RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A new chapter began for thousands of young officers of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian Police (Polri) at the front yard of Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. At the presence of President Prabowo Subianto, they pledged their devotion to the nation and state.

Among the officers inaugurated at the 2026 Officer Commencement Ceremony were Calvin Tidar Sakti and Yehezkiel Bonaventura Yudaniarman. Both received the Adhi Makayasa, an award for the best graduates from their respective academies.

For Calvin, a 2026 Adhi Makayasa recipient of the Indonesian Army Academy, being inaugurated by the President was one of the greatest achievements of his life. However, more than pride in the rank now resting on his shoulders, he understood a profound message from the President's directive.

"The President also stated that the rank affixed to our shoulders is not only a sign of honor or rank, but it is also a responsibility and a mandate from the people to us, the Indonesian Military, especially the Army," Calvin said, as quoted by the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday.

The secretariat said Prabowo's words serve as a reminder that graduation is not the end of the struggle, but rather the beginning of true dedication. For Calvin, the opportunity to meet and be inaugurated by President Prabowo served as motivation to continue growing as a leader.

"This is a motivation and my first step towards becoming a great leader in the future," he said. Behind these achievements, the prayers of his parents have been a constant companion. Calvin revealed that throughout his studies at the Military Academy, his parents supported him through motivation and prayer.

"My parents only provided motivation and prayers. That was one of the strongest forms of determination and support from both of them," he said.

Besides family support, his camaraderie with fellow classmates was the most memorable part of the educational experience. The rigors of education, the exhaustion of training, and the various obstacles felt less overwhelming when faced together.

Another recipient of the Indonesian Air Force Academy, Yehezkiel Bonaventura Yudaniarman, shared the same enthusiasm. After three years of training, he admitted he never expected to be named the top graduate and inaugurated by the President at the Merdeka Palace.

"It's a special honor for us, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us to be inaugurated directly by the First President of the Republic of Indonesia at the State Palace," Yehezkiel said.

That day also marked his first time setting foot inside the Palace. For him, the opportunity to meet and receive his inauguration directly from the President was a privilege not everyone gets to experience.

However, this happiness wasn't just for Ezekiel. His parents also witnessed the fruits of their son's long journey.

"The impression was incredible, it made me want to cry. This was a first for our family, and it was the first time anyone had ever served in the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). There had been no other before. His struggle was immense. We were so proud, so proud we couldn't even express our feelings," said the mother.

Behind the young officer's disciplined exterior, his mother still remembers young Ezekiel as an active, restless, and inquisitive child. Almost everything he saw sparked questions: why something happened and how it happened.

"When he was little, he was very naughty, couldn't keep still, was always active, always asking 'How come?', 'Why? Why is it like that, why?' That's what he always asked everyone," he recalled with a smile.

For Calvin and Yehezkiel, Adhi Makayasa is more than just an award for their academic achievements. It's rooted in the prayers of their parents, the camaraderie of their comrades, discipline, and perseverance through various challenges.