A TOTAL of 196 new soldiers are undergoing a 60-day Infantry Orientation Course at the 1st Division Training School (1DTS) at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The new soldiers belong to the Candidate Soldier Course Class 687-2021, who completed Wednesday, April 6, from a four-month Basic Military Training also at 1DTS.
During the Infantry Orientation Course, the new soldiers would be trained to adapt and overcome the rigors and challenges of being an infantryman.
Major Divar Crisostomo, 1DTS assistant commandant, said that the Candidate Soldier Course Class 687-2021 is distinct from other classes.
The members of the class comprised of the indigenous tribes, Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA), former rebels (FRs), preachers, and individuals possessing special skills.
“The trainees’ peculiarities prompted the school to make adjustments and innovations to manage their diversity without compromising the quality of the training and education,” Crisostomo said.
“Their story is a concrete manifestation that the aspiration to serve the country is not a matter of age, education, gender, religion, race, and culture, but it’s a matter of strong will and determination,” he added.
Four graduates were recognized during the ceremony Wednesday, April 6, due to their excellent performance in training.
The Certificates of Merit were awarded to Private Charmaine Danion who graduated on top of the class with a general average of 93.47 percent; Private Karen Angeles who finished second with an average of 92.38 percent; and, Private Clifford Wahing for graduating third with an average of 91.35 percent.
Crisostomo said the Physical Proficiency Award was presented to Wahing for obtaining the highest rating in the Physical Proficiency Test.
Private Albert Roy Tiondo, the class president, also received the Leadership Award for his excellent leadership abilities.
The Candidate Soldier Course Class 687-2021 convened on November 10, 2021, with 200 candidate soldiers. After four months of training, only 196 survived and completed the course.
Meanwhile, Colonel Pompeyo Jason Almagro, 1st Infantry Division chief of staff and the event’s keynote speaker, start off by commending the officers and men of the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training under Major Garry Cruzado and the 1DTS under Lieutenant Colonel Franco Raphael Alano for their hard work molding the trainees to become competent, capable, and professional soldiers.
Almagro encouraged the graduates to always look for ways to improve themselves and continue learning once they step out of the gates of the learning institution.
“Learn, unlearn, and relearn. It is a cycle, a process of ditching outdated skills and techniques and diversifying your skillsets,” Almagro added. (SunStar Zamboanga)