Three Prospective Cooperative Managers Die During Military Training
The number of prospective managers for the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih and Koperasi Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih who died while undergoing military training has increased to three. The latest victim was named Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang.
Novia was participating in basic military training for reserve commands at the Indonesian Air Force’s Command Language Centre for Doctrine Development, Education, and Training in Jakarta. Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat General, stated that Novia died on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
He said the participant in the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme, which trains prospective managers for the cooperatives, experienced health problems and immediately received medical attention from the unit’s health team. “The participant was then referred to the Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital for further medical treatment,” Rico said on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.
Rico explained that prior to joining the basic military training programme, participants had undergone a selection process in accordance with applicable regulations, including a health examination. Based on the results of that selection, Novia was declared fit to participate in the training. He added that since the health complaint arose, the unit’s medical team and the hospital had taken treatment steps in accordance with standard procedures.
The Ministry of Defence expressed its deepest condolences to Novia’s family. Rico stated that the Ministry, together with the National Selection Committee and the training organisers, is currently conducting evaluations and strengthening health supervision for participants. “This is to ensure that the safety and health of participants remain the top priority in the implementation of the programme,” he said.
A day earlier, the Ministry of Defence had also confirmed the deaths of two other prospective managers of the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih and Koperasi Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih during basic military reserve training. The two were named Anisa Muyassaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq. Anisa was undergoing training at the Mulawarman Regional Command Main Regiment Education Unit in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, while Yonanda was training at the Army Combat Training Centre Education Unit in Baturaja, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra.
Through a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated that Anisa experienced a health problem before her death, which was attributed to heat stroke. Yonanda’s death was attributed to cardiac arrest. The basic military training for more than 35,000 prospective managers of the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih and Koperasi Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih lasts for 45 days, having commenced on 17 June 2026. In addition to basic military training material, the prospective village cooperative managers also receive technical material on management and programme administration.