95 new recruits take oath

THE 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army held the oath taking ceremony of Candidate Soldier Course Class 302-12 at Camp Evangelista in Barangay Patag on Wednesday.

A total of 95 new recruits who will undergo Candidate Soldier Course pledged their loyalty to serve the country and the people.

Majority of the new recruits came from the different provinces in Regions X and XIII. The candidate soldiers have passed the Philippine Army Aptitude Test Battery and general physical examination.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. The 95 new recruits during their oath taking Wednesday. (Contributed photo)

They also underwent skills test and series of interviews during the selection process. The duration of Candidate Soldier Course is six months. Upon completion of the course, they will be enlisted into the Philippine Army with the rank of Private. In this short period, the recruits are expected to be transformed and molded from being “boys” into real “men, professional and disciplined soldiers of the people.”

Wednesday’s oath taking ceremony was graced by Lieutenant Colonel Maurito L. Licudine, Acting Division Chief of Staff, as keynote speaker.

Officers, civilian employees and enlisted personnel of the 4ID and the families of the candidate soldiers also witnessed the ceremony.

Licudine challenged the trainers to train the new recruits to become good and professional soldiers.

“What they will become in the future as soldiers will defend on how they were trained,” he said.

Brigadier General Romeo L. Gapuz, Acting Commander of the 4ID, said the trainees are another batch of soldiers who will be peace and development advocates.

“They will be utilized in the peace and development efforts of 4ID in line with the implementation of Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan. I assured the families of these candidate soldiers that you will be proud of your sons.

The training they will be undergoing will make them a better person, disciplined, competent and human rights advocates,” Gapuz said. (PR)