Prabowo Subianto, a retired Lieutenant General of the Indonesian National Army, shared his experiences with Pak Sutiyoso from the ’68 Academy. He mentioned that despite being in different groups and not frequently crossing paths, he knew that Pak Sutiyoso was involved in various operations, including infiltration operations in East Timor. Prabowo described Pak Sutiyoso as a humorous and field person known for his expertise in shooting moving targets.
Prabowo recalled a time when Pak Sutiyoso, as the Operations Assistant of Kopassus, proposed that Prabowo become the Commander of Pusdikpassus in Batujajar. Despite aspiring to lead the prestigious 17 Airborne Brigade, Prabowo accepted the offer in order to enhance the curriculum and training quality at Batujajar, which was essential for influencing the quality of Indonesia’s elite forces.
During Prabowo’s tenure as the Commander of Pusdikpassus, Pak Sutiyoso provided significant support. Prabowo described him as a patriotic individual with a good sense of humor, who served as a mentor and guide during his military career.