From service to second career: WBL programme helps military veterans build future prospects

MASJID TANAH, May 15 — The Defence Ministry is expanding its Work-Based Learning (WBL) programme to help military personnel secure better-paying and more stable jobs after retirement.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said many Armed Forces personnel enter service with only the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) qualification and, without intervention, retire with the same academic credentials despite accumulating decades of skills and experience during their service.

“Most military personnel join the Armed Forces with only an SPM qualification.

“If without intervention, they leave service with the same qualification, making it difficult for them to secure better-paying jobs, especially in today’s competitive job market,” Khaled said after officiating the second phase of the WBL programme here today.

He said some veterans may have secured jobs but often end up with low wages, causing many to rely solely on their pensions while supporting growing families.

“Many leave or retire from service at the age of 41.

“If this issue is not addressed early, it will lead to various socio-economic problems among veterans, including exposure to poverty,” he added.

He stressed that military personnel typically spend around 20 years in service, during which they accumulate valuable skills, experience and technical expertise.

However, he said these competencies are often not formally recognised by employers because they lack accredited certification.

“To address this, the Defence Ministry has collaborated with higher education institutions through WBL programmes, where experience and skills gained during service are assessed and given due academic recognition,” he said.

Under the programme, universities evaluate a participant’s years of service, experience and competencies before awarding academic qualifications.

Khaled said the programme is fully funded by the government and participation is voluntary.

He said the pilot phase initially received RM3 million in funding, but the allocation has now been increased to RM10 million this year, enabling about 1,520 military personnel annually to participate.

Around 5,000 Armed Forces personnel retire each year, with most retiring at the age of 41, while senior-ranking officers typically retire at 55.

“If we fail to resolve this issue at this stage, it will become a larger problem once they become veterans,” he said.

During the launch event today, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) exchange ceremony was also held between the Armed Forces and the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and City University Malaysia as a symbol of strengthened strategic cooperation in implementing the WBL programme.

The Defence Minister also presented course completion certificates to 36 recipients from the WBL Cohort 1/2025, who began their studies in June 2025.

Khaled also handed over offer letters to 24 new participants under the WBL Cohort 2/2026, who are scheduled to begin their studies in June this year.

To date, a total of 461 Armed Forces personnel have benefited from the WBL programme, comprising 231 under UiTM and 230 under UPNM.

All servicemen are expected to graduate between November and December this year.

Among the programme participants is S/Sgt Siti Nur Aini Jasni from the Army Red Warrior Acrobatics Team, who is pursuing a Diploma in Business Administration at UPNM.

The chief instructor, who has served for nearly 22 years, said the programme has helped boost her confidence and leadership skills while allowing her to study without disrupting her duties.

“I’m very proud to be a student at the age of 40. I hope I can set an example for my children and those under my supervision in the unit,” she said.

Another participant, WO II R Inthumathi, who today received her offer letter to pursue a Diploma in Human Resource Management at City University Malaysia, said she hopes to further her studies to obtain a degree after completing her diploma.

She said she was unable to continue her education earlier due to work commitments and not being able to allocate suitable time to pursue further studies.

“The WBL programme is a second chance to pursue higher education while remaining in service,” she said, adding that she is very happy to be given the opportunity to obtain a higher education qualification.

WO II Mohd Ghadaffi Kamarudin, who is pursuing a Diploma in Sports Studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA, described the programme as highly beneficial for career development.

He said the programme combines academic learning with practical workplace experience, helping participants improve communication, leadership, management and professional skills.

“This programme not only opens up opportunities for economic improvement but also strengthens the competencies and self-development of military personnel,” he said.

Participants in the WBL programme said they have greatly benefited from it as the syllabus of their courses is specially tailored to suit their expertise in the Armed Forces.

“It’s very specific to what we do when carrying out our duties, there is no worry that the syllabus does not match what we do on a daily basis.

“That’s why this programme is very useful for servicemen who want to obtain official academic recognition and advance their existing skills and knowledge,” Ghadaffi said.

Grateful for the Defence Ministry’s initiative, he said previously the mindset was that work was a priority over education, so he did not have a chance to think about further studies.

As for WO II Mohd Suhaily Azlan Ahmad, who is enrolled in a Diploma in Defence Technology Services at UPNM, said balancing assignments while serving aboard a submarine was among the biggest challenges he faced.

Still, he encouraged more Armed Forces personnel to take part in the WBL initiative, describing it as a valuable opportunity to improve educational and professional qualifications while in service.

“I hope to be able to encourage all those who have yet to obtain a higher education qualification to enrol themselves.

“I didn’t have this opportunity to further my studies back then as work was seen as a higher priority.

“I’m glad that, at this age (38), I still have the opportunity to choose further education,” Suhaily said.