RRI.CO.ID, Riau Islands – Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak was officially inducted as an Honorary Member of the Indonesian Navy Marine Corps. He gained it during the inspection of the 2026 Indonesian Military (TNI) (Latopslagab) in Dabo Singkep, Riau Islands, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

As quoted from Indonesian Army Information Service, the honorary induction serves as a recognition of the Army Chief of Staff's significant contribution to reinforcing synergy and interoperability among the service branches of the TNI.

General Maruli attended the exercise alongside Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Vice Commander of the TNI General Tandyo Budi R. during the inspection of the exercise. The training is designed to assess the TNI's readiness to conduct joint operations in response to a wide range of evolving security challenges.

The induction ceremony was officiated by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, who presented General Maruli with the Marine Corps brevet and the distinctive purple beret of the Indonesian Navy Marine Corps.

In addition to the Army Chief of Staff, the title of Honorary Member of the Marine Corps was also conferred upon Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Vice Commander of the TNI General Tandyo Budi R., Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono, and Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Utut Adianto.

The induction reflects the strong solidarity among the TNI's service branches and their shared commitment to enhancing interoperability in support of the successful execution of national defense missions.

On the same occasion, the delegation also observed the 2026 Integrated TNI Operations Exercise, which evaluated command and control capabilities, inter-service coordination, and the operational readiness of military units to conduct joint operations.

One of the exercise scenarios featured the airborne insertion of the Airborne Advance Operations Group (Kelompok Depan Operasi Lintas Udara/KDOL) around the drop zone at Dabo Singkep Airport. The operation involved CN-235 transport aircraft from Air Squadron 27, personnel from the Rapid Action Forces Command (Korpasgat), and the 328th Infantry Battalion, as part of a joint operational scenario to secure the objective area before the deployment of the main assault force.

The induction of the Honorary Members of the Marine Corps during the Joint Maritime Operations Exercise further underscored the spirit of unity, solidarity, and inter-service synergy that forms the foundation of a professional, modern, and mission-ready Indonesian Military (TNI), capable of meeting a broad spectrum of operational challenges.