Established in 1995 as the Malaysian Armed Forces Academy (Malay: Akademi Tentera Malaysia) before upgraded into university status and assumed its present name in 2006, the university is Malaysia's first catering to the needs and development of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

UPNM was originally Akademi Tentera Malaysia (ATMA), or the Malaysian Armed Forces Academy, which was established on 8 March 1995[1][2] and began operations on 1 June.

[6][7] The establishment of the university was announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the Budget 2007 reading in the Malaysian Parliament.

On 1 June 2017, the university was embroiled in a controversy following the murder case of 20-year-old military cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain who succumbed from grave injuries by bullying of several other dormmates.

The current Vice-Chancellor is Lt Jen Datuk Mardzuki Bin Muhammad who appointed to the post in 2023.

As with all soldiers in the Armed Forces, cadets also must pass a physical fitness test (UKA) twice per year.

Additionally, cadets are housed in barracks style floor-by-floor management at accommodation blocks and have leadership positions and responsibilities throughout the academic year.

Every mid-semester, the young men and women train at the campus camp; campus fields for physical trainings, 1RAMD obstacle course and shooting range for obstacle course exercise and shooting practice, and RMC's parade ground for drills.

These include formal instruction in the values of the military profession, religious programs, and interaction with staff and faculty role models.

The foundation of the ethical code at the university is found in the institution's motto, "Duty, Honor, Integrity."

Each of these new officers receives their new shoulder boards in the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the commander in chief of the MAF.