THE 4th Infantry Division (4ID) welcomed 251 new soldiers who took their oath at Camp Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday, June 4.
The newest batch of soldiers is composed of 236 males and 15 females
coming from Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga.
Captain Reggie Go, 4ID spokesperson, said they have undergone a comprehensive and very competitive selection process that includes passing the written, physical and medical exams, trade test, board interviews and completed the basic clearances from various government agencies.
"These young individuals were the most qualified among the 558 applicants. They diligently complied with the requirements, competed all the tests and performed their best in order to be included in the Calendar Year 2019 quota for the Candidate Soldier Course," he said.
The soldiers underwent six months of intensive military training.
Go said an increasing number of applicants want to join the Army, noting that inquiries about the schedules for the next batches of Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test (AFPSAT) are mounting up.
Floriza Maca, 24, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, said joining the Army is a dream come true for her. Maca is a Manobo lumad from Surigao del Sur.
Aldo Maderal, 24, a license criminologist from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, said growing up in a conflict-affected area motivated him to finish the training.
"So that later on, I can be of greater help to my community and set as an example to the youth in our barangay. My dream to join the Army started when I participated in the ROTC program during College," Maderal was quoted as saying.
Major General Nemesio Gacal, 4ID commander, welcomed the younger generation of soldiers, whom he said, has the "burning desire to serve the country.
Gacal said he is confident that the new soldiers will contribute to the government's campaign of ending the local communist armed conflict, particularly in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions, the 4ID's area of responsibility.
"Do your best, train hard and learn the basics because while you are training, 4ID will carry on with its campaign to sustain the peace in the area. There will be no let-up in our operations until Communist NPA Terrorists surrender and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program," Gacal added.