SEREMBAN: The Defence Ministry (Mindef) will carry out a 14-day trial run for the National Service Training Programme (NS) 3.0 involving 200 male volunteers from Jan 12 next year.

Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said the trial run will be held at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment in Kuala Lumpur as preparation and syllabus evaluation for the programme before the actual NS 3.0 takes off next June.

"We have a small window for the trial period... it's to assess the effectiveness of the (NS) training syllabus and modules and perhaps make improvements (to the syllabus and modules) because we have a lot of experience running the NS previously.

"I feel that through this method we can expedite the process of being 100 per cent equipped or ready come June. We want to ensure the modules and training prepared are effective and improvement is made where necessary,” he said.

He told reporters this after officiating the launch of the Negri Sembilan state-level Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Veteran Entrepreneurs Empowerment Programme (Puvet) and the presentation of grants to 13 MAF veterans here Saturday (Nov 16).

Adly said the trial run is open to all Malaysian men aged between 18 and 20 and they have until Nov 23 to apply via the Mindef website at mod.gov.my.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin was previously quoted as saying that the NS 3.0 would be implemented in stages from either June or July 2025 under a new concept and format.

He added that it would be divided into the Pre-NS Phase involving Form Four students, which will be implemented during school co-curricular activities, and the Basic NS Phase for those aged 17 and above.