Jatinangor, January 31, 2026—A student of the Library and Information Science Study Program at Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad), Kayla Adia Masrifah Batubara, has successfully completed the Basic Military Education and Training (Diklatsarmil) conducted for prospective members of the Student Regiment (Menwa). This program is a mandatory stage that participants must complete before officially becoming organic members of Menwa.
The Diklatsarmil program was held over ten days, from January 22 to January 31, 2026. The training series took place in several locations, including the Universitas Padjadjaran campus, Yonzipur 9, and Bukit Unggul. The closing ceremony was attended by senior Menwa members, participating trainees, and military instructors from Yonzipur 9 who provided guidance throughout the training.
Diklatsarmil is organized as an initial formation process for prospective Menwa members. Through this program, trainees are equipped with fundamental military knowledge and skills before undergoing the beret ceremony, which marks their transition from trainees to organic members. The materials delivered included basic combat techniques, land navigation and map reading, first aid, shooting, rappelling, and other supporting subjects.
According to Kayla, participating in Diklatsarmil was both enjoyable and challenging. She stated that both the classroom sessions and field activities provided memorable new experiences. “During the program, everything felt exciting, both the lessons and the outdoor activities. At Yonzipur, we also received basic military education. In the final stage, the trip to Bukit Unggul began with a ride in a TNI truck, followed by a walk of about seven kilometers. The time at Bukit Unggul was also very enjoyable,” she explained.
Nevertheless, Kayla also acknowledged several challenges during the training, particularly during the stelling session and the tightly limited meal times. She noted that participants were required to finish their meals within a short time frame, which became a challenge in itself. Overall, she considered the program physically demanding but highly valuable for building personal resilience.
Kayla’s participation in Menwa was driven by personal motivation and family influence. Her father had previously joined Menwa in Yogyakarta, which inspired her interest in participating. In addition, she aspires to become a military librarian and therefore feels the need to understand the fundamentals of military training. She also advised other students interested in joining similar activities to be guided by their own willingness. “If you want to join, make sure it is not out of pressure, but truly because of your own desire,” she advised.
Author: Kayla Adia Masrifah Batubara
