The ceremony, held on Wednesday, was attended by US ambassador to Malaysia Brian D McFeeters and Malaysian Armed Forces’ defence operation and training assistant chief of staff Hashim Aman Shah.
Both students – Nicholas Ong and Mohamed Khairel Adha Mohd Khairee – were chosen after a rigorous selection process that evaluated their leadership potential, physical fitness and academic achievements, the embassy said in a statement.
Ong has been appointed to join the US Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland.
Ong attended SMK Puchong Utama (1) before joining the Royal Military College (RMC) in 2019. At USNA, he will study cyber operations, and he is committed to becoming a navy officer with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Khairel will attend the US Air Force Academy (Usafa) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A Taiping native, Khairel attended SMK King Edward VII prior to joining the National Defence University (UPNM) for his foundation studies.
He will study aeronautical engineering at Usafa and hopes to become a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter pilot upon completion of his studies.
In his remarks, ambassador McFeeters congratulated the cadets and expressed his appreciation to the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Royal Military College, and the National Defence University for their unwavering support in ensuring the continued academic collaboration between the US and Malaysia, strengthening people-to-people ties, and forging close partnerships between the two countries.
“Malaysians who study at the US service academies also serve as ambassadors of Malaysia to the US 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 added.
Chief of office of defence cooperation at the embassy, Lemar Farhad, said the US service academy programme with Malaysia served as one of our most significant initiatives in the US military engagement with the Malaysian Armed Forces.
“Graduates of these programmes consistently move on to hold prominent positions within the Malaysian Armed Forces.
“We look forward to further deepening our ties in human capital development through increased training and education programmes in the years to come.”
Hashim said the Malaysian Armed Forces viewed 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.”
To date, 34 Malaysians have graduated from four US service academies, with the first cadet attending the US Naval Academy Class of 1971.
Thirteen completed their programme at USNA, four at Usafa, 12 at West Point and five at the US Coast Guard Academy.