Reserves Force Formation Policy: Opportunities, Challenges, and Potentials

Abstract

The issuance of Law Number 23 of 2019 on Management of National Resources for State Defense and its derivative regulations in the form of Government Regulation Number 3 of 2021 is the basis for the Ministry of Defense to form a reserve force that will support the Indonesian Soldiers (TNI, Tentara Nasional Indonesia) as the main force in facing threats within the framework of the universal defense system. The purpose of this study is to analyze the opportunities, challenges, impacts, and potentials of forming a reserve force in Indonesia that is planned to recruit 25 thousand personnel and form 35 battalions. This study employs qualitative method with data collection techniques in the form of observation, interviews, and documentation. This study found the pros and contra of the formation of reserve forces. Its legal basis is the result of limited socialization, past trauma in the New Order era, large financing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, fear of the reserve troops being used as a tool of certain political interests, and there is fear of deviations from elements of the reserve forces in the community.