Regarding Joni the Flagpole Climber Not Passing the Indonesian Army Selection, Here’s What the Army Information Office Chief Said

JAKARTA – Head of the Indonesian Army Information Service (Kadispenad) Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi spoke out about Yohanes Gama Marschal Lau alias Joni who did not pass the Caba PK selection. TNI AD 2024. Joni failed because he did not meet the minimum height requirement of 160 centimeters, while he was only 155.8 centimeters.

“Does not meet the minimum height requirement of 160 cm for underdeveloped areas,” said Kristomei, Tuesday (6/8/2024).

Kristomei said that Yohanes alias Joni had gone viral during the 73rd Indonesian Independence Day commemoration ceremony on August 17, 2018, when he climbed a flagpole to retrieve a broken rope in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and he received an award from the TNI Commander and the Minister of Education and Culture.

“The award charter does not state that the person concerned must be accepted into the Indonesian Army. To become an Indonesian Army soldier, there are indeed several basic requirements that must be met,” he said.

Kristomei motivated Joni not to be discouraged, there is still a wide open opportunity for him to take the test again in the future. “While preparing yourself to meet the absolute requirements as an Indonesian Army soldier,” he said.

As is known, Yohanes Gama Marchal Lau alias Joni is famous for climbing the flagpole in 2018 during the 2018 Indonesian Independence Day ceremony. Joni climbed the flagpole to fix the rope that was caught on the pole.

Joni’s action at that time attracted public attention. Joni, who was still in junior high school at that time, was even summoned by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to the Palace. President Jokowi asked what Joni wanted. The boy answered that he wanted a bicycle and a house renovation.

Joni was also asked about his ambitions. He admitted that he wanted to be a soldier and was immediately supported by Jokowi. “Want to be a soldier? Okay, then you can register directly to the Commander, you will be accepted directly, that’s it,” said Jokowi at that time.

Six years have passed, Joni has graduated from high school and registered to become a TNI soldier. Unfortunately, Joni’s dream has not come true because he did not pass the TNI entrance exam.

Joni is known to have left for Kupang City to take part in the 2024 TNI AD Bintara recruitment selection. The initial selection was in the form of validation. However, Joni was declared to have failed because his height did not meet the requirements. “Good evening, brother, I failed at the beginning of the validation. I did not pass the initial validation,” said Joni.

(cip)