KUALA LUMPUR: Two young Malaysian cadets have been accepted to two reputed service academies in the United States as part of their Class of 2025.
Nicholas Ong Yong Xen will be heading to the US Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland while Mohamed Khairel Adha Mohd Khairee will attend the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Both cadets are the first in their respective families to serve in the military.
Ong, who hails from Puchong, Selangor, graduated as a Royal Military College (RMC) valedictorian and has received several accolades such as the college's "Director of Studies Award", the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and Gold award in English speech competition.
He aspires to study cyber operations at USNA and later serve as a seaman for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Khairel Adha hails from Taiping, Perak and attended the King Edward VII Secondary School and completed his Foundations in Management at the National Defense University Malaysia with total CGPA of 4.00.
He wants to study Aeronautical Engineering at USAFA and aspires to be a fighter pilot upon commissioning in the Royal Malaysia Air Force.
Earlier today, the US Embassy in Malaysia hosted a virtual send-off ceremony for both cadets that was attended by US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian D. Mcfeeters and Lt Gen Datuk Hashim Aman Shah, Assistant Chief of Staff, Defence Operation and Training of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Congratulating the cadets, McFeeters expressed his appreciation to the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Military College, and the National Defence University for their unwavering support in ensuring the continued academic collaboration between the United States and Malaysia, strengthening people-to-people ties and forging close partnerships between both countries.
"Malaysians who study at the US service academies serve as ambassadors of Malaysia to the United States and make lifelong connections with US service members and citizens.
"These bonds continue to strengthen our relationships. Cadets Nicholas and Khairel are joining the ranks of these impressive Malaysians today," he said.
Meanwhile, Hashim commended the US as a "credible partner" in defence cooperation, particularly in enhancing human capital development through professional military education and the US service academy programme.
"The US-Malaysia comprehensive partnership will continue to be a mutually beneficial collaboration to further enhance the defence bilateral relationship between the two countries," he said.
To date, 34 Malaysians have graduated from four US service academies, with the first cadet having attended the US Naval Academy Class of 1971.
Thirteen completed their programme at USNA, four from the USAFA, twelve from West Point, and five graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy.