TRAMP, the vanguard of the nation, saving young generations

By Protus Tanuhandaru

A flock of outdoorsmen participating in an outbound organized by the military found themselves turning into a better, if not different person: disciplined, tougher, and committed in whatever they do. And those willing to become so better follow suit, as chances are always open, provided that they can endure the training, a tough one.

“Now I’m a new man, thanks to the training, however tough it had been,” said 20-year-old Asep Sumantri, one of the 43 cadets of Top Ranger and Mountain Pathfinder (TRAMP) two-week training.

These cadets had their training conducted at Rindam Jaya – at Condet, East Jakarta and Bunder Mountain, West Jawa – both a recruit depot replete with military training facilities ranging from a variety of obstacles and shooting range.

During the training, TRAMP’s cadets were treated as if they’re military’s – served the sort of civilian-will-not-eat food the military cadets consume and given an arduous physical training (PT) the military receive and treated as well as punished indiscriminately.

Living in Rindam’s barrack, the cadets had to put things in the order the military should: clothes folded neatly and stacked from the darkest color to the lightest, boots, PT shoes and sandals placed under the locker, bunks made whenever not used, carrier placed under the bunks. The floor and toilet, whenever the cadets left the barrack, must remain clean.

And cadets had to appear as impeccable as the barrack does – all had their heads shaved (except female), helmet made of ebonite strapped to their neck, uniform tucked in, boots polished, name tag worn, and a red ribbon attached to their left shoulder.

Physical training was conducted at least once a day, followed by lectures given in the class, with such material as Pancasila, statesmanship, wilderness survival, dealing with disasters, leadership, knotting, organization, national defense, mountaineering, pioneering, environmental awareness, medical knowledge, and Search and Rescue (SAR).

But PT was not only conducted at dawn or when they’re scheduled. Often cadets had to run, while rehearsing the songs they ought to know, from their barrack to the classroom located afar and vice versa.

“There is no ideal condition. When there’s a tsunami, you would still run, notwithstanding how tired you are,” said Sergeant Waldi from Rindam Jaya, one of the drilling instructors responsible for the cadets.

At evening, when activities were over, all but those assigned with drawing fire watch had to go asleep. A pair of cadets had to stay awake for an hour before they were relieved by another pair, until all cadets woke up at dawn for their PT.

At any given night at any hour, there could be a reveille – with emergency siren howling the barrack, eye-hurting lights and instructors banging both the doors and bunk beds, to wake up the cadets.

Waking in panic, the cadets jumped out of their bunks, hustled for and snatched their gears and attributes, yet found themselves, when assembled in formation in front of the barrack, missing an attribute or two or even wearing the wrong uniform.

Wary of another reveille, students often opted to sleep with their uniform and attributes on, no matter how wet or dirty they were.

Any mistake led to consequences – and when it did, some no longer able to bear the pain opted to quit.

The first reveille caught many cadets concealing foods and cigarettes – the sort of contraband not allowed in the barrack. These contrabands were not however immediately disposed of but were tied in with a plastic rope, which then hung as attribute at the neck of those found having the contrabands and only to be released when the training was over.

“Keeping this at your neck will remind you of your mistake,” told Teppy Irianto, head of the program, to the cadets.

Such revelation led to collective punishment – push-up, rolling on the asphalts and even hard-slapping – of cadets accountable for bringing these contrabands and who have been warned of the consequence of bringing to the barracks things the cadets were not supposed to have.

Those who were slapped claimed what TRAMP did was beyond their expectation and considered it as human rights violation. Said 43-year-old Marthen Josh Mustika, one of the slapped cadets: “Never have we thought that we enlisted ourselves for such a brutal training.”

Marthen, along with seven others also irked by such a conduct, voluntarily discharged themselves from the training – a conduct Teppy dismissed as nothing extraordinary.

“TRAMP already clearly stated what cadets could bring and what they couldn’t. Those who complained only prove that they’re mentally weak – unsuitable for the training.”

Agreeing with Teppy was Batubara, a presidential security service who was also an instructor of the program, who said “Whoever you are outside the training facility, here you’re no more than a cadet. We don’t discriminate people.”

Of 55 cadets initially participating in the program, only 43 made it at the end.

Those who remained in the program continued their training at Bunder Mountain, west Java. There, cadets were taught how to make a bivouac made of either ponchos or leaves, about wilderness survival and navigating using a compass, during the day and night.

Having completed their training there, the cadets moved to Lido Lakes, also in West Java – marching the 75-km mountainous roads within two days with their feet ending up blistered, calloused, and even wounded.

