Nay Pyi Taw, April (26)
The military council has started opening basic and advanced courses in maritime and aviation for young students in regions and states during the summer break this year, as reported in a propaganda publication.
On April 24, the basic and advanced maritime courses for 700 male and female youths were opened at 11 training camps in Shan, Rakhine, and Mon States, including Yangon, Mandalay, Ayeyarwaddy, and Tanintharyi Regions.
Similarly, 680 male and female trainees are receiving the basic and advanced levels of the basic aviation course at 17 training facilities located in the states of Kachin, Shan, and Mon, as well as Mandalay, Magway, Sagaing, Yangon, Bago, Tanintharyi, and Mandalay Regions.
According to the military council, the courses are opened with the purpose of providing knowledge and understanding of the science of flight, providing support for national defense, the future army, and nation building, and generating human resources.
CDM Sergeant Zeya opined that when the military is having a hard time recruiting new members, it lures young students with free accommodation, food, and tours. He went on to say that the majority of those attending the basic aviation courses for young people are military family members and their relatives rather than civilians.
In addition, in some areas where there have been a lot of junta casualties, members of the Air Force and Navy are being deployed for security, while assigning highly trained Air Force and Navy troops to the security line.
U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, said, “Since the coup, the number of students enrolled in the junta army’s academic courses has decreased, so the opening of such courses is a campaign to get young people interested in the defense sector. Enrollments in military courses, the Defense Service Academy and the Defense Services Technological Academy have recently declined”.
The military council has announced that the basic and advanced maritime courses for young people will be conducted until May 19, and the senior and junior level training for the basic aviation course until May 23.
From 2014, while President U Thein Sein was in office, through 2019, the course was offered for four to six weeks every year, and it was closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened this year.
News – Than Lwin Times
Photo: Aung Kyi Thein
Thanlwintimes