4 CADETS BOUND FOR U.S. SERVICE ACADEMIES
It is the highest number of cadets accepted from Malaysia since 2017
FOUR cadets have made the nation proud after being accepted into three United States service academies for the class of 2026. This is the highest number of cadets accepted from Malaysia since 2017.
Edlan Mikyad Ahmad Syamly will head to the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point in New York. Zarif Mohd Zamrin will attend the distinguished US Air Force Academy in Colorado. Both cadets, aged 20, graduated from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).
Muhamad Danish Imran Zainuddin and Qarin Lokman Safriza will pursue their training at the renowned US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Both cadets, who turned 18 this year, are former Royal Military College students.
All four cadets are the first in their families to serve in the military. They will report for training at their respective academies this month.
Chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy here, Michael Newbill, said 36 Malaysians graduated from US service academies since 1971 — one of the highest international attendances for American military academies in the world.
For the class of 2026, Newbill said 69 countries were invited to nominate candidates, and the goal was to enrol 15 international candidates in each of the service academies.
However, only less than 20 per cent of international applicants entered the service academies.
“The selection process is very rigorous and competitive. Candidates are evaluated on their academic performance, physical aptitude, character and leadership potential.
“So these four young men have earned their position based on merit. From the day they started studying, every year, they made the cut again and again, and have reached the pinnacle of their academic performance.
“Five Malaysian cadets are currently undergoing training at US service academies, including one in the military academy, and two each in the naval and air force academies.
“Two Malaysian cadets — Putra Nadeem Damanhuri Ahmad Damanhuri and Janushaa Bala Krishnan Muthiah — graduated from our service academies recently. Janushaa is the first Malaysian woman to graduate from a US service academy,” he said at a sending-off ceremony hosted by the US Embassy.
The ceremony, held at the US ambassador ’s official residence here yesterday, was attended by Major-General Datuk Zaidan Atan, the Assistant Chief of Staff, Defence Operation and Training of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Newbill said the US service academies allocated 60 slots for international cadets for the class of 2026.
“Malaysia secured three placements at most in the previous years. However, this year, the country managed to get two placements in the US naval academy.”