Deputy Defence Minister: Prospective Red-and-White Cooperative Managers Will Not Become Reserve Components

The Ministry of Defence (Kemhan) is evaluating the training concept for prospective managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDMP) and Merah Putih Fishing Villages (KNMP).

Deputy Minister of Defence Donny Ermawan stated that these individuals will no longer undergo basic military training (Latsarmil) to become part of the Reserve Component (Komcad).

“Those who were originally intended to become part of the reserve component—we have now determined that they will only be provided with guidance, education, and national defence training,” Donny told reporters at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, 1 July 202scale.

This change in the training scheme was implemented in response to the deaths of five prospective KDMP managers while undergoing basic military training.

“The core point is that there will no longer be any lessons related to weaponry or military tactics,” Donny explained.

“Instead, they will only be given lessons related to nationalism, patriotism, and discipline,” he added.

Donny explained that participants will be trained to build discipline through the implementation of daily activity schedules and will receive leadership materials related to managing cooperatives and fishing villages.

“Managers will certainly have several staff members whom they must lead. How to foster togetherness and cooperation—those are the values we will provide,” he said.