Defence Minister Orders Health Evaluation for Prospective Cooperative Managers
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has ordered a health evaluation for prospective managers of the ‘Red and White Village Cooperatives’ and ‘Red and White Fishing Village’ programmes who are participating in basic military education and training. The instruction came after five participants were declared dead due to health reasons during the ongoing military training.
“At the direction of the Defence Minister, the organisers have conducted a thorough evaluation of health aspects,” said the head of the Defence Ministry’s Human Resources Development Agency, Major General Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia, at the ministry office in Jakarta on Saturday, 27 June 2026.
Ketut detailed that the evaluation of participants includes medical supervision, health profiling, adjustment of physical activity intensity, regulation of the referral system, and the implementation of early detection mechanisms for participants with risk factors. The Defence Ministry, in cooperation with the Health Ministry, is receiving medical assistance, particularly in the mitigation and treatment of lung diseases and infectious diseases.
“Participants who, based on further examinations, are known to have special conditions, including pregnancy or certain medical conditions, the organisers are taking steps according to the recommendations of health workers,” Ketut said.
According to Ketut, the military training attended by the participants does not emphasise physical ability, but rather the formation of mentality, character, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. He claimed that the military training programme is structured in a measured way, taking into account the participants’ backgrounds as civilians.
“We need to emphasise that this activity is not aimed at turning participants into soldiers or military members. The participants remain in their civilian professions and assignments,” he said.
The death of a prospective village cooperative manager undergoing training at the State Defence Education Unit in Kalimantan brought the total number of fatalities to five. The identity of the most recently deceased participant is Nola Dya Sari, who passed away on Friday evening, 26 June 2026.
Nola complained of shortness of breath accompanied by a fever at 18:45 WIB. The education unit’s medical team then provided initial treatment and referred Nola to the emergency department of Singkawang Hospital. However, Nola was subsequently referred to Abdul Aziz Regional General Hospital in Singkawang for further treatment.
During the treatment process, Nola’s heart stopped, prompting doctors to perform cardiac resuscitation and cardioversion. However, Nola’s life could not be saved. At 21:03 WIB, Nola was declared dead. Ketut stated that the results of Nola’s medical evaluation are still being investigated to obtain a comprehensive picture of the cause of death of the deceased, who had a record of being overweight.
In the early hours of Friday, 26 June 2026, another prospective cooperative manager died while attending military training at the III/Siliwangi Regional Military Command. The participant was named Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan. Based on the medical resume and special report, the cause of Rifki’s death was a lung infection with medical complications. His health history also contained information regarding hypertension and obesity.
Previously, the Defence Ministry had also confirmed the news of three prospective cooperative managers who died during basic military training for the reserve component command. The three were Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq.
These three participants died after experiencing a decline in their health condition. Novia, who attended training at the Air Force Doctrine, Education, and Training Development Command Language Centre in Jakarta, died on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. She was recorded as having a history of tuberculosis.
Meanwhile, Anisa died on 18 June 2026 after suffering heat stroke while attending training at the Mulawarman Regional Military Command Main Regiment Education Unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Yonanda was declared dead due to cardiac arrest on 17 June 2026 while attending training at the Army Combat Training Centre Education Unit in Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra.
According to Ketut, the five deceased participants had been declared to have passed health screening after undergoing laboratory, blood, urine, pregnancy tests, X-rays, and ultrasound examinations. However, the medical conditions of the five were different. “All participants received medical treatment according to procedure, both at the unit’s health facilities and at the referral hospital,” he said.