Latest news with #Regiment505TerritorialArmy
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
National Service trainees cherish rare Aidiladha celebration at camp
PEKAN: Participants of the National Service (NS) Training Programme 3.0 experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha at Regiment 505 Territorial Army camp here today. The 167 male trainees were unable to return home for the joyous occasion as they are currently undergoing a 45-day military and national service training programme, which runs until June 24. Dressed in traditional baju Melayu, the trainees performed the solat sunat Aidiladha at the camp's surau before enjoying festive treats such as ketupat, lemang, nasi impit, and rendang. The celebration was made even more memorable with a group performance by the trainees, joined by their non-Muslim friends. Trainee Hairil Aswad Jamaludin, 19, said celebrating Aidiladha at the army camp was a unique experience, quite different from being at home with his family. "After spending almost a month at the camp, I have made new friends from different races. "I would describe today's Aidiladha celebration with these new friends as a meaningful and interesting experience," he said. Meanwhile, Mohd Zafran Borhan Mohd Zulnizam, 19, said he had video-called his parents yesterday to catch up and see how preparations were going back home. "This is my first time being away from my family during Aidiladha, but I truly cherish the moments shared with friends here. "Even though we are at an army camp, the celebration was lively and full of spirit. "I believe this is a small sacrifice for all of us selected for the second series of the training programme," he said. National Service Training Commander of Regiment 505, Major Norizwan Shah Kastory, said the trainees celebrated the occasion joyfully alongside their coaches as their training nears its conclusion.
New Straits Times
04-06-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
M16 training thrills National Service trainees in Pahang
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.
