
Organization of Regional Commands
Each Military Regional or Area Command (Kodam) is led by a major general, assisted by a chief of staff who holds the rank of brigadier general. Kodams oversee several territorial formations under its command, which are:
Korem or Indonesian: Komando Resor Militer also known as Military Subarea Command or Military Resort Command is a territorial army office covering a large area or multiple regencies (Kabupaten). They are further divided into two types which are type "A" and type "B". They are commanded by a brigadier general for type "A" and a colonel for type "B" respectively. It is below the Kodam and is responsible for Military Districts or Kodims.
Kodim or Indonesian: Komando Distrik Militer also known as Military District Command is a territorial army office covering a City or Regency level. They are further divided into three types which are "independent", type "A" and type "B". They are commanded by a Colonel (for Independent and type "A"), and a Lieutenant Colonel for type "B" respectively. It is below the Korem and oversees Koramils under its supervision.
Koramil or Indonesian: Komando Rayon Militer also known as Military Subdistrict Command is a territorial army office covering a district (kecamatan, distrik, kapanewon, and kemantren). They are further divided into two types, "A" and "B", commanded by a Major for type "A" and a Captain for type "B" respectively. It is below the Kodim. Babinsa offices and bureaux fall under its control.
Babinsa or Indonesian: Bintara Pembina Desa, lit.'Village Trustee' also known as Village Management Senior NCO is a senior army Non-commissioned Officer (usually holding the rank of Sergeant Major) or a senior Enlisted rank personnel (usually holding the rank of Master corporal) who is in charge for carrying out territorial development and monitoring duties for a community in the village/Kelurahan level. Babinsa NCOs fall under the control of the local Koramil unit.
The 0619 Purwakarta Military District Command (Kodim 0619), under Korem 063
The 2018 Susukan Military Sector Command (Koramil 2018) in Cirebon Regency, under Kodim 0620
In addition, each of the Kodams own a Main Regiment (known as Resimen Induk Kodam or Rindam) which is responsible for the training and education of enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers in their territory.
The office of the Regional Commander is assisted by the following territorial departments:
Office of the Regional Inspectorate General (Inspektorat Jenderal)
Office of the Regional Secretariat (Sekretariat Umum)
Regional Military Police Command (Polisi Militer) – responsible for military law enforcement in the territory
Regional Public Affairs and Press Office (Penerangan) – responsible for public affairs, media and civil-military relations
Office of the Regional Adjutant General (Ajudan Jenderal)
Regional Military Physical Fitness and Sports Office (Jasmani Militer) – responsible for physical fitness and sports affairs
Regional Medical Department (Kesehatan Militer) – responsible for medical affairs
Regional Veterans and National Reserves Administration (Badan Pembinaan Administrasi Veteran dan Cadangan) – responsible for military reserves formation and veterans' affairs
Regional Topography Service (Topografi)
Regional Chaplaincy Corps (Pembinaan Mental) – chaplaincy service for personnel who are Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Confucianists
Regional Finance Office (Keuangan) – responsible for financial activities
Regional Legal Affairs Office (Hukum Militer)
Regional HQ and HQ Services Detachment (Detasemen Markas)
Regional C3 Unit (Pusat Komando Pengendalian dan Operasi)
Regional Information and Communications Technology Office (Informasi dan Pengolahan Data)
Regional Logistics and Transportation Division (Pembekalan Angkutan)
Regional Signals Division (Komunikasi dan Elektronika)
Regional Ordnance Department (Peralatan)
Regional Engineering Division (Zeni)
Regional Cyber Operations Service (Sandi dan Siber)
↑Conboy, Kenneth J. (2003). Kopassus: inside Indonesia's special forces (1sted.). Jakarta: Equinox Publishing. p.79. ISBN979-95898-8-6. OCLC51242376.
↑Anderson, Ben (1985). "Current Data on the Indonesian Military Elite". Indonesia (40). Southeast Asia Program Publications at Cornell University: 131–64. JSTOR3350880.
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