A total of 137 young Maldivians have officially joined the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) after successfully completing the military’s 72nd Basic Training Course, marking another milestone for the government’s National Service programme.
The graduates are among participants from the first batch of the Maldivian National Service initiative who chose to pursue a career in the armed forces after completing their initial training.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced the achievement in a message shared on X, congratulating the graduates and praising their commitment to serving the nation.
According to the President, the latest group of graduates consists of 137 youths representing 70 islands across all 20 atolls of the Maldives.
އަމިއްލަ ނަފްސަށް އިތުބާރުކުރާ، ޢަޤީދާ ވަރުގަދަ، ރޫޙާނީ އަދި ޖިސްމާނީ ގޮތުން ދުޅަހެޔޮ، ދިވެހި ޤައުމިއްޔަތަށް ލޯބިކުރާ، ޒިންމާދާރު ޒުވާން ޖީލެއް ބިނާކުރުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން ފަށާފައިވާ ދިވެހި ވަޠަނީ ޚިދުމަތުގެ އިނީޝަލް ތަމްރީނު ގެ އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ ބެޗު ނިންމާ، އެކިއެކި ދާއިރާތަކުން… pic.twitter.com/DySzqre049
— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) June 13, 2026
“I congratulate all participants who achieved various distinctions during the course and extend my highest appreciation to the young people who stepped forward to serve the nation through military service,” the President said.
The National Service programme was introduced under President Muizzu’s administration as part of a broader effort to empower young people and prepare them for future careers through structured training, discipline and skills development.
Government officials have described the programme as an initiative aimed at nurturing a generation that is self-reliant, physically fit, spiritually grounded and committed to national values.
Participants who complete National Service are provided with pathways to employment in both the public and private sectors. Those interested in pursuing military careers are also given the opportunity to continue their training through the MNDF.
The first intake of the National Service programme began in October last year and attracted 350 participants from across the country. A second batch of 350 youths commenced training earlier this year, while another group recently departed for B. Kihadhoo to take part in the programme’s specialized technical training component.
The programme is open to Maldivians between the ages of 16 and 28. Applicants below the age of 18 may participate with parental consent and subject to meeting health requirements.
As an incentive, participants receive a monthly allowance of MVR 6,000 throughout the training period.
The government has identified National Service as one of its key youth development initiatives and has repeatedly emphasized its role in building a productive and skilled generation capable of contributing to national development.
Authorities have set a target of enabling an additional 1,000 young people to complete National Service-related training programmes before the end of this year.
With the latest graduates now entering military service, the programme continues to expand its footprint across the country, providing young Maldivians with opportunities for training, employment and national service while strengthening the country’s human resource capacity.
