after successful completion of police officer training, he worked as a cadet police officer for some time. in early 1942, he joined the burma independence army (bia) when the fifth unit of bia led by bo let ya entered burma from thai-burma border. in march 1945, right before japanese revolution, he was promoted to the rank of major by general aung san. under general aung san's command, he participated in burma campaign 1944–45.