Defence Ministry Renames Training Programme After Five Deaths
The Ministry of Defence has announced a change in the nomenclature of the basic military training within the recruitment programme for prospective managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives. Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Defence Information Bureau, stated that the name change was part of an evaluation following the deaths of five participants during basic military training. “Going forward, the activity is confirmed as State Defence and Managerial Training, no longer using the term Latsarmil,” he said in a statement on Monday, 29 June 2026.
According to him, the nomenclature change is intended to clarify the main objectives of the training activity. Rico stated that the activity, which emphasises physical aspects, is oriented towards character building, discipline, leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and managerial readiness of the participants. “So, to clarify that the aim of this training is not to build military capability,” said the one-star general.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence has decided to reduce the intensity of military-style physical and tactical activities for the prospective managers. Rico said that for the remainder of the training period, activities are limited to instilling discipline and basic fitness. This includes morning exercises or sports, roll calls, marching drills, environmental orientation, and light field activities.
Rico stated that the ministry has also mapped the physical capabilities of the prospective Merah Putih Village Cooperative managers. “Participants who have medical conditions or health risk factors have been given a special white ribbon marker,” he said. He explained that participants wearing the special marker will not be burdened with excessive physical activities. He added that participants with health risks or complaints will undertake physical activities based on recommendations from health workers.
The Ministry of Defence, he said, is also reducing physical actions for discipline. He stated that participants who break the rules will not be given excessive physical punishment. “It has been made measurable. The emphasis is more on educational guidance,” said the one-star general.
The first wave of basic military training took place from 17 June to 31 July 2026 with a total of 35,476 participants. They consisted of 30,000 prospective managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives and 5,476 prospective managers of the Merah Putih Fishermen’s Village. However, five participants died within a ten-day period. They were Nola Dya Sari, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, Anisa Muyassaroh, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, and Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan.
Nola Dya Sari, who attended training at the State Defence Education Unit in Kalimantan, died on 26 June 2026 after complaining of shortness of breath and fever. On the same day, Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, a participant at the Para Commando Battalion Education Unit 465 in East Jakarta, also died after experiencing similar symptoms. Rifki was known to have a history of hypertension and obesity. Meanwhile, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, a participant at the Air Force Doctrine Development, Education, and Training Command Language Centre in Jakarta, died on 23 June 2026 from active tuberculosis. Anisa Muyassaroh died a day after training began, on 18 June 2026, due to heat stroke while attending training at the Mulawarman Military Command Main Regiment Education Unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq died on the first day of training, 17 June 2026, due to cardiac arrest.