The Graduate Mobilizers for Indonesian Development (SPPI) program, initiated by the government to strengthen village economic management, is currently under intense scrutiny. This follows the incident where five participants died during the Basic Military Training (Latsarmil) series. The event has sparked public debate regarding the urgency of a comprehensive evaluation of training standard operating procedures, particularly concerning participant safety.
Responding to this phenomenon, a psychology expert from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), M. Arif Rizqi, emphasized that the mental health of participants is just as crucial as physical endurance. According to him, extreme psychological pressure resulting from adapting to a new environment can trigger a drastic decline in the body's immune system. Unmanaged stress will accelerate physical exhaustion, creating fatal risks for individuals who are not accustomed to military-style high-intensity training patterns.
Arif highlighted the difference in backgrounds between SPPI participants, who come from the general public, and professional soldiers who have undergone gradual training. "Each individual's response to pressure is different. Therefore, training programs should not be generalized without considering the adaptation capacity of each participant," explained Arif on Saturday (11/7).
As a concrete solution, Arif proposed mandatory psychological screening as an integral part of the recruitment process. This assessment aims to map the level of anxiety and resilience of each individual before entering the quarantine period. The results of this mapping can later be used as a basis for organizers to adjust the training intensity to be more measured and humane.
Furthermore, he encouraged cross-professional involvement—ranging from psychologists and psychiatrists to medical personnel—in designing the structure of the training curriculum. Intensive on-field supervision is also considered vital so that any decline in a participant's physical or psychological condition can be detected as early as possible before triggering undesirable incidents.
Amid the ongoing investigation by the Ministry of Defense, Arif invited the public to maintain objectivity. He urged that public criticism be conveyed constructively through official channels, while prioritizing deep empathy for the families of the victims affected by this tragedy.
