Learning to Face Disasters and Challenging Terrain: The Patriot Expedition Team's Preparation
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Ministry of Transmigration is preparing training for participants of the 2026 Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) before deployment to transmigration areas across the country. The preparation will focus on field challenges, including environmental conditions and health aspects.
Minister of Transmigration M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara stated that training will be conducted at respective universities after the selection process begins in early June 2026. ‘We want the best of the best. We aim for the finest from the finest, ensuring that those deployed to transmigration areas are truly outstanding human resources selected by top universities,’ he said in an official statement on Wednesday (27 May 2026).
Iftitah added that campus-based training will emphasise understanding environmental challenges participants may face during their service in transmigration zones. He noted the need for participants to adapt to Indonesia’s diverse geographical conditions and natural obstacles.
‘They must develop survival skills to navigate Indonesia’s immense natural wealth alongside its challenges, including disasters, maritime conditions, and other hurdles,’ he explained. ‘Health aspects will also be closely monitored, with further training scheduled around late July before their deployment.’
The TEP 2026 programme has received strong interest from students, with 10,539 applicants across 10 partner universities. These include 1,249 from the University of Indonesia, 1,187 from Gadjah Mada University, 1,181 from Hasanuddin University, 1,157 from Airlangga University, 1,075 from Bogor Agricultural Institute, 1,014 from Brawijaya University, 972 from Diponegoro University, 952 from Padjadjaran University, 872 from Bandung Institute of Technology, and 700 from Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology.
Following selection and training, TEP 2026 participants are scheduled to depart for 53 transmigration areas by late July 2026.