Three KDMP Manager Candidates Die During Military Training, Defence Ministry Orders Thorough Evaluation
The Indonesian Ministry of Defence is carrying out a thorough evaluation of the Basic Military Training (Latsarmil) for prospective managers of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KDMP). This action follows the deaths of three participants in the 2026 Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme at different training locations.
Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry’s Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, confirmed that the three participants died after receiving medical treatment. According to medical examination results, the causes of death varied, ranging from extreme heat stroke and cardiac arrest to a health condition related to Tuberculosis (TB).
The Ministry of Defence asserted that all participants, including the three who died, had undergone a rigorous selection process and were declared medically fit before joining the training.
The details of the incidents are as follows: Anisa Muyassaroh died from heat stroke while attending training at the Rindam VI Dodikjur Training Unit. Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq died from cardiac arrest after his health deteriorated at the Kodiklatad Puslatpur Training Unit in Baturaja. Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang died on 23 June 2026 from a health condition related to TB while attending training at the Kodiklatau Pusbahasa Training Unit in Jakarta.
“Currently, the Ministry of Defence, together with the National Selection Committee and training organisers, is continuously evaluating and strengthening health supervision for participants to ensure their safety and health remain the top priority,” said Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait.
The Latsarmil programme is part of a government initiative to prepare prospective managers for the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP) and Merah Putih Fishermen’s Villages (KNMP). Its main objective is to build discipline, leadership character, and strong ideological mentality for future managers before they go into the field to manage the village economy. Following the series of physical and military exercises, participants are scheduled to undergo managerial and competency training to strengthen their technical skills in cooperative management.
The fatal incidents have drawn sharp scrutiny from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI). Member of Commission I, TB Hasanuddin, urged that the physical training material in Latsarmil be evaluated. He argued that the training portion should focus more on strengthening cooperative managerial skills rather than excessively strenuous physical activities. “Perhaps the material should be evaluated. Military aspects such as shooting, marching, or prolonged exposure to heat should be reduced,” Hasanuddin stressed at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta.
The Ministry of Defence has committed to following up on this input by ensuring more intensive health supervision and providing alternative development options for participants with specific physical conditions, so that the character-building objectives can still be achieved without compromising the safety of the participants’ lives.