340 participants depart for training under National Service Program

The first batch of youths under the National Service Program has departed for their training on Wednesday.

Applications for the National Service Program were accepted from April 20th to June 1st, during which 1,244 youths applied. Defense Ministry noted that all applicants who meet the fitness criteria will be given the opportunity to undergo training under the program.

According to the Ministry, 340 youths selected for the first batch of the program traveled to Lh. Maafilaafushi on Wednesday to begin their training. They will undergo a three-month training program on the island.

The process to select the first batch under the program was held in July, at Male’ City, HA. Dhidhdhoo, Kulhudhuffushi City, Sh. Funadhoo, N. Manadhoo, R. Ungoofaaru, ADh. Mahibadhoo, F. Nilandhoo, Th. Veymandoo, L. Gan and Addu City.

Defense Ministry has described the National Service Program as an initiative introduced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to nurture a generation of youth who are disciplined, strong, and well-trained.

It is designed to revive national spirit and patriotism among youth, nurture a people with a deep appreciation for Islam, build a community that would readily face national service in times of danger or crisis, facilitate recruitment and training of youth needed to increase the strength of the security forces, and instil the values of camaraderie, cooperation, discipline and ethics, mutual respect and forbearance in words and actions among Maldivian youth.