By: Prabowo Subianto [taken from the Book: Military Leadership Notes from Experience Chapter I]
Prabowo Subianto shared about Pak Tono, who is not only a talented fencing athlete but also excels in shooting and swimming. Despite usually one being good in freefall or diving, Pak Tono is exceptional in both. He is a member of the Frogmen Force (Pasukan Katak) and also a skilled karateka. Prabowo praises Pak Tono as an Army Officer who sets a great example and should be idolized by his men and the next generation.
Pak Tono Suratman, a year younger than Prabowo, has been close to him for some time. They were once bachelors together, with Pak Tono often staying at Prabowo’s parents’ house in Kebayoran Baru. During their time in East Timor, Pak Tono showcased his excellence as a field officer, serving as Platoon Commander while Prabowo was Company Commander.
Since his cadet days, Pak Tono has been active in sports, excelling in fencing, swimming, and shooting. His leadership in KOPASSUS was highly regarded by Prabowo, who recommended him as Commander of the counterterror unit’s Frogmen Command. Pak Tono’s career saw him holding various prestigious positions, including leading the Rajawali task force, which was highly effective in combat.
Besides his sporting abilities, Pak Tono is also skilled in marksmanship, combat diving, freefall parachuting, and karate. When Prabowo became Minister of Defence, he sought Pak Tono to be the Principal of Taruna Nusantara High School, a position Pak Tono willingly accepted. Despite his impressive military career, Pak Tono saw the school as a crucial platform to educate and train future leaders for the nation.
Prabowo considers Pak Tono a worthy candidate for leadership positions, believing he could have been the commander of Indonesia’s Special Forces or even the Commander of KOSTRAD due to his exemplary commando skills. Overall, Pak Tono’s leadership qualities are essential to be passed down to future generations as a model of patriotism and dedication to serving the nation.
