Defence Minister Reveals Roles of Territorial Development Battalion Soldiers

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the existence of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers, particularly those from the Territorial Development Battalion (BTP), is needed by communities. He argued that BTP soldiers do not only help maintain local security stability but also fill a variety of roles within the community. He told the Commission I of the DPR on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, that some soldiers come from pesantren and some are non-Muslim religious leaders; they accompany communities to churches, and in mosques they can serve as imam or khatib of religious services. He added that BTP soldiers also have a role in improving the quality of education, including acting as teachers to assist schools that lack educators. The presence of BTP soldiers in communities also contributes to improving the fiscal capacity of the community, particularly MSMEs that set up business premises around BTP posts. Positive impacts of BTP presence also extend to health aspects, including blood donation. BTP soldiers donate blood at least three times a year. We have established a blood bank to collect blood. The people in need are welcome, and it is provided free of charge, he said. Earlier, before these battalions were formed, some regions experienced a significant number of crimes such as robberies. However, Sjafrie claimed that after the Territorial Development Battalions were formed, crime in several regions of the country declined. The criminal incidents there that were previously at minus a certain percentage have now disappeared by more than 50 percent, he said.