CG Chan entertains public on soldier’s graduation rites

By EMY C. BONIFACIO, Samar News.com
October 4, 2010

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The 8th Infantry Division (Stormtroopers) welcomed guests, friends, relatives and parents of the 235 newly inducted soldiers of Class 02-10, Friday morning, as they received their Certificates of Completion in the Jungle Warfare and Mountains Operations Course. Simultaneously, the Ceremonial Entrustment of Firearms to the graduates and their deployment to the respective units were publicly made.

Originally, there were 250 candidate soldier applicants who qualified in the final board screening that was conducted. Out of the 250 applicants, six (6) went on an Absence without Leave (AