Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin Orders Evaluation After Five Cooperative Manager Trainees Die During Training
Defence Minister Sjafiente Sjamsoeddin has initiated an evaluative approach following the deaths of five participants in the 2026 Indonesia Development Driver Undergraduate Program (SPPI), who were undergoing national defence and managerial training for the Red and White Village Cooperative (KDMP) and Red and White Fishermen Cooperative (KNMP) programmes.
One of the mandated policies is the adjustment of training intensity to suit the individual health conditions of each participant. This policy was announced by the Head of the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Defence, Major General TNI Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia. He noted that the Minister’s directives also emphasise strengthening health aspects during the implementation of the education programme.
“Following the instructions of the Minister of Defence, strengthening the health aspects of participants has become a primary concern. This includes periodic examinations for participants with risk factors, adjusting the intensity of activities according to participant conditions, and strengthening medical supervision within the educational units,” he stated on Saturday, 27 June 2026.
In addition to adjusting activities, the Ministry of Defence is also partnering with the Ministry of Health to bolster medical support. Coordination is being undertaken to enhance prevention efforts, early detection, and the management of pulmonary and infectious diseases across all educational units.
Ketut emphasised that the basic military training attended by the prospective managers of the Red and White Village and Red and White Fishermen Cooperatives is not military education intended to produce soldiers. Instead, the programme is designed to build the character of participants to ensure they are more disciplined and professional.
“This programme will continue as part of the process I mentioned, in order to create and educate professional managers and instill discipline,” he said.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Defence expressed its condolences regarding the deaths of the five participants during their education. Ketut explained that all participants who experienced health issues received treatment according to procedure, ranging from examinations by medical personnel at the educational units to being referred to hospitals.
“Since the participants experienced health disturbances, all have received treatment from medical personnel at the educational units and were subsequently referred to hospitals for further medical treatment in accordance with applicable procedures,” he said.
He added that every participant entering the programme had previously undergone comprehensive health screenings, including blood and urine laboratory tests, pregnancy tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiograms (ECG), abdominal ultrasounds, as well as eye, dental, posture, and mental health examinations.