THE 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army based in Jamindan, Capiz has recruited 221 new soldiers, a press release said.
The newly-enlisted soldiers of the 3rd ID who are members of the Candidate Soldier (CS) Classes 556-2018 and 557-2018 took their oath before Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of 3rd ID, during the graduation rites held at Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz on November 12.
They have successfully completed three months of rigid Candidate Soldier Course (CSC) and Jungle Warfare Mountain Operation Course (JWMOC) held at the 3rd Division Training School.
Private Gideon Fusin, a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology graduate from Calinog, Iloilo received the Commander, 3rd ID Award for topping Class 556-2018 with a general point average (GPA) of 94.15 percent in all evaluated subjects which include academic and non-academic aspects of the training while Private Jenhrod Maceda, a Bachelor of Arts in English graduate from Mambusao, Capiz also received the same award for topping Class 557-2018 with a GPA of 94 percent.
The chief of staff, 3ID awards were given to Private Rodel Almarines of Mina, Iloilo and Private John Dexter Panhilason of Jamindan, Capiz for being a top two in their respective classes.
Dolina congratulated the families and loved ones of the graduates and also the training directorate for the job well done.
In his message, Dolina reminded the newly-enlisted soldiers to avoid anything that could discredit them as a soldier and could taint their military organization as well.
“Your life as candidate soldiers had been confined within the training camp and training values. Now as real soldiers, you will be facing more complex environment and challenges," Dolina said.
“Ingatan niyo ang inyong sarili at ang inyong trabaho sa inyong pakikipagtunggali sa ating kalaban na maraming mukha at mga kasinungalingan, ang Teroristang-Komunistang New People’s Army (NPA) at mga kaalyadong organisasyon at personalidad na humahasik ng lagim sa mamamayan at bayan (Take care of yourself and your work as you fight against the enemies who have many faces and lies, the communist terrorist NPA and other affiliated organizations and personalities are causing fear to the people and the country),” he said.
Meanwhile, Dolina, along with Tapaz Mayor Roberto Palomar, who was the guest of honor and speaker, led the ceremonial entrustment of firearms to the new privates.
Palomar, in his speech, conveyed the significance of entrustment of firearms to the new soldiers by the civilian authority which symbolizes what the Constitution says that civilian authority is always supreme over the military.
“I do hope that after the entrustment of the firearms, you will think that these are not weapons of war but rather, they are instruments for peace; that they are not made for killing people but rather, they are made for defending the lives; that firearms are not powerful but rather, what makes them powerful is you, all of you, the soldiers behind it who pull the trigger,” Palomar said.
The mayor reminded the new soldiers to “always remember your purpose of choosing to become a soldier. Whenever you are in a raging war, remember that you are advocates of peace. Do not ever lose your humanity in a gruesome battle. And most importantly, never lose hope in your noble acts because you are our only flaming hope in this country.” (GYM)