Military Basic Training Replaced with State Defence Training, Shooting Material Removed

The Ministry of Defence has removed shooting training modules for the Indonesia Development Driver Bachelor (SPPI) programme, which prepares prospective managers for the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP) and Merah Putih Fishermen Cooperatives (KNMP).

The Head of the Defence Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defence Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that this removal coincides with the Ministry’s decision to discontinue basic military training (latsarmil) for SPPI participants. In its place, the Ministry of Defence will conduct National Defence and Managerial Provision Training.

Under the new training format, physical activities and other modules related to military training will also be reduced.

“With these adjustments, activities of a tactical and technical military nature are being reduced, including shooting activities, which are no longer part of the current training implementation,” Rico said when confirmed in Jakarta on Monday (29/6).

This change follows an evaluation of the learning system by the Ministry of Defence following the deaths of five basic military training participants. Consequently, the training programme will be delivered under a new system, with new learning materials and a new name.

He noted that the training focus will henceforth emphasise values of discipline, leadership, and national insight, as well as the managerial readiness of participants as prospective cooperative managers.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence will also monitor the health conditions of participants to ensure that the education process for prospective cooperative managers can proceed safely and in an orderly manner.

Basic military training has recently come under scrutiny following the deaths of five participants during the training process at a TNI educational unit. The five participants died due to various health conditions, ranging from heatstroke and tuberculosis to cardiac arrest.

Following these incidents, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the basic military training programme for the prospective managers of the Merah Putih Cooperatives.