Presidential Security Force of Indonesia

The Presidential Security Force of Indonesia (Indonesian: Pasukan Pengamanan Presiden abbreviated "Paspampres") is one of the Central Executive Agencies (Badan Pelaksana Pusat) of the Indonesian National Armed Forces responsible for proximate security and escort towards the head of state and VVIP in Indonesia, which includes the President, Vice President with their immediate families, former Presidents and Vice Presidents, and visiting foreign heads of state. Paspampres is based in Jakarta, and its personnel are drawn from deputized best-chosen officers, soldiers, seamen, marines, and airmen from special forces and/or special units within the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) (and until 2000, from the Indonesian National Police). It is commanded by a two-star military general.
The formation date of the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) is based on the operation to evacuate President Sukarno, Vice President Mohammad Hatta, Prime Minister Sutan Syahrir as well as several ministers and high-ranking government officials from Jakarta to Yogyakarta on 3 January 1946, This operation was based on the safety concerns of the President and VIPs about the allied forces intimidation in Jakarta. The rescue operation was conducted using the Kereta Luar Biasa a code-name for the special Presidential train. This date is commemorated as Hari Bhakti Paspampres or Paspampres Service Day.
The formation of a formal force dedicated to protecting the Indonesian president only came after several assassination attempts on President Sukarno. On 6 June 1962 a special regiment known as the Tjakrabirawa Regiment, was formed to protect the president and his family. June 6 was also the birthday of President Sukarno. Tjakrabirawa consisted of personnel from the army, navy, air force and police. In 1966, it was dissolved due its taking part in an army-led abortive coup d'état in 1965. The 1st Battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Untung Syamsuri, led the coup attempt and its members carried out the kidnappings of army generals who were later murdered. The protection of the president was then entrusted to an Army Military Police Task Force (Satgas POMAD) in 1966.
A new presidential protection force named Paswalpres (an abbreviation of Pasukan Pengawal Presiden or "Presidential Escort Force") was formed on the 13 January 1976, under the command of the Minister of Defence and Commander of the Armed Forces. This force was renamed in 1988 becoming the current Paspampres. Today, Paspampres has strength of about 2,500 personnel and is headed by a two-star general/admiral/marshal from the TNI.
According to Indonesian Government Regulation No. 59/2013, the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) is responsible for the physical security at close range at all times of:
Other than those main duties, Paspampres is also tasked with state-protocol duties to support the main tasks of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
Specific security duties for VVIPs as specified in article 3 of the Government Regulation No. 59/2013, include:
Currently, the main tasks of the Paspampres are to:
The organisation of Paspampres are as follows:
The Paspampres as a special joint-service command of the TNI, other than responsible for guarding and escorting the President, Vice President and VVIPs, are also responsible to carry out state-protocol duties during official ceremonies such as becoming the Honor Guard during a state visit and also carrying out public duties, quarter guard and guard mounting duties for the national official residences.
These ceremonial duties of Paspampres are assigned towards personnel of the "State Protocol Escort Battalion" (Batalyon Pengawal Protokoler Kenegaraan abbreviated "Yonwalprotneg"), a detachment of the Paspampres consisting of chosen Military policemen from the Military Police Corps of Indonesia. This detachment is also tasked to become the Cordon Guard during the arrival ceremony at the airport apron during a state visit and also becomes the main Honour guard during a state visit and state funeral. 4 SPEB's are active, each corresponding to the four regiments of the force, with two assigned as guards of honor for public duties.
The uniform worn by the Paspampres Honour guard is a red full dress uniform with a white buff belt worn on the upper waist, white trousers with white parade boots and a black shako with white hackle as the headdress. During certain ceremonies such as a state funeral or changing of the guard ceremony, a light blue beret is worn instead for the headdress. At night, a black trouser is worn instead as a mess dress. If on vehicle escort, personnel wear civilian business dress. A peaked cap may also be worn on certain occasions. Cordon Guards (Pasukan Cordon) wear dominantly black, with red, and gold dress uniforms. This is different to the Honor Guards (Pasukan Kehormatan) who wear red and white uniforms.
The Paspampres presidential band is a military band tasked for playing the national anthems during a State visit ceremony and performs music accompaniment during state-level receptions or banquets in the palaces and other official locations when the head of state is present.
Paspampres personnel are recruited and selected from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Army, Navy (including Marines), and Air Force). They are selected from special forces and special units within the Armed Forces, such as from Kopassus, Kostrad, Raider Infantry Battalions (Airborne soldiers), Paskhas, Kopaska, Denjaka, Taifib and Marines, as well as military policemen which are then tasked for escort and public duties. Each individual (men) has to be more than 175 cm tall and minimal 180 cm tall for close protection agents, each of them gets rigorous military training (sharp shooting, tactical combat, diving) and special martial arts training, such as Yong Moodo, Pencak Silat, Tarung Derajat, Mixed Martial Arts, and Aikido.
All Paspampres personnel are required to be proficient in at least in one of the martial arts, and it was proven by becoming second winners in the World Yong Moodo (Korean martial arts) Championship 2013. Paspampres personnel must carry out their duties with a high level of vigilance against any possible threat and are prepared to sacrifice their own life if required for the President, Vice President, and VVIP.
Some of the weapons used by Paspampres:
Apart from the official presidential cars which are a number of Mercedes-Benz S600 Guard limousines, the Paspampres also operate other tactical vehicles, such as: