Thousands of Civil Servants March in Camouflage Uniforms for Komcad Military Training

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - As many as 1,773 civil servants (ASN) marched and cheered with chants while wearing camouflage uniforms. They took part in the first wave, with civil servants from various ministries and agencies beginning the Basic Military Training (Latsarmil) for the Reserve Component (Komcad) at their respective locations on Wednesday (22/4/2026). Suherlan Maulana was one of many ASN who had to convince his family to allow him to join the training. “At first, it was very difficult because my child and wife were reluctant and did not support it,” said Maulana during a break from the Komcad Latsarmil activities at Baseops Halim Perdanakusuma, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (22/4/2026). Gradually, his close ones relented and gave their approval to become Komcad participants. “But by providing understanding, in the end my parents, child, and wife also supported it and accepted it,” said the ASN from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Maulana and thousands of ASN are undergoing Latsarmil for 1.5 months, spread across several locations. These locations include the National Intelligence Agency’s Communication Centre (Puskom Belneg), the Jayakarta Regional Military Command Main Regiment (Rindam Jaya), the Army Army Health Education Centre (Pusdikes Puskesad), Infantry Brigade 1 Marine Troops 1 (Brigif 1 Pasmar 1), the Air Force Command Doctrine Development, Education and Training Language Centre (Pusbahasa Kodiklatau), and Wing Education 500/General Atang Sendjaja (Wingdik 500 Atang Sendjaja). The Komcad basic military training began on 22 April 2026, and participants who pass will be appointed as Komcad members on 5 June 2026. Head of the National Reserve Agency of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General TNI Gabriel Lama, stated that the Latsarmil has been running for three weeks and was opened on 30 March 2026. Gabriel mentioned that Komcad recruitment through ASN channels will also be followed by several other regional governments. “Later, it will be Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, then North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Riau Islands, even regional governments in the eastern regions,” he explained. “For example, ASN, this is approximately nearly 5 million throughout Indonesia. This is the greatest potential defence force. Of course, the preparation process must be gone through and prepared by all of us,” he said.