“[…] In mid-1975, members of the two Kostrad airborne brigades were issued jackets in the so-called Mitchell camouflage pattern used by U.S. forces primarily as a helmet cover during the sixties. These jackets were worn during the initial invasion of Portuguese Timor in December 1975, and could still be seen in use through the end of that decade.” (Ken Conboy, ELITE: The Special Forces of Indonesia 1950-2008, p. 24).

ENG: Based on the quote above and early photos from Operation Seroja, the jackets worn at the time had a round collar and buttoned cuffs (non-Velcro). At first glance, they might look like the M65 jackets issued in the 1980s, which featured Velcro cuffs—leading many to assume that those were used at the start of Seroja. However, I can confirm that this was not the case.

I got the first example in July ’24, but I held off posting it until I could confirm its authenticity. Just yesterday, Pak Tejho donated another jacket to me, and it matches every detail perfectly.

So let me present to you, the 4-pocket Kostrad Wine Leaf Camouflage, worn at the beginning of Seroja. Its key features:

• Reversible design (inner side in green color, each pocket with two snap buttons),
• YKK zipper,
• Distinctive 1970s-style buttons,
• Pointed pocket flaps,
• buttoned cuffs—non-Velcro, unlike the later M65

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ID: Berdasarkan kutipan di atas dan foto-foto awal Operasi Seroja, terlohat jaket yang digunakan itu memiliki kerah bulat dan ujung lengan berkancing tanpa velcro. Sekilas, jaket tersebut mirip dengan M65 yang mulai dibagikan pada era 1980-an (dengan lengan velcro), sehingga banyak yang mengira itulah jaket yang dipakai pada awal Seroja. Namun, saya bisa memastikan bahwa itu bukan jaket yang digunakan saat itu.

Saya pertama kali mendapatkan jaket ini pada Juli ’24, tapi belum sempat mempostingnya karena masih mencari double/konfirmasinya. Dan baru sampai kemarin, Pak Tejho mendonasikan jaket ini kepada saya, dengan detail yang sama persis.

Melalui post ini, saya perkenalkan jaket 4-pocket Loreng Daun Anggur Kostrad yang dipakai di awal Seroja. Beberapa ciri khasnya:

• desain bolak-balik (sisi dalam berwarna hijau ABRI, setiap kantong dilengkapi dua snap buttons),
• zipper YKK,
• kancing khas era 1970-an,
• tutup kantong depan berbentuk lancip
• dan yang paling penting: lengan non-velcro.

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