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Widi Prasetijono (born 4 June 1971) is an Indonesian military officer who has served as the commander of the army doctrine, education, and training leadership command since 24 December 2023. Prior to his appointment, Widi served as the commander of the Diponegoro (Central Java) Regional Military Command from 2022 to 2023. Widi entered the army in 1993 and had held command of Kopassus and territorial units. He was noted for his closeness with President Joko Widodo due to his position as Surakarta military commander during the mayoralty of Joko Widodo and as Joko Widodo's aide-de-camp.

Early life and education

Widi was born on 4 June 1971 in Trenggalek as the third of five children. His father, Soeroso, was a retired army soldier who married Nurhayati. His two older brothers were Widiharto and Widihartanto, while his two younger sisters were Weni Prasetyowati and Weni Prasetyowati. His parents gave him the nickname Pras to differentiate him from his brothers.[1]

Upon completing his final high school examination, Widi applied for the Indonesian Military Academy. He was accepted and underwent four years of military training in the academy. He graduated in 1993 and was commissioned as an infantry second lieutenant.[1]

Widi Prasetijono holds a bachelor's degree in management from the Krisnadwipayana University in 2013.[2]

Military career

In Kopassus

After graduating from the academy, Widi underwent special forces training before joining Indonesia's army elite unit, the Kopassus. He was assigned to Kopassus 2nd unit in Kandang Menjangan, Kartosuro, Sukoharjo. He reached the rank of captain in the unit and was deployed to military operations in the East Timor in 1996 and Papua in 2001. Widi's mother recalled that he was intercepted by local separatist militias in East Timor and had multiple bouts of malaria for two months in Papua. Widi then was promoted to major in 2003 and reassigned to the 1st unit in Serang, Banten, where he became the chief of logistics and deputy battalion commander.[1][3]

Battalion, military district commander, and aide-de-camp

Widi's first post outside Kopassus was as the commander of the 400th Raider Infantry Battalion in Semarang on 22 July 2009. Widi received a promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel[1] and held the office for about a year until 12 October 2010.[4] He was reassigned to the Central Java regional military command headquarters as senior assistant officer for operations for half a year. He returned to service as the commander of the Surakarta Military District on 25 May 2011, replacing Agus Subiyanto.[3][5]

During his time in Surakarta, Widi maintained close relations with the mayor of Surakarta Joko Widodo and police chief of Surakarta Listyo Sigit Prabowo (later replaced by Asdjima'in). The military in Surakarta, along with the city government and police, were involved in several local conflict resolution, such as the clash between residents and local warriors in Surakarta's Beringharjo market[6] and the internal conflict in the Surakarta Sunanate.[7] He was replaced as military district commander on 9 October 2012.[8] Widi moved to the army headquarters in Jakarta as a senior assistant officer for personnel security, coincidentally following Joko Widodo who had earlier been elected as Jakarta's governor.[1]

Two years later, Joko Widodo was elected as Indonesia's seventh president in the 2014 Indonesian presidential election. Several days prior to his inauguration, Joko Widodo picked Widi as his aide-de-camp from the army. Widi appeared on the podium alongside with the aide-de-camp from the air force Mohamad Tony Harjono during Joko Widodo's inaugural speech on 20 October 2014.[9][10][11] Widi was reposted from his position as aide-de-camp to become the commander of the Siliwangi (West Java) military command training regiment in early 2016.[12] He left the position on 6 July 2017.[13]

Military area to military region commander

After serving in West Java, Widi returned to Central Java as the commander of the Warastratama Military Area, covering Surakarta and its vicinity. He was installed for the post on 23 June 2017.[14] During his period as military area commander, Joko Widodo's daughter, Kahiyang Ayu, held a wedding reception in Surakarta with her fiancé, Bobby Nasution, in the city. Several thousand Joko Widodo loyalist and volunteers went to Surakarta for the wedding, which was accommodated by the military at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory.[15] The position was transferred to a new officeholder on 15 January 2019.[16]