At Lido, cadets were taught how to operate a landing craft boat and to cross the vast lake using a rope stretched from one end to another.

At the end of the training days, four cadets were about to be dismissed from the program and sent home because they were considered not able to follow rules enforced by TRAMP. The rest of cadets, showing their sympathy, were not willing to earn any award for accomplishing the training, unless the four also receive the award the rest would.

Such was esprit de corps TRAMP has been instilling in its cadets for many generations. Such also impressed both seniors and instructors, so compelling that all but one cadet were nonetheless bestowed the accolade as new TRAMP member.

The one who did not pass the acid test, 24-year-old Ricky Hendarto, ran away moments before all students carried out their long march, because “Ricky missed his mama,” said 34-year-old Kusmadi, a cadet who happened to talk to Ricky the night before he left.

Seniors and instructors, informed of such an escape, quickly traced where Ricky went. Days later, Ricky was found having arrived at his home safely, according to Selamet, a member of the military elite commandos Kopassus dispatched by TRAMP to find where Ricky was.

Asked of the incident, Teppy said “He is a section 8, mentally deranged. Not only will he not get the award, but also he has to be held accountable for what he did, simply because he has to learn that every option has its implications. Ricky’s renders a bad one.”

Students who successfully completed the training received a certificate endorsed by the Regional Military Commander, could further hone whatever skills they’re interested in, and obtain their Initial Registration Number (NRP) – a number allowing them full membership of TRAMP, thereby enabling them to have a say in TRAMP council and to conduct any activities, business and social, under the umbrella and support of TRAMP.

To get the NRP, however, cadets who already passed the basic training have to carry out a mission conducting a research related to sociology and anthropology – particularly studying any ethnics of their choice – and will be provided with a guide book, necessary equipment and funds to do so.

“These new TRAMP members are now unflappable, capable of working consistently albeit under severe condition, something important when you’re working in context of disaster relief,” said Nawir Harahap, one of the seniors who is also managing TRAMP.

When the 2004 tsunami devastated Aceh, TRAMP dispatched eight of its members with each carrying only Rp50.000,- to assist with disaster relief. Working with the community they helped, they were able to sustain themselves, compromising the worst condition – something most volunteers, particularly those without proper training, can never do.

“You can’t just send volunteers from the city to such harsh area as Aceh. Unprepared, volunteers often troubled more than they helped, said Yongky Rochmadi, one of the eight sent to Aceh.

Even the military working in Aceh acknowledged how credible TRAMP members had been.

Afterwards, TRAMP has had its members dispatched to help the disaster relief in Yogyakarta, Bandung and Pangandaran.

But TRAMP members are not only savvy in dealing with disaster, said Nawir. Many have also become successful in a variety of careers whether in the military, government or business sectors.

TRAMP’s activity, compared to other outbound, is cost-effective, with only 2 million rupiahs spent on each cadet, in addition to the free-of-charge service provided by the Regional Military Command (KODAM) and Kopassus, the sort of elaborate affiliation any other outbound or organization hardly ever has.

None of the cadets were however required to pay for their training, as TRAMP members and sympathizers collectively funded the activities.

Established in 1970, TRAMP was formed as a group composed of youth and students – all having similar interest in outdoor activities.

Years later, TRAMP had the support of KODAM, with its training conducted at Rindam Jaya.

In 1989, however, TRAMP had stopped its training and activities for ten consecutive years because most of its members had to concentrate on their career and errands. With members rallying in 1999, TRAMP has resumed its training and activities, how having its headquarters established in Jakarta.

To date TRAMP has more than 900 members.

Now TRAMP is looking forward to intensifying its activities – attempting to hold the training at least once or twice the year, a move however requiring substantial, continuous amount of funding and deeper commitment.

For such a purpose, TRAMP will be looking for professionals in managing TRAMP – preferably well-remunerated “so they will be deeply dedicated in and could stay focus on TRAMP, unlike me who is just a volunteer,” said Trijoni Susanto, one of the instructors who tried his best to help TRAMP while simultaneously keeping up with his daily work as a geologist.

Companies willing to send their employees to TRAMP are also welcome, emulating successful entrepreneurs such as Osbert Lyman and Josephine Komara – both recently sent their employees to be trained in TRAMP and provided TRAMP with large amount of donation.

Asked whether TRAMP will be able to extend its activities, Teppy nodded and said the very slogan of the organization: “It’s because of who we are: TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP… victor!”