A TOTAL of 365 aspiring soldiers have started to undergo a four-month basic training to become regular members of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division (ID) on Monday, May 29.
Major Jairus Mark Mira, 1ID information officer, said Monday that the aspiring soldiers are composed of 355 males and 10 females who belong to the Candidate Soldier Course Class 777-2023.
“They will be trained here at the 1st Division Training School, the commandant of which is Colonel Samuel Yunque,” Mira said.
He said that 20 percent of the candidate soldiers are from Basilan province while the rest are from the other parts of Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon.
In the next four months, the candidate soldiers will be trained to become physically, mentally and emotionally ready to serve and protect the country against any threats.
“They will be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, character and doctrine-base military concept so that they will become competent and capable soldiers working in excellence and commitment,” Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, 1ID commander, said during the opening ceremony marking the start of the training.
“The opening of the training marks the beginning of these aspirants’ transformation from civilian to military,” Nafarrete added.
He encouraged the candidate soldiers to persevere in the hardships they may face during the training.
“Persevere and do not waste this once in a lifetime chance,” he told the candidate soldiers citing they were chosen among the over a thousand applicants.
After completion of the four-month training, they will also undergo another two-month Infantry Orientation Course before their actual deployment to the different units under the 1ID. (SunStar Zamboanga)