Jakarta – The Defense Ministry has denied speculation that the Defending the State program initiated by Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu is just an extension of the compulsory military service program.
The ministry's director general of defense potential Timbul Siahaan said that unlike the military service program, and contrary to reports, the Defending the State program did not use primary weaponry defense systems (Alutsista).
"It's not true. In the Defending the State program, military exercises in the field account for only around 20 to 30 percent of activities and they do not use tanks or other military weapons," he said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday. He was speaking at the Defense Ministry's directorate general of defense potential office in Central Jakarta on Friday.
Timbul said many media outlets had misinterpreted the Defending the State program, which had led to widespread misperception among the public.
He further explained that the program was the Defense Ministry's response to the mental revolution initiated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Through the Defending the State program, it was hoped that all Indonesian people would gain greater awareness of the concept of defending the state – comprising love of the Fatherland, the virtue of sacrifice and a strong belief in Pancasila as the state's ideology.
Timbul added that around 70 to 80 percent of material to be delivered in the Defending the State program was theory while the remaining 20 to 30 percent was field practice, including activities such as those found in workplace team-bonding programs. "The field practice is aimed at training participants, or Defending the State cadres, to put them on the same level in terms of togetherness, mindset and leadership capacity," he said.
He said 80 percent of instructors or lecturers for the Defending the State program were civilians with expertise in their respective fields. Meanwhile, military personnel would be involved as instructors to deliver material relating to the Wawasan Nusantara (Archipelagic Outlook).
"The Defending the State program will not be focused on militarism. We have never even considered such an idea. We will not, for example, require a medical check-up for those interested in joining the program. This is one of the points that differentiates the Defending the State program from military service," said Timbul.(ebf)