TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto supported the Indonesian Military (TNI) General Andika Perkasa’s decision to revise the policy on military academy recruitment which lowers the minimum height requirement.

Everyone, he opined, has a unique potential for defense and so the TNI must adapt to the conditions of their respective regions and tribes. “I support the rule adjustment,” he said after attending an event with President Jokowi at Jakarta JCC, Thursday, September 29, 2022.

The Gerindra Party chair argued that it is not right to choose a prospective cadet just by one criterion, such as height. “But their achievements, abilities, strengths, regional characteristics, and so on are not taken into account. [If that so,] I think we’ll lose, the state will lose, and the TNI will lose, too” he added.

Earlier reported, Andika decided to revise the regulation of the TNI Commander No. 31 of 2020 regarding the acceptance of prospective cadets to accommodate the general conditions of Indonesian youth.

“The change is actually more accommodating,” said Andika Perkasa as quoted from his YouTube channel in Jakarta, Tuesday, September 27, 2022.

In the new regulation, the minimum height requirement for male cadet candidates is 160 centimeters, while for female cadet candidates is 155 centimeters from initially 163 cm and 157 cm, respectively. Additionally, the TNI set the minimum entrance age requirements at 17 years and 8 months old from previously 18 years old.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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