Defence Ministry Evaluates Basic Military Training After Two SPPI Participants Die
The Ministry of Defence (Kemhan) is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of basic military training (latsarmil) after two participants of the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme died while undergoing the education. “Kemhan, together with the National Selection Committee and education providers, is currently carrying out a thorough evaluation of all aspects of the programme’s implementation,” said the Head of the Defence Information Bureau of the Kemhan Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday. According to Rico, the evaluation is being conducted to identify various aspects that need improvement to enhance the safety and quality of the latsarmil education delivery. “We will evaluate the health selection mechanism, medical supervision, the handling of participants with specific health conditions, as well as the communication and reporting systems,” he said. He emphasised that Kemhan is open to various inputs and criticisms in order to realise a better implementation of latsarmil. Previously, two participants of the SPPI Programme, who were being prepared to become managers of the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP) and Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP), died while attending latsarmil. The two participants were named Anisa Muyassaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq. Rico explained that Anisa Muyassaroh died as a result of heat stroke while attending education at the Dodikjur Rindam VI/Mulawarman Education Unit in Balikpapan. Heat stroke is an emergency condition caused by exposure to extreme heat, where the body’s core temperature rises drastically to reach or exceed 40 degrees Celsius and the body’s temperature regulation system fails to function. According to Rico, Yonanda experienced a decline in physical condition on 17 June 2026 and was subsequently referred to a hospital for medical treatment. “Based on medical information, the individual was declared dead due to cardiac arrest,” he said.