Hundreds of TNI Soldiers 'Storm' Madura Not with Weapons of War, but to Bring Smiles to Residents

Hundreds of TNI personnel from all units of Kodam V Brawijaya suddenly descended on four regencies in Madura: Bangkalan, Pamekasan, Sampang and Sumenep. There was no enemy and no war, yet Madura became the target of a large-scale deployment.

Many residents wondered what was happening in Madura to warrant such a sizeable mobilisation of Indonesian Army troops. Strangely, no one felt afraid or avoided the crowds of soldiers.

Instead, they were welcomed with joy as the fully uniformed troops arrived in Madura. They marched carrying complete weaponry and simple military equipment.

This was the scene as thousands of Indonesian Army personnel conducted the 2026 Large-Scale Civic Mission in the Madura Region, which began with an opening ceremony for the Army’s Service to the People 2026 at the Bangkalan Regency square.

This was a large-scale deployment of soldiers for purposes other than war on the so-called Salt Island. They were equipped with various skills. They were not ordered to fight, but were instructed to repair various facilities belonging to the people of Madura.

The presence of the Indonesian Army soldiers addressed not only physical improvements but also non-physical needs. They delivered various social and humanitarian programmes, such as cataract and cleft lip operations, mass circumcisions, blood donations, health services, environmental services, irrigation machine assistance, the planting of 2,000 trembesi trees, and the provision of prosthetic legs and wheelchairs for those in need.

“There are physical programmes, and there are social and humanitarian programmes. All of them are needed by the community and certainly have a direct impact on them,” said Pangdam V Brawijaya Major General TNI Rudy Saladin on one occasion in Madura.

Among these programmes, one of the main focuses of the 2026 Large-Scale Civic Mission is improving the quality of people’s housing through the Uninhabitable House Renovation Programme (RTLH).

This programme is a flagship initiative to repair damaged houses belonging to residents. The number is not small. The clearest figure is 377 uninhabitable houses targeted for renovation in the four regencies of Madura.

This programme is part of the Indonesian Army’s 2026 Large-Scale Civic Mission taking place in Bangkalan, Sampang, Pamekasan and Sumenep. The breakdown is: Bangkalan 94 units, Sampang 94 units, Pamekasan 94 units, Sumenep 95 units, for a total of 377 units.

“We still encounter many residents’ houses that are unfit for habitation, and it is our duty in the Indonesian Army to look after them, so that they can live comfortably and peacefully. We want them to be able to smile,” said the Pangdam.

The figure of 377 units comes from an allocation of renovation assistance for 1,700 uninhabitable houses in the Kodam V/Brawijaya area in 2026, with 377 of those units allocated to Madura Island.

The Indonesian Army’s Civic Mission in Madura did not stop at uninhabitable houses; its scale was far larger. In addition to the 377 uninhabitable houses, the programme included, among other things: 33 bridges, 52 drilled wells, 20 schools, 20 places of worship, 4 orphanages, sanitation facilities, health services, cataract operations, cleft lip operations, mass circumcisions, blood donations, greening efforts, and assistance for people with disabilities.

“This Civic Mission is a concrete form of Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP). In essence, the TNI not only carries out defence duties, but is also present to help the government solve people’s problems,” he said.

The TNI’s presence in Madura was not merely about physical development. The programme was directed at the real needs of the community, from liveable houses and bridges to clean water and social services.

While in Madura, they had to shed all their labels as Indonesian Army personnel. They had to unite with the residents, mingling and working together in mutual cooperation without barriers. “Do not make things difficult for them, but make them happy together with the TNI,” he said.

The happiness was deeply felt by residents touched by the helping hands of the Indonesian Army soldiers. One of the houses being rebuilt belongs to Rohman, a resident of Ujung Piring Village, Bangkalan.

Rohman, who works as a scrap collector, lived with his family in a bamboo hut. His new house measures about 6 by 6 metres, with three bedrooms and a living room. The old dwelling was highly unfit for habitation, but now he can smile after his house was renovated from the floor and roof to the furnishings.

The house of Bu Maninten in Jaddih Selatan Hamlet, Jaddih Village, Socah District, was also renovated so that it is truly fit for habitation. “I cannot imagine if there were no TNI, my house would still be damaged, but this time I can be happy because my house is nice,” she said.

The presence of the Indonesian Army in Madura drew a positive reaction from Unair political observer Hari Fitrianto. He said that many people had assumed the Indonesian Army only operated outside Madura, but this time the closeness being built is quite good so that Madura also feels that the government, in this case the TNI, is present.

Improving infrastructure in Madura carried out by the Indonesian Army has changed the image of the military in an extraordinary way. They have long been identified with warfare, but when they unite with the community, that paradigm changes. “They consider that the TNI belongs to all citizens,” he said.

The Indonesian Army’s 2026 Large-Scale Civic Mission on Madura Island is a concrete manifestation of Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP) that prioritises a humanist approach and community service.

This barrier-free mutual cooperation succeeded in bringing real happiness to underprivileged communities while strengthening the unity between the TNI and the people, breaking the stigma of a rigid apparatus, and affirming the state’s presence amid the needs of Madura residents.