Deputy Defence Minister says marching drills will train BUMN employees to be loyal to leaders

Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia — Deputy Defence Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto said that the basic military education undertaken by 400 state-owned enterprise (BUMN) staff taking part in the Presidential Future Leaders Programme (PFLP) would benefit their careers in the years ahead. He cited marching drills as beneficial for both leadership and loyalty among BUMN employees.

‘In the future, when they become leaders, they will be able to lead their colleagues, and if they have a superior, they will be loyal to their superior,’ Donny said at Kodiklat TNI, Tangerang Selatan, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

Because through marching drills, they will be taught to lead their teammates on one side and to follow the guidance of the teammate who is the unit commander on the other side.

‘For example, marching drills may look like that, but essentially it is a philosophy of how someone is chosen to lead their peers,’ he said.

‘Likewise, the teammates in the line also have a followership spirit to follow what is commanded by the individual who becomes the troop commander,’ he added.

‘When we wake up in the morning, perhaps at home some people are lazy; here they are required to wake up early, then do morning exercise together, which builds character, togetherness, and discipline in time,’ he added.

Previously reported, 400 BUMN employees recruited in 2024 and 2025 participated in the PFLP for nine months. In the first three months, the PFLP is conducted at Kodiklat TNI for character formation, nationalism, patriotism, togetherness, discipline, and fighting spirit.

‘They (Kodiklat TNI) have trainers and caretakers whom I am confident can mould their character in line with what we expect,’ Donny said.

After that, participants will undergo four months of study at Danantara Corporate University to deepen managerial capabilities, decision-making, analysis, and understanding of cyber and security.

In the final two months, participants will undertake internships at ministries, institutions, agencies, or BUMN.

Donny said the government hopes the programme will provide a foundation for the participants before they assume roles in BUMN.

‘They are the buds of the nation that we must empower; we will provide education and training so that our investment can benefit Indonesia in the future,’ he said.