Speaking after a hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta, on Monday, Subiyanto said physical and psychological screening for soldiers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force is still underway.
“For troop recruitment, the first requirement is a medical test. They must be in good health, physically fit, and psychologically stable,” he said.
TNI Headquarters will also assess each soldier’s experience in military operations other than war (OMSP), both at home and abroad, when determining their eligibility for deployment to Gaza.
According to Subiyanto, personnel who pass the selection process will be assembled into three composite brigades, each led by a three-star general.
Each composite brigade will consist of three main battalions: a Medical Battalion, an Engineering Construction Battalion, and a Support Battalion.
Earlier, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the TNI has prepared up to 20,000 personnel for the Gaza peacekeeping mission.
“We are maximizing our preparation of 20,000 troops, but the main focus will be on medical and construction capabilities,” Sjamsoeddin said at the Defense Ministry Office on Friday (Nov. 14).
He explained that the large-scale preparation follows a directive from President Prabowo Subianto.
The troops will carry out several humanitarian tasks, such as providing medical services to war-affected civilians and building infrastructure to support the needs of the local communities.
“The troops being deployed are intended to help ensure that the peace process can be sustained long enough, paving the way for political negotiations,” he added.
In addition to troop deployment, Sjamsoeddin confirmed that the Air Force (TNI AU) will continue routine humanitarian air-drop operations to deliver logistics supplies, as it has done throughout this year.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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