National Defence University of Malaysia - Curriculum - Programme - Military Programme

Military Programme

Besides pursuing an academic programme, students undergo military training. Military training is organised by the ALK. When a new cadet arrives, they undergo a six-weeks induction training (LFI), also called Latihan Tunas Wira. The day a new cadet reports to the institution is called Tunas Wira Day, which is adopted from the R-Day from the West Point Military academy. On the first day, upon registration at Tun Templer Hall, their hair is cut by university barbers, and they collect military uniforms and items from the Quartermaster.

New cadets are shown to their rooms and change to military uniforms for camp orientation and drill training. Their status as an officer cadet will not be confirmed until they finish the induction training period, and meanwhile are called 'Bakal Pegawai Kadet' (soon-to-be cadet) throughout this period. During the period, new cadets are taught military basics such as parade drills, physical training and firearms handling. They are also taught teamwork, perseverance and endurance. Seniors cadets teach them mess etiquette.

New cadets who pass this training are confirmed as an officer cadet and a ceremony is held at the main field. There is a performance, usually a platoon battle drill, in front of the VIPs, officers, senior cadets and parents who are invited to the event. The Vice Chancellor awards each newly appointed officer cadet the UPNM beret.

The cadets undergo further training as they rise through the ranks at the university. For the army and air force cadets, they learn basic jungle training at Camp Kongkoi, the university's training camp situated in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan. They learn survival, compass marching and river-crossing training. They are taught the use of firearms such as Minimi and GPMG.

Military training is usually conducted between May to July and November to December, on end of semesters at the break of academic programmes. But cadets still perform training throughout the academic period including daily duties, morning parades, daily sport parades, Wednesday cross country and occasional night events. Unarmed combat training is held on Friday evenings and general military training occupies the whole of Saturday.

The Naval cadets will annually be attached to KD Sultan Idris I, a naval-officers training establishment in Lumut Base located in Perak to undergo their naval training. They will learn naval routines and culture, seamanship, on-job training and naval warfare lessons at the base. For Seaman cadets, they will be attached to Royal Malaysian Navy's warships for six month for their practical training.

For final year cadets, they will undergo more challenging and advanced training. The Zulu, which they are recognized, will undergo a seven-month long Final Year Military Training (LKTA). They undergo Self-confidence training which includes activities such as confidence training at Commando camp, 10 meter dive, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) training and mountain-hiking of Gunung Ledang. They continue with Counter-Insurgency Warfare (CIW) and Conventional Warfare (CW) field exercises which are held as real field exercise, usually in the area of Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. A cadet must complete this training in order to be commissioned as officers in the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Civilian students register under the Reserve Officer Training Unit (ROTU), and will serve the military as reserves. Their participation in the ROTU is compulsory. The ALK is responsible for their training programme. Civilian students who graduate to Bachelor's degree level are commissioned as a military officer with the ranks of Second Lieutenant in the reserve after completing military training.