MELAKA: The Defence Ministry's RM9.9mil allocation for its Work-Based Learning (WBL) programme this year is part of its commitment to enhancing the academic qualifications of military personnel and improving their job prospects after retiring from the service.
The increased allocation, up from RM3mil last year, will benefit 1,520 personnel, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said more military personnel would now be able to further their studies and obtain academic recognition based on the experience and skills gained throughout their service.
"This programme is an intervention by the ministry to ensure military personnel have better marketability after completing their service, while helping them secure employment and a stable income.
"Most military personnel enter the service with only SPM qualifications, but throughout nearly 20 years of service, they accumulate extensive experience, skills and competencies," he said after launching the ministry’s WBL Programme at Terendak Army Camp in Sungai Udang here on Friday (May 15).
Also present were Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain, Armed Forces headquarters' Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Datuk Seri Muhammad Huzaimi Sabri and Melaka housing, local government, climate change and disaster management committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin.
Khaled said that without formal certification, it would be difficult for industries to recognise the experience and skills possessed by military personnel, affecting their employment opportunities after retirement.
"If no intervention is carried out, they will leave the service with the same qualification and this will make it more difficult for them to secure employment in an increasingly competitive job market," he said.
He added that through collaborations with higher learning institutions, the experience and skills of military personnel would be assessed and recognised to enable them to earn diplomas or formal certificates through a work-based learning approach.
Khaled said the programme was also crucial as most military personnel retire at around the age of 41 while still having family commitments.
"With better academic qualifications, they would be able to secure employment after retirement while reducing the risk of financial hardship if they rely solely on pensions and welfare assistance," he said.
He added that 461 military personnel had benefitted from the WBL programme so far, involving 231 personnel from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and 230 from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), with all participants expected to complete their studies by December.
He said the programme had been expanded this year to involve 12 higher learning institutions offering nearly 50 academic programmes, including business administration, culinary arts, defence technology and logistics management.
Earlier, Khaled witnessed the exchange of memorandums of agreement between the Armed Forces and UiTM, UPNM and City University Malaysia to strengthen strategic cooperation in implementing the programme.
He also presented certificates of completion to 36 Cohort 1/2025 participants and offer letters to 24 new Cohort 2/2026 participants, who will commence their studies in June.
Navy Warrant officer Mohd Suhaily Ahmad, who received his scroll from Khaled on Friday, said his most challenging experience was completing all his academic assignments while in a submarine.
"As part of the submarine crew, I was asked to complete my assignments inside the vessel, and that was a memorable experience for me," he said.
The 38-year-old received his Diploma in Defence Service Technology from UPNM.
Suhaily, who is based at the Navy's Submarine Training Centre (STC) in Sepanggar, Sabah, said he was elated to complete his higher education.
"I have served for 19 years and this diploma will surely be helpful for me to pursue careers in other fields after retirement.
"I would like to express my graritude to the Defence Minister and the Navy for giving me this opportunity," he added.
Another graduate from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Warrant Officer Mohd Ghadaffi Kamaruddin, said the WBL programme was beneficial to military personnel like him to obtain higher education qualifications.
He said he pursued sports studies at UiTM)as he is currently a coach in RMAF.
"The study corresponds with my career in the Air Force and getting a scroll in this event is very meaningful to me," said the 41-year-old who is now attached to RMAF's Sendayan Air Force Base in Negri Sembilan.
Ghaddafi said he hopes the WBL programme will continue to enable more military personnel to obtain their higher education scrolls.
"I would like to thank to all those who gave me this opportunity, especially RMAF and the Armed Forces," he added.