Widi's rapid rise in the military was closely associated by military observers due to his part in the Solo Gang, a group of Jokowi’s confidants who had served in Surakarta. By the time he left Surakarta, he was appointed for a one-star position as the military area commander of East Kalimantan on 18 December 2018.[17] He was promoted to brigadier general ten days later.[18] He was in the position for about a year and a half before being replaced on 21 April 2020.[19]

Widi returned to Central Java on 6 May 2020 as the chief of staff of the Central Java (Diponegoro) Regional Military Command.[20] He oversaw major changes in service chiefs in the military command during his first month.[21]

On 31 January 2022, Widi Prasetijono was promoted to the highly prestigious post of the commanding general of Kopassus, the special forces unit inside the army.[22] His predecessor, Teguh Muji Angkasa, served for only fifty-three days in the position. He relinquished his old office as chief of staff four days later[23] and was promoted to major general on 23 February.[24] Less than three months later, on 8 April, a new commanding-general was installed in place of Widi.[25] Similar to his predecessor, Widi only served for sixty-days.[26] Despite his very short term, Widi managed to do his only personnel rotation of top Kopassus officials in late March 2022.[27]

The swift replacement of Kopassus commanding general caught the eyes of military observers, as the position changed hands three times in a matter of four months.[28] Merdeka reporter Erik Purnama Putra described the rotation as 'unusual'.[29] The army spokesperson stated that the rotations were not unusual and was intended for career development and regeneration of flag officers.[30]

Widi returned to Central Java as the commander of the military region on 8 April.[31] At the end of the year, Deddy Suryadi, his replacement as Joko Widodo's aide-de-camp, to was appointed as the chief of staff of the military region.[32] As Central Java's military commander, Widi was tasked several times to lead the security operation for Joko Widodo's visit in the province.[33][34][35]

Army training commander

On 24 December 2023, Widi was installed as the commander of the army doctrine, education, and training leadership command, replacing acting commander Kunto Arief Wibowo. He was promoted to lieutenant general on 4 January 2024.[36]

Personal life

Widi is married to Novita Permatasari.[37]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Putra, Henny Surya Akbar Purna (5 October 2023). "Masa Kecil Pangdam IV Diponegoro Mayjen TNI Widi Prasetijono, Ibunda Nurhayati: Anak Rajin dan Disiplin". Radar Tulungagung. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Data Mahasiswa". PDDIKTI. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Sasangka, R. Bambang Aris (28 May 2011). "Letkol (Inf) Widi Prasetijono serasa pulang kampung". Solo Pos. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  4. ^ "SERTIJAB DANYON 400/RAIDER". Antara News. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  5. ^ Nadhiroh (25 May 2011). "Tiga Dandim Surakarta ikuti Sertijab". Solo Pos. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  6. ^ Bramantyo (2012-05-05). "Polisi Tangkap 6 Orang Provokator Bentrok Solo". Okezone News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  7. ^ "Raja Keraton Surakarta Terpaksa Lewat Pintu Belakang". Tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). 2024-04-13. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  8. ^ Ariyanto, Is (9 October 2012). "SERTIJAB". Solo Pos. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  9. ^ Evan (28 October 2014). "Jokowi Asal Solo, Ajudan Juga Asal Solo". Tempo. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  10. ^ Assegaf, Jafar Sodiq (20 October 2014). "SOLOPOS HARI INI : Pelantikan Presiden, Jokowi Pilih Dandim Solo Jadi Ajudan hingga Tirakatan dari Kamar Bung Karno". Solo Pos. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Kolonel Hersan, Eks Komandan KRI Diponegoro Jadi Ajudan Jokowi". Detik. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  12. ^ Sarnapi (23 April 2016). "LDII dan Rindam Siliwangi Adakan Pendidikan Bela Negara". Pikiran Rakyat. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Pangdam; Kembangkan Inovasi dan Kreativitas Dalam Tugas". Bale Bandung. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  14. ^ Asfar, Adib Muttaqin (27 June 2017). "Mantan Ajudan Jokowi Jadi Danrem 074/Warastratama Surakarta". Solo Pos. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  15. ^ Adi, Ganug Nugroho (2 November 2017). "Thousands of Jokowi supporters to attend daughter's wedding". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  16. ^ Marwoto, Bambang Dwi (2019-01-15). "Pangdam IV/Diponegoro tegaskan netralitas TNI". Antara Jateng. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  17. ^ Desmawangga, Christoper (18 December 2018). "Kolonel Inf Widi Prasetijono Hari Ini Resmi Menjabat Sebagai Danrem 091 Aji Surya Natakesuma". TribunKaltim. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  18. ^ antaranews.com (2018-12-28). "Kepala staf TNI AD terima laporan kenaikan pangkat 18 perwira tinggi TNI AD". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  19. ^ "Kolonel Inf Cahyo Suryo Putro Resmi Menjabat Sebagai Komandan Korem 091/Aji Surya Natakesuma". Fokus Borneo. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Brigjen TNI Widi Prasetijono Jabat Kasdam IV/Diponegoro". Media Tajam. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ Antoni, Ahmad (2020-06-26). "Mutasi TNI, 8 Pejabat Utama Kodam IV/Diponegoro Diganti, Berikut Daftarnya". iNews.ID (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  22. ^ antaranews.com (2022-01-31). "Brigjen TNI Widi Prasetijono resmi jabat Danjen Kopassus". Antara News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  23. ^ Antoni, Ahmad (2022-02-03). "Brigjen TNI Parwito Gantikan Brigjen TNI Widi Prasetijono Jabat Kasdam IV/Diponegoro". iNews.ID (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  24. ^ "Mayjen Widi Prasetijono Naik Pangkat, Ini Potret sama Jenderal Andika & Kasad Dudung". merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  25. ^ Lesmana, Agung Sandy (8 April 2022). "Dilantik jadi Danjen Kopassus Baru, Brigjen Iwan Setiawan: Saya Akan Benahi Kopassus". Suara. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Mayjen Widi Prasetijono Hanya 3 Bulan Jabat Danjen Kopassus, yang Tersingkat?". kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  27. ^ "Daftar Lengkap Mutasi 5 Pejabat Kopassus". SINDOnews Nasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  28. ^ Andryanto, S. Dian (2 April 2022). "Danjen Kopassus Berganti 3 Kali dalam 4 Bulan, Ada yang Hanya Menjabat 53 Hari". Tempo. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Mutasi tidak Biasa Brigjen Iwan Setiawan Jadi Danjen Kopassus Ke-35". Republika Online (in Indonesian). 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  30. ^ Mawardi, Isal. "Ini Alasan Danjen Kopassus Diganti". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  31. ^ Noviansah, Wildan. "KSAD Pimpin Sertijab, Mayjen Widi Pangdam IV/Dip-Brigjen Iwan Danjen Kopassus". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  32. ^ Wicaksono, Bayu Adi (2022-12-06). "Tak Disangka, Dua Kolonel Ajudan Jokowi Eks Pejabat Top Kopassus TNI Duet Lagi di Kodam Diponegoro". www.viva.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  33. ^ Redaktur (2022-06-08). "Pangdam IV/Diponegoro Pimpin Pengamanan VVIP Kunjungan Presiden RI di Batang". Berita Merdeka Online (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  34. ^ SATU, INDONESIA (2023-12-15). "Pangdam IV/Diponegoro Pimpin Pengamanan VVIP Kunker Presiden RI di Wilayah Jateng". INDONESIA SATU (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  35. ^ Nyaman (2023-03-10). "Pangdam IV/Diponegoro Dampingi Presiden RI Kunjungan Kerja di Kebumen". Pelopor Wiratama. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  36. ^ Simanjuntak, Jonathan (5 January 2024). "KSAD Terima Laporan Kenaikan Pangkat, Mantan Ajudan Jokowi Berpangkat Letjen". INews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  37. ^ "Potret Novita Permatasari Istri Danjen Kopassus Widi Prasetijono, Cantik dan Anggun". merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widi_Prasetijono