Menwa

Menwa, short for Resimen Mahasiswa, is a campus-based paramilitary organization in Indonesia. It operates within many universities and higher education institutions, offering voluntary drill and training programs organized for student members. The group traces its origins to mid-20th century efforts to provide basic military training to civilian youth and to instill discipline, leadership, and a sense of civic duty. Activities typically include marching drills, physical fitness training, basic first aid, field exercises, camping, and participation in ceremonial events. Some units also organize disaster response, civil defense simulation, and aid for campus events.

Governance varies by campus. A Menwa unit is usually led by student officers, with a faculty advisor and sometimes oversight from military or civil defense authorities. Training content and equipment depend on local regulations and partnerships; at times, units collaborate with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) or regional authorities to provide supplementary instruction while remaining a civilian student organization.

In Indonesia today, Menwa constitutes one component of the broader landscape of student organizations and civil defense training. Its prominence ranges by campus; some universities maintain active Menwa units, while others have reduced or phased out operations in favor of non-paramilitary student activities. It is distinct from formal military service and not the same as the national armed forces, though its tradition reflects historical ties between youth leadership development and national defense.