PHILIPPINE Military Academy cadets are now trained to be more attune to national security.
PMA Mabalasik (Madirigma ng Bayan Lakas at Sarili Iaalay para sa Kapayapaan) class of 2019 will leave the portals of the academy with sharper skills and a more sensitive approach to economics, environment and community.
Taking the Marawi siege as a lesson to better train and educate cadets, PMA has included in its curriculum how to deal with war.
Brigadier General Cheston Valencerina, PMA dean of academics, said courses on economics, environment have been included in the curriculum to better prepare cadets for military life after they leave the academy.
Valencerina said economics of war and how to identify and deal with communities susceptible to rebellion and terrorism were part of the curriculum.
Environment is also a key factor for cadets, as the PMA now teaches the future military officers to take into consideration the landscape of the area where detachments are to be built, assessing if communities can withstand its set-up, factoring in vegetation and human activity.
Political security of the local government unit is likewise being studied in the level of military operations.
Valencerina said all these are being studied in the PMA as a response to the changing security landscape of the country.
The full adjustments in the curriculum will be incorporated in graduating Class 2022, following the full modification in the K to 12 program.
PMA has likewise adjusted its academic calendar to have the graduation rites in May, to follow the civilian schools calendar.
The Class of 2019 is composed of 263 graduating cadets with 190 males and 73 females. At least five women were included in the top 10, making history as the largest class to have women in the Top 10.
One hundred thirty-four of the class will join the Philippine Army, 63 are going to the Air Force, and 66 in the Navy.