'Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Fade Away', Said Army Chief Of Staff Sitting In Front Of Retired TNI AD

KSAD General TNI Dudung Abdurachman while giving his speech at the Inauguration of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Army Retired Association (PPAD)/ANTARA

JAKARTA - Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Dudung Abdurachman said the fighting spirit of the retired soldiers is timeless and has been destroyed by the movement of changing times.

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away," said Army Chief of Staff Dudung during his remarks at the Inauguration of the Central Committee for the Indonesian Army Retired Association (PPAD) for the 2021-2026 Service Period which was held at Headquarters Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, February 8th.

This PPAD Central Executive Inauguration event is one of PPAD's efforts to refresh and improve organizational performance. It is hoped that PPAD will advance and continue to provide the best service to the nation and state.

"I firmly believe and believe that even though I am not officially serving in the Army, the spirit of service of the seniors and all PPAD members has never faded," said Dudung.

As a community organization that accommodates retired TNI AD, continued the former Kostrad Commander, PPAD has shown concern and sensitivity to the nation's problems.

In addition, PPAD has a strategic role, namely as a source of information for the TNI AD to find out how far the development of the national situation outside the TNI institution is.

The former Governor of the Military Academy (Akmil) hopes that PPAD together with the Indonesian Army will continue to increase awareness of the development of the situation in Indonesia. In particular, the possibility of the threat of radicalism that continues to try to divide the unity and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

What's more, he said. the development of radical groups that contradict the Pancasila ideology continues to grow very rapidly in society.

"Therefore, we must respond by strengthening the sense of unity and integrity and always ignite the spirit of nationalism based on Pancasila," said Dudung.

It should be noted that PPAD is currently led by Lt. Gen. Retired TNI Doni Monardo for the period 2021-2026 who was elected through the PPAD IV National Conference which was held at the PPAD Headquarters, 14-15 December 2021, replacing Lt. Gen. Ret. Kiki Syahnakri.