Paskibra and Paskibraka are both involved in raising the Red and White flag, but they differ in scope of duties, status, and formation processes. It is important to understand these differences because the two terms are often used interchangeably, especially leading up to Indonesia's Independence Day commemoration on 17 August.
Paskibra is an acronym for Pasukan Pengibar Bendera (Flag-raising Squad) and generally refers to groups that carry out flag-raising duties in ceremonies at schools, government agencies, organisations and other activities. At schools, Paskibra typically trains students in marching formation, discipline, teamwork, leadership and responsibility. Paskibra has a broader scope and its existence is not limited to ceremonies marking the Proclamation of Independence at the government level.
Paskibraka, meanwhile, is an acronym for Pasukan Pengibar Bendera Pusaka (Sacred Flag-raising Squad) and is an official government programme with legal basis through Presidential Regulation Number 51 of 2022. Paskibraka is part of a nation leadership cadre development programme with Pancasila character and has the special duty of participating in ceremonies commemorating the Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence and Pancasila Day. Paskibraka members are recruited and selected through government-established stages, with assignments at regency/city, provincial and national levels.
The history of Paskibraka began in 1946 when President Soekarno tasked Rear Admiral Husein Mutahar with preparing the raising of the Sacred Flag at the first anniversary commemoration of Indonesia's Independence at Gedung Agung in Yogyakarta. Mutahar's idea to have the flag raised by youths from various regions subsequently developed. In 1967, Mutahar expanded the squad formation into three groups with numbers symbolising the date of the Proclamation: 17 youths as escorts, 8 as the core squad and 45 as guards.
The term Paskibraka itself was only used starting in 1973 when Idik Sulaeman proposed the name as a designation for the raisers of the Sacred Flag. As time progressed, Paskibraka not only performed flag-raising and lowering but also became part of youth development and nation leadership cadre development with Pancasila character.
