MiLAT Program Needs Less Emotion, More Action for Survival

The MiLAT program, which has been a crucial initiative for over 15 years, is facing significant operational and strategic challenges, according to a critical assessment. While the program has been lauded for providing a safe space for young men to gain education and life skills, its current difficulties stem from a key organizational shift.

A major factor contributing to the program's current struggles is the decision made during a previous administration to move MiLAT from the Defence Force, then under the Ministry of National Security, to the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service. This transfer appears to have coincided with increased financial pressures on the program.

One area of concern is food production, a substantial expense for MiLAT. Questions have been raised for years about why the program does not grow its own food. Although a greenhouse structure was initiated in 2024 for vegetable cultivation, it remains non-operational due to funding shortfalls. The article points out the availability of land and suggests potential partnerships with the Ministry of Agriculture or Namdevco for crop cultivation and even livestock farming, such as tilapia, chickens, ducks, and goats.

Further compounding these issues is a perceived lack of engagement with external support. In June 2025, multiple emails offering free assistance, including soft skills training and career/job fairs to prepare cadets for life after the program, went unanswered. An offer from a US-based businessman willing to provide financial assistance also reportedly received no response.

The author firmly believes MiLAT is a valuable program but warns that its continued dependence on government funding without a clear path toward self-sustainability could lead to its permanent closure, which would be a significant loss. The article emphasizes that for the program to succeed, a focus on food production and hiring staff experienced in working with at-risk youth are essential.