[citation needed] The BDA was founded on 26 August 1942 with three thousand Burma Independence Army BIA veterans.

On 9 September 1944, at the age of 19, Kyaw Htin attended the 4th intake of the Officers Training School in Mingalardon, Rangoon.

During the fascist revolution against Japan in 1945 the BNA officially joined the Allies as the Patriotic Burma Force (PBF) and Kyaw Htin served as platoon commander for 104th Infantry Battalion.

[citation needed] Kyaw Htin was transferred to South Eastern Regional Military Command Headquarters as Colonel General Staff (GSO1) on 7 December 1963.

On 19 September 1964, Kyaw Htin was posted to Military Operations Headquarters within the Ministry of Defense as Colonel General Staff (GSO1).

On 6 March 1977, Kyaw Htin was promoted to general and subsequently given the post of Minister for Defence while still serving as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw.

On 9 November 1982, Kyaw Htin became Deputy Prime Minister of Burma and simultaneously serving as Commander in Chief of Tatmadaw.

Kyaw Htin joined Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) in 1969 as chairman of Yangon Division Management Committee.

Thant Kyaw, his eldest son, is the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs[2] under Wunna Maung Lwin during Thein Sein's administration and retired in March 2016.