Two Kopdes Manager Candidates Die During Military Training
The Ministry of Defence has expressed its condolences over the deaths of two participants in the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme, who were undergoing basic military training to become managers of the Kopdes Merah Putih (KDKMP) and Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP).
Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry’s Secretariat General, identified the deceased as Anisa Muyassaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq.
Anisa Muyassaroh died while attending training at the Dodikjur Rindam VI/Mulawarman in Balikpapan. She experienced health problems on 18 June 2026 and received medical treatment at the unit’s health facility before being referred to hospital. “Based on medical information, she was declared dead due to heat stroke,” Rico said in a written statement on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.
Meanwhile, Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq was undergoing training at the Puslatpur Kodiklatad in Baturaja. His health condition deteriorated on 17 June 2026 and he was treated by the unit’s medical staff before being referred to hospital. “Based on medical information, he was declared dead due to cardiac arrest,” Rico stated.
Rico emphasised that both participants had passed the required selection stages, including health examinations, and were declared fit to join the programme before commencing training. He added that the Ministry of Defence and the TNI have provided assistance to the families of the deceased and ensured all handling procedures were carried out according to applicable regulations.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Defence, together with the national selection committee and training organisers, is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of the programme. The evaluation includes the health selection mechanism, medical supervision, handling of participants with specific health conditions, and the communication and reporting system.
Rico explained that the SPPI programme is part of the government’s effort to prepare human resources with discipline, integrity, leadership, managerial skills, and a spirit of service to support national development through KDMP and KNMP. “The participation of individuals in this programme is voluntary, in accordance with established selection mechanisms, as a form of participation in supporting national development and strengthening the capacity of Indonesia’s human resources,” he said.
The Ministry of Defence reiterated that the safety and health of participants is a top priority in the programme’s implementation. “All input, evaluations, and lessons learned from the activities will serve as the basis for future programme improvements to ensure it runs better, safer, more professionally, and accountably,” Rico stated.
The military training for the SPPI programme for prospective managers of Kopdes Merah Putih and Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih began on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. The training lasts for 45 days, until 31 July 2026. A total of 35,476 prospective managers are participating in the training, comprising 30,000 candidates for Kopdes Merah Putih and 5,476 candidates for Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih.