DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY CURRICULA AT NATIONAL
DEFENCE UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA (NDUM)
INTRODUCTION
1.
NDUM was established on 10 November 2006, upgraded from the
Armed Forces Academy (AFA) co – located at Sungai Besi Military
Camp. The new set up University is aimed to produce prominent
intellectual leaders of character, committed towards selfless service to
the nation in furtherance of securing and maintaining the national
strategic interest. The presence of a defense university is vital for a
country like Malaysia, a nation that is on the way to be a developed
sovereignty within the next thirteen years (2020).
2.
The previous Military Academy had produced a total of 1100 graduates
in the field of Engineering, Sciences and Management. The graduates
had been commissioned into the three services namely: Royal
Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and Royal Malaysian Air
Force.
3.
NDUM still continue to trained cadets for the three military services and
at the same time open its university programs for non cadet (civilian)
students. There are ten academic programs conducted by the three
available faculties, namely Defense Engineering, Defense Science and
Defense Management. The cadets will undergo basic military training
while the non cadets will undergo reservist military training. In short,
NDUM is a military campus where leadership training for both cadets
and non cadets is of a paramount focus.
4.
With the new posture in place, the military training curricula of the
previous Academy is reviewed to fulfill the current needs at NDUM.
AIM
5.
The aim is to illustrate the outline of military training curricula at NDUM.
MILITARY TRAINING CURRICULA
6.
The military training profile through out the academic duration at
NDUM is divided into three (3) phases as follows
a. Initial Induction training phase for new students ( six weeks training)
b. Common/basic military training spread out through the academic
programs.
c. Single service training (to fulfill Army, Navy and Air Force peculiar
training needs) conducted during end of the year vacation each
year at the respective service colleges.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INDUCTION PHASES
7.
The main objective of the induction phase is to convert the new
student/civilian profiles into discipline military profiles. The curriculum
emphasize on physical training postures like, physical training, drill,
motivational / camp exercises, introduction to leadership and basic
military tradition and culture.
8.
The six weeks induction training duration covers mainly practical
activities in and out of NDUM campus.
OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMON/BASIC TRAINING PHASE
9.
The objective is to produce military commissioned officers that has
strong leadership profile character and has basic military knowledge
essential to serve in the Armed Forces upon graduation.
10.
The curriculum is spread over the academic programs where the
students need to do five hours of military training a week.
11.
The hours spend on military training during the academic program is
approximately 35% of the total education and training time at NDUM.
The detail is shown below:
Ser
a.
b.
c.
d.
Academic
Year
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Total
Theory
(Hours)
101
82
81
155
419
Practical &
Exercises
(Hours)
400
429
388
178
1395
Total
(Hours)
501
511
469
333
1814
OBJECTIVE OF SINGLE SERVICE TRAINING
12.
The main objective of this phase is to introduce all training peculiar to
each service. The training is conducted at the end of first, second and
third year, totaling three times while at NDUM. At each year, the
duration is eight (8) weeks of full time training and the total duration for
this phase of training is 24 weeks.
13.
The curriculum differs among the three services and the training is
conducted at the various service training colleges for the Army, Navy
and Air Force. This means that the cadets shall be attached to the
respective service college at the end of each academic year. The non
cadets shall undergo their reservist training at the end of their year.
YEAR
SEMESTER ONE
FOUNDATION
(Induction
training(6 weeks
before academic
commences)
ACADEMIC
FIRST
ACADEMIC
Five hours of
training a week
Five hours of
training a week
SECOND
SEMESTER TWO
basic
basic
ACADEMIC
Five hours of
training a week
THIRD
basic
ACADEMIC
Five hours of
training a week
FOURTH
basic
ACADEMIC
Five hours of
training a week
basic
End
of
Year
Vacation
B
ACADEMIC
R
ACADEMIC
E
ACADEMIC
A
ACADEMIC
Five hours of basic
training a week
Single
service
training – 8
weeks
Single
service
training – 8
weeks
Single
service
training – 8
weeks
K
ACADEMIC
Graduation
Five hours of basic
training a week
Five hours of basic
training a week
Five hours of basic
training a week
Five hours of basic
training a week
Fig 1 – OVERALL SCHEMATIC LAYOUT
MILITARY TRAINING CURRICULUM AT NDUM
14.
The summarize curriculum and syllabus for the basic training during
the academic programs is shown below:
MODULE ONE
PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL
RESILIENT
TRAINING
Endurance
Tactical
Run
Log
physical
Training
Roping
Course
Confidence
and
assault
Course
Endurance
Swimming
Long
Forced
March
Abseiling
and
Repelling
Wall
Climbing
Cross
Country
Unarmed
Combat
Sparring
Survival
Training
Physical
and Fitness
test/
assessment
MODULE TWO
WEAPON
TRAINING
Steyr 5.56mm
Assault Rifle
M16
MODULE
THREE
REGIMENTAL,
ADMINISTRATION
AND HUMAN
RESOURCE
Support
Weapon Machine Gun,
Mortar,
Introduction to
Artillery and
Armour
Weapons
Firing Test,
Battle
inoculation
assessment
Military Law
Related
Administrations
Staff Duties
Pay and
allowances
Military Affairs
Term and service
regulations
MODULE
FOUR
Basic Foot Sword
Drill
Drill
DRILLS AND
CEREMONIAL DRILLS
CEREMONIAL
Drill assessment
Weapon
Drill
MODULE
FIVE
Leadership
Customs and
Tradition
Military
History –
Study of
Leaders
Method
Instruction
LEADERSHIP
TRAINING
15.
Colour
Drill
Visits
to The
cadet
Military
rank structure
Organizations – organize to
carry out their
duties
and
of Motivation
leadership
and
training
counseling
towards their
junior cadets
The curriculum and syllabus for the single service training is by the
respective services. In general, the scope of training at the various
military colleges focuses on their respective tactical modules, logistics,
respective organization etc.
APPROACH AND METHOD
16.
The evolution and threat profile from the beginning of last century had
made the size and shape of future warfare to be difficult to predict. The
erratic trend of period after the cold wars and the occurrence of
“September 11” had resulted the military training and education
activities experience a less clear destinations.
17.
The threat profiles of 21st Century can be summarized as follows:
a.
Facing irregular challenges where terrorism is the main dish
discussed amongst many Armed Forces.
b.
Facing disruptive threats from undefined traitors
c.
Facing some catastrophic dangers that may use massive
weapon system
d.
Facing of other sensitive blurry threats in a developing
countries
18.
Thus, like the university academic programs, the approach and
methods of military training will focus on the aspect of critical thinking
skills apart from the normal contemporary approaches. Thinking skills
are the best fundamental to face the ambiguity and uncertainty future.
Any military training or exercises will include this ingredient in their
training menu.
19.
Equally as important is the logic training and effective decision making
training which is also relevant to face the 21st century. Good decision
training shall be another focus in the training to face the realities as
well as the increasing complex environment of this century. The
making of right well dispersed decision by leaders is a catalyst to seek
out any uncertainties. The military training programs at NDUM take this
into account because it can be the basis provision in the analytical
skills necessary for functioning in the dynamic future environments.