Indonesia's Defense Ministry requires military training for cooperative managers

Indonesia's Ministry of Defense is mandating basic military training for prospective managers of "Merah Putih" village and fisherman cooperatives. The initiative aims to cultivate strong discipline, resilience, and leadership among individuals who will oversee the financial circulation of community funds.

"This defense and managerial training is directed at shaping character, discipline, leadership, integrity, cooperation, responsibility, professionalism, the ability to work under pressure, and a spirit of service to the community," stated Head of the Defense Ministry's Education and Training Agency, Major General TNI Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia, at the ministry's office in Jakarta.

Ketut emphasized that these skills are crucial for the candidates, as they will be responsible for managing public money through the cooperatives. He believes that strong leadership and professionalism will empower these cooperatives to bolster the local economy. The focus, he clarified, is not on physical prowess but on mental fortitude, character development, a sense of responsibility, fighting spirit, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

Addressing concerns about the rigorous physical and semi-military aspects of the training, Ketut assured that the goal is not to turn cooperative managers into soldiers. He acknowledged recent incidents where five participants died during latsarmil programs in TNI training facilities due to various health issues, including heatstroke, tuberculosis, and cardiac arrest. The Ministry of Defense has pledged a thorough evaluation and will implement preventive measures to ensure training content is appropriately tailored to each participant's condition.

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This defense and managerial training is directed at shaping character, discipline, leadership, integrity, cooperation, responsibility, professionalism, the ability to work under pressure, and a spirit of service to the community.