Recruitment of 1,000 West Papua Special Autonomous NCOs

West Papua Special Autonomous NCOs

Manokwari (ANTARA) – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto approved the recruitment program for 1,000 Special Autonomy Non-commissioned Officer (NCOs) proposed by the XVIII / Kasuari / West Papua Military Command, said the XVIII / Kasuari Commander Major General Ali Hamdan Bogra in Manokwari, Monday.

He explained that the selection for the recruitment of 1,000 Special Autonomy Officers would be carried out together with the West Papua Provincial Government and all districts / cities. Participants who can take part in this recruitment are native Papuans.

“The allocation of candidates will come from all districts and cities in the West Papua region. Participants can later register themselves at the nearest Korem and Kodim in their respective areas,” said Bogra.

He said the participants who passed would be educated at Rindam throughout Indonesia, considering that the facilities and infrastructure in Rindam XVIII / Kasuari were still limited.

The hope, said Bogra, that these Special Autonomy Officers can be reassigned to regencies and cities throughout West Papua as a motivation to motivate the younger generation to be more advanced in maintaining the stability and security of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Chief of Staff of the XVIII Military Region / Kasuari Brigadier General of the TNI Ferry Zein on the previous occasion said that the recruitment program for the Special Autonomy Officer was being communicated with governors, regents and mayors throughout West Papua. The program is expected to be financed through the special autonomy fund (Otsus).

“The program is expected to be an opportunity for native Papuan sons and daughters to have careers as members of the TNI,” said Kasdam.

Ferry Zein said that the Kasuari Kodam still needs quite a lot of personnel to fill the existing and future units. Regional sons are expected to fill the gap.

According to him, Kodam XVIII / Kasuari is still quite new and is currently growing. His party is pushing for the formation of four new Kodim and one Korem in Fakfak to support the work of Kodam.

“West Papua is very broad, while currently the Kodam only has one Korem. Therefore, at least one more Korem must be added. We will also form a Brigade, so we need a lot of personnel to fill it,” said Ferry.

He explained that in recent years indigenous Papuan sons and daughters have become a priority in recruiting new members in the West Papua Special Autonomous NCOs recruitment. So far, the Regional Military Command has provided 80 percent quota for local men.