Military joins education expo<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The crowd at the Istora Senayan, a sports hall that occasionally
\nis used as an exhibition center in South Jakarta, appeared
\nsomewhat unconventional on Tuesday as high school students,
\nuniversity representatives and soldiers all freely mingled.<\/p>\n
Three separate 20-square-meter booths were occupied by the
\nNavy, the Army and the Air Force, all displaying military
\nhardware and posters showing the joys of life in a military
\nacademy.<\/p>\n
\"We feel that by participating in this kind of event, we can
\nintroduce ourselves to a wider audience,\" Navy head of education
\nand training, Commodore Sewoko Kartanegara told The Jakarta Post
\non the sidelines of the three-day exhibition that started on Apr.
\n25.<\/p>\n
The Navy, taking part in the expo for the second year running,
\nappeared to have little desire, however, to entice potential
\nrecruits to its Naval Academy.<\/p>\n
\"This is merely to increase public awareness of the Naval
\nAcademy,\" Sewoko said.<\/p>\n
Even so, on the first day of the exhibition at least 40
\nyoungsters enrolled to study at the academy.<\/p>\n
\"We have no problem with the number of people enrolling,\"
\nSewoko said. \"What we are concerned about is that generally the
\nrecruits are of low quality.\"<\/p>\n
The Navy recruits an average of 200 high school graduates
\nevery year to be trained at the academy, as well as 1,800 non-
\ncommissioned officer trainees and enlisted men, who are then
\nposted throughout the country.<\/p>\n
The Army and Air Force, which are participating in the expo
\nfor the first time this year, seemed to be facing similar problems.<\/p>\n
\"It is difficult to find quality recruits because most of
\nyoungsters these days do not view a military career as rewarding
\nas some other sectors,\" Air Force recruitment head Commodore
\nSudjadijono said.<\/p>\n
He added that the Air Force hoped that by participating in
\nsuch an exhibition, it would encourage young Indonesians to serve
\nin the country's armed forces, despite the admittedly low
\nfinancial rewards.<\/p>\n
The military effort appeared to be paying off as most of the
\n1,700 people who visited the exhibition took a couple of minutes
\nor more to view the military displays.<\/p>\n
However, getting them to actually join the military might not
\nbe so easy. \"I find the military booths interesting,\" said third
\ngrade student Arfian, from Senior High School No. 1 in Central
\nJakarta. \"But joining the Army ... well, that's another story.\"<\/p>\n
\"I would prefer to go to a regular university, like one of
\nthose,\" Arfian said, pointing to nearby booths occupied by
\nprivate educational institutes in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Private universities such as Bina Nusantara, Atmajaya,
\nTrisakti and Paramadina, as well as polytechnics, like the
\nIndonesian Institute of Technology (ITI) and the National Science
\nand Technology Institute (ISTN), occupy 54 other booths in the
\nhall.<\/p>\n
\"We want to provide an exhibition that will give students an
\narray of options,\" event organizer PT CiptaNuansa Inti director
\nFelisia D. Hafel said.(003)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-joins-education-expo-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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