KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama)— Eight unsuccessful attempts in military recruitment did not deter identical triplets from pursuing their dream of becoming soldiers, which they finally realised on their ninth attempt.
Muhammad Nuriman Mohd Irwan and his twin brothers, Muhammad Nuramin and Muhammad Nurnaim, 21, first tried to join the armed forces in 2023 after completing secondary school, but their height proved to be an obstacle.
Muhammad Nuramin said seven of the eight unsuccessful attempts were for recruitment into the Malaysian Army (TDM), while the other was for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
Standing at 158 centimetres (cm), the brothers were finally selected after the minimum height requirement for this year’s army recruitment was revised from 162 cm to 157 cm.
Their interest in a military career began in primary school, when they would often see photographs of their grandfather, Ismail Ujang, 80, who served in the RMN for 25 years, from 1964 to 1989, retiring with the rank of Warrant Officer I.
The interest grew stronger as they listened to their grandfather recount his experiences facing enemy threats, including encounters with pirates in the waters off Lahad Datu, Sabah, while serving in Labuan.
“Our interest stemmed from the stories our grandfather shared with us. When we saw his old photographs in his white uniform, that was when we became interested in becoming soldiers,” Muhammad Nuramin said.
“He also often told us about his experiences in the navy, including encounters with pirates.”
Originally from Seremban and now residing in Putrajaya, the three brothers are the third, fourth and fifth children in a family of five siblings. They decided to pursue technical skills training at the Kuala Lumpur Industrial Training Institute while continuing their efforts to join the armed forces.
After obtaining their Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 3, they joined the Territorial Army and participated in the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 last year to strengthen their discipline, physical and mental endurance, and gain early military experience.
They succeeded in the selection process early this year and underwent six months of basic military training at the Army Basic Training Centre (PUSASDA) in Port Dickson. They were among 1,485 young soldiers who completed the training on Oct 17.
Commenting on the toughest challenges during training, Muhammad Nurnaim said the Final Field Exercise, which involved conventional warfare tactics, mental endurance under extreme pressure and the application of combat skills in teams, demanded strong teamwork and tested the mental resilience of every recruit.
Humorous moments often arose when fellow recruits and instructors struggled to tell the brothers apart because of their identical features.
Their mother, Yusnizah Mohd Yusof, 52, said she and her husband, Mohd Irwan Ismail, 53, had always supported their sons’ ambitions, taking all three to various physical selection venues in Seremban, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang despite their repeated failures.
“We spent a lot of time supporting them, taking them to the various camps where selection exercises were held so they could pursue their dreams,” said Yusnizah, who works as an administrative assistant at a ministry.
The three brothers now face a new challenge as they must be separated for the first time to serve in the Malaysian Army. Muhammad Nuriman has been posted to Ipoh, Perak; Muhammad Nuramin to Kuching, Sarawak; and Muhammad Nurnaim to Johor Bahru, Johor.
“There is some sadness, of course, but being apart will not stop the three of us from moving forward,” said Muhammad Nurnaim.
In a written response, the Malaysian Army said the revised physical requirements for young soldier recruitment prioritised combat fitness and mental resilience without compromising established physical fitness testing standards.
“The perseverance shown by the three brothers, who refused to give up despite failing eight times, also reflects the mental resilience required of a soldier. This is in line with the rigorous selection process and basic training at PUSASDA to produce high-quality military personnel,” the statement said.
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