In 1981 Vilho joined the
People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). After joining PLAN in 1981 for basic training he specialised as a combat engineer in 1982, by 1983 Vilho was an engineering instructor at the Tobias Hainyeko Training Centre,
Lubango,
Angola. In 1984 he was appointed an engineer company commander and anti-tank battery commander at the Northern Front and Striking Unit. Vilho's career in the Namibian Defence Force started in 1990 after Namibia's independence when he was inducted with the rank of
Captain and appointed paymaster for the 125 Battalion in the
Namibian Army. In 1993, he was promoted to the rank of Major and appointed the chief paymaster for the army headquarters. Later in the year, he was appointed staff officer grade 2 (SO2) operations and training army headquarters with the same rank. Between 1994 and 1998 he attended the Admiral Wandenkolk Instruction Centre (CIAW) in
Rio de Janeiro. Upon graduating he was appointed the chief of staff NDF Maritime Wing in 1998 and promoted to the rank of
Commander. In 2001 he was appointed the deputy commander NDF Maritime Wing, and in the following year following the death of Captain (Navy) Phestus Sakaria the Commander NDF Maritime Wing, Vilho was appointed his successor with the rank of Naval Captain. The rank of Commodore was bestowed on him in 2004 at the commissioning of the Maritime Wing as a fully-fledged navy. In 2007 he ascended to the rank of Rear Admiral. ==Political career==