U.S. Embassy Celebrates Malaysian Cadets’ Admission to the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy

U.S. Embassy Celebrates

Malaysian Cadets’ Admission to the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy

8 MINUTE READ

June 8, 2023

The U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur hosted a send-off ceremony on June 8 to recognize the cadets and celebrate their admission to U.S. service academies. U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Brian D. McFeeters congratulated the cadets and said, “These cadets represent our shared future, prosperity, and security. I am confident Ummi and Faidh will continue to forge the path ahead for other young leaders.” Lieutenant Colonel Lemar Farhad, Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation, also congratulated both cadets. He added, “Ties between our service academies go back more than 40 years. They are a vital link between our two nations and bolster people-to-people ties while promoting future interoperability.” Major General Dato’ Haji Saadon bin Hasnan, Commandant of the Military Training Academy (ALK), also participated in the event.

The mission of the U.S. service academies is to provide instruction and experience to all cadets so that they graduate with the knowledge and character essential to leadership and the motivation to become career military officers. It takes a well-rounded program of leadership, academic, and athletic preparation to be one of the few who can meet the Service Academies’ high admission standards and the fierce competition for appointment. Cadets Ummi Annur Syahmina and Muhammad Faidh Izzuddin were chosen after a rigorous selection process that evaluated their leadership potential, physical fitness, and academic achievements.

This year, 89 countries were invited to nominate candidates with the goal of accepting 15 candidates in each of the service academies. Since 1971, 39 Malaysians have graduated from the U.S. service Academies. Ambassador McFeeters expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Army, the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Royal Malaysian Air Force, and other Malaysian military agencies for their support and partnership in strengthening ties between service or military academies in the United States and Malaysia.

Ms. Ummi Annur Syahmina binti Sohaini of Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan has been admitted to the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado. Cadet Ummi is the third Malaysian woman to be admitted to a U.S. service academy after Sub Lieutenant Janushaa Bala Krishnan Muthiah, a 2022 alumna of the United States Naval Academy, and Cadet Grace Sian Ern Hui, who recently graduated from the United States Air Force Academy.

Mr. Muhammad Faidh Izzuddin bin Mat Sahari of Kuala Lumpur has been admitted to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

During the ceremony, Ambassador McFeeters also congratulated two cadets who recently graduated from U.S. service academies. Cadet Grace Sian and Midshipman Muhammad Aniq Hilman bin Haslimi graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy, respectively.

More photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAGZki

By U.S. Embassy Malaysia

Cadet Ummi Annur Syahmina Binti Sohaini

The first in her family to serve in the military, Cadet Ummi is highly motivated and aspires to become a fighter pilot in the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Hailing from Port Dickson, a small army town south of Kuala Lumpur, Ummi’s experiences as a woman cadet have inspired her to define a “leader” as someone who is determined, hardworking, and has mutual respect for individual differences.

At the age of 13, she enrolled in the Rembau Science Secondary School and graduated with honors in the Malaysian Certificate of Examination.

Ummi completed her foundation program in Engineering Technology, and she is currently in her first year studying Operation Research and Data Science at the National Defense University Malaysia with an overall CGPA of 3.7.

Ummi is fluent in German and passed a German international language test in 2021. She is passionate about sports, and she was the captain of the Rugby Torch Squad and cricket team. She hopes to continue playing at the United States Air Force Academy.

She is proud that women are slowly making history in the Malaysian Armed Forces. Ummi would like to contribute to the advancement of women’s peace and security once she is commissioned.

Cadet Muhammad Faidh Izzuddin Bin Mat Sahari

Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Cadet Faidh grew up listening to his father’s stories about the military and his experience attending an in-residence program at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. As a child, leadership and perspectives of the U.S. Armed Forces impressed him, and he chose to pursue his studies at West Point.

Faidh is a student leader, sportsman, and innovator. He speaks French and has passed the French DELF exam with overall CGPA of 3.2. After graduating from high school, he received the Gold Award from Rawang Integrated Fully Residential School for scoring straight As in his Malaysian Certificate of Education Examination.

Faidh plays football, hockey, track and field, and chess. He enjoys experimenting with new things to broaden his horizons. His interest in innovation led him to win several awards in innovation competitions, including a customized 4×4 automobile and a surface cleaner made from banana peels.

Faidh completed his Foundations in Medical at the National Defense University of Malaysia with an overall CGPA of 3.19.