M16 training thrills National Service trainees in Pahang

New Straits Times

2 days ago

KUANTAN: A total of 123 trainees from the second series of the National Service (NS) Training Programme 3.0 fired M16 rifles for the first time at the Naval Region 1 firing range in Tanjung Gelang today.
The trainees, from the Regiment 505 Territorial Army camp in Pekan, were taught to shoot from four positions — prone, sitting, kneeling and standing — during the live-fire range session.
Desmond Oliver Jilah Sumpongol, 18, from Papar, Sabah, admitted to feeling nervous at first, having never held a firearm before.
"But once the instructors explained the functions and safety procedures, the nerves disappeared and I got really excited.
"I'm actually glad to be selected, even though I was surprised at first, as I had never been to the peninsula," he said.
Desmond said the programme allowed him to make friends with trainees from various ethnic backgrounds, including Malays, Chinese and Indians.
Aiman Khawarizmi Kamaruddin, 20, from Kota Baru, Kelantan, said he was grateful for the chance to use the M16 at distances of 25m and 100m.
"It's a valuable experience, especially since I voluntarily joined the NS training programme while waiting to enter university after completing my STPM.
"After three weeks in camp, I feel mentally and physically stronger.
"This training is useful should the country ever face a crisis," he said.
National Service Training Department training operations director Colonel Mazlizan Shaikh Osman said a total of 257 NS trainees were involved in the two-day shooting drill.
"Today involves 123 trainees divided into Alpha and Bravo groups, while tomorrow will see 134 more from Charlie and Delta," he said.
Mazlizan said shooting exercises were introduced after previous studies showed that many trainees wanted more field-based and military-style training.
"Elsewhere, they wouldn't get this opportunity unless they joined the armed forces or the police.
"They received theoretical instruction in the first three weeks, covering firearm introduction and safety procedures," he said.
Mazlizan said the current NS 3.0 training consists of two core modules — nationhood (30 per cent), which focuses on patriotism, unity and national identity; and military training (70 per cent), which includes basic military skills, physical training, and sports such as football, futsal and volleyball.