Pramuka Day, Susilo Teguh Raharjo reminds not to be busy with uniforms but to lose your soul

Inspector General of Police. Dr. Susilo Teguh Raharjo, M.Si, Head of the Police Study Center Task Force and Principal Police Lecturer at the Police Training Center (IST)

JAKARTA - The commemoration of Scout Day on August 14 is considered not enough to be filled with ceremonies, uniforms, marching or camping. More important is to ensure that the value of scouting is really alive in the character of the younger generation.

This view was conveyed by Inspector General of Police. Dr. Susilo Teguh Raharjo, M.Si, Head of the Police Study Center Task Force and Principal Police Lecturer at the STIK-PTIK Lemdiklat Polri, in a reflection to welcome Scout Day, Thursday, August 13.

Susilo also served as Chairman of the Association of Alumni of the Graduate School of UNNES and Member of the Advisory Board of the Community of Conscious Art, Culture and Tourism.

According to Susilo, the Scout Movement has a legal basis through Law Number 12 of 2010. Kepramukaan is placed as part of education to form a person of faith, moral, disciplined, law-abiding, patriotic, and has life skills.

However, Pramuka's success cannot be measured by the number of activities or the number of participants.

"Pramuka is not about uniforms. It's not about Pramuka applause and applause. It's not about marching, rope-rope, or just camping," said Susilo.

He assessed that the essence of scouting is character education. The size is seen from independence, discipline, responsibility, mutual help, concern, simplicity, and dedication spirit.

The challenge is now different. The younger generation grows up with social media, artificial intelligence, and very fast information flow.

Therefore, Susilo assessed that Scouts must be able to adapt without losing their basic values. The future Scouts, he said, are not enough to just be scouts in the forest, but must also be present as scouts in the digital society.

"Pramuka is not enough to just be a memory of the past, but must be energy for the future," he said.

Susilo also reminded that the spirit of preserving traditions should not make the value of scouting education lose its relevance.

"Don't let us be busy taking care of the uniform and the ceremony, but losing its soul. Don't let us defend the ritual, but forget the value of education," he said.

According to Susilo, scouting can also be a space for leadership training. Camping, task allocation, deliberation, problem solving, and evaluation of activities train members to make decisions and work together.

This ability is considered increasingly important towards Indonesia 2045 which requires a generation that is not only academically intelligent, but also able to lead, maintain integrity and be responsible.

Historically, August 14 is commemorated as Scout Day because on that date in 1961 the Scout Movement was officially introduced to the public and the Scout Movement Flag was awarded.

"If the fire is still there, let's enlarge it. If it starts to dim, let's explain. And if it's almost out, let's cheer," said Susilo.