889 aspirants take PMA entrance exam in Oro

A TOTAL of 889 examiners from the different provinces within the area of responsibility of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) took the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) entrance examination held on August 26 at the 4ID gymnasium in Camp Evangelista, Barangay Patag.

The examinees were divided into two batches. The first batch started the examination at 8 a.m. while the second batch took their exam at 2 p.m.

This year’s number of applicants increased because of the decrease in height requirement, from 5’2” to 5’0” for both male and female applicants.

The applicants have been encouraged by the PMA’s “No maltreatment policy,” which had been the usual reason why parents are hesitant to allow their children to apply for cadetship.

The successful applicants will compose the PMA Class 2017 who will be officially received in the Academy in an oath-taking ceremony and reception rites on April 1, 2013.

A PMA cadet can avail of a free college education, a monthly pay, and allowances.

Graduates are guaranteed to have a progressive career as an officer in the Army, Navy or Air Force.

“We are happy to see the response of the youth to the innovations of PMA recruitment. 889 is quite a number for a single testing center but the PMA has 37, so we can approximate that for this year, more or less 20,000 qualified youth took this year’s entrance examination. We are very positive that those who passed and will compose Class 2017 have undergone a very tough competition,” said MGen. Victor A. Felix, commander of the 4ID. (PR)