COMMENT | The Territorial Army of Malaysia, commonly known as Askar Wataniah, is often described as a reserve force.

The description is administratively accurate, yet incomplete. To be part of the reserve army in its earliest stages is to understand that entry into this system is deliberate and demanding, shaped by process rather than appearance.

My involvement did not begin on a training field. It began months earlier. I submitted my application at Kem 515 in September 2025, followed by a careful sequence of police vetting, background checks, medical screening, and document verification.

The process stretched across several months. There were no shortcuts and no urgency to fill numbers. The pace itself communicated a clear message. This was not recruitment for convenience, but selection for suitability.

Many Malaysians may not realise...