Fourth participant dies during SPPI military training, Defence Ministry confirms

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the number of participants in the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP) basic military training programme who have died has risen to four. Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry’s Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that the deceased participant was named Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan. “The Ministry of Defence extends its deepest condolences and sorrow over the passing of the late Muhammad Rifki Renaldi Gunawan, a participant in the 2026 SPPI KDKMP Programme who was undergoing education at the 465th Parachute Battalion Training Unit,” Rico said when confirmed in Jakarta on Friday. Rico explained that Rifki had undergone medical treatment before being pronounced dead in the early hours of Friday. According to him, Rifki experienced shortness of breath during training activities on Thursday (25/6) and immediately received treatment from the 465th Parachute Battalion Training Unit’s medical team. “After his health condition gradually improved, the individual was able to resume activities,” Rico said. However, during the educational activities, Rifki’s health condition deteriorated again, necessitating his transfer to the RSAU dr. Esnawan Antariksa for further medical treatment. “Despite optimal medical efforts, the deceased was pronounced dead on 26 June 2026 at 00.28 WIB,” he said. Rico stated that Rifki and the other participants had undergone medical examinations before being declared fit to participate in the basic military training. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defence will conduct an evaluation of the entire SPPI programme implementation to ensure similar incidents do not recur. To date, Rifki is the fourth participant to die while undergoing SPPI basic military training. The three previous participants were Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq, Anisa Muyassaroh, and Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang. Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq died on 17 June 2026 due to cardiac arrest while undergoing training at the Army Training Centre in Baturaja. Anisa Muyassaroh died on 18 June 2026 due to heat stroke while undergoing education at the Dodikjur Rindam VI/Mulawarman unit in Balikpapan. Meanwhile, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang died on 23 June 2026 from tuberculosis while undergoing basic military training at the Air Force Training Command in Jakarta.