Military Geography in Determining the Socio-Economic Improvement in the Foremost Island for Developing the Integrated Military Bases

The role of geography in the military strategy decision-making process has a significant position. This is inseparable from the development of technology that supports geography, such as the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones, geospatial information-based weaponry and efforts to develop military bases based on the strategic location of a place. The purpose of this study is to analyze (1) The projection of the government's plan to develop Selaru Island as an integrated military base based on military geography (2) The social and economic impacts of the community that need to be anticipated when an integrated military facility is established related to economic growth, inflation and unemployment rates. The data in this study were analyzed using qualitative methods obtained as a result of in-depth interviews, observations, library research and focused group discussions. This study indicates that analysis of military geography and geospatial information is very much needed by the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) in developing its capabilities, especially in strengthening national defense system comprehensively. Therefore, the results of this study recommend the relocation and capacity building of several TNI bases around the island of Selaru so that national defense and economic growth can strengthen together in the foremost islands of the Republic of Indonesia.