A TOTAL of 319 candidate soldiers are undergoing basic military training in Camp Bud Datu in Tagbak village, Indanan, Sulu.

The Candidate Soldier Course Class 780 and 781-2023 started training in Monday, June 5, 2023.

Colonel Leomar Jose Doctolero, 11th Division Training School commandant, said the candidate soldiers are all males and 67 of them are Tausugs.

"They will undergo the four-month basic military training that will transform them into well-trained and well-disciplined soldiers and cross trained with the two-month Infantry Orientation Course before their actual deployment in the different units of the Alakdan Division," Doctolero said.

Meanwhile, Major General Ignatius Patrimonio, 11th Infantry Division commander, said they will undergo a standard training of the Philippine Army that will ensure that the skills and character needed by "our organization will be developed and instilled in all of you to become a full-pledged soldiers."

"Everything will come to pass, so take one day at a time and focus that you will finish this Candidate Soldiers Course," Patrimonio told the candidate soldiers.

"To the training directorate, let us train these young men in the highest standard of training. Their development as soldiers are on your shoulders so never compromise our standard. Let us continue to work hand in hand in developing the Alakdan Division to become strong and reliable unit that the Filipino can be proud of," Patrimonio added. (SunStar Zamboanga)