Tentera

Tentera is the Malay and Indonesian term for the national armed forces of a country. It generally refers to the organized forces responsible for defending sovereignty and territorial integrity and may include several branches, such as land, sea, and air components. In Malay-speaking countries the term is used in official names: in Malaysia, the services are collectively known as Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), with the Army (Tentera Darat), Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia), and Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia). In Indonesia, the armed forces are the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), composed of TNI-AD (Army), TNI-AL (Navy), and TNI-AU (Air Force).

Beyond defense, many Tentera participate in disaster response, humanitarian aid, and peacekeeping missions, and increasingly address non-traditional security challenges such as cyber defense and space-related operations. They usually operate under civil authority, with oversight by a defence ministry or equivalent government body, and follow national security strategies and international law.

Organization typically includes active-duty forces and reserves, with recruitment through voluntary enlistment or conscription in some countries. Training, professional development, and procurement programs shape capability, while alliances and partnerships influence doctrine and interoperability through joint exercises and defense agreements.

Historically, modern tentera emerged from military forces of kingdoms and colonial powers, evolving through independence and modernization programs. Contemporary trends emphasize modernization of equipment, professionalization, human rights standards, and integration with democratic governance and civilian control of the military.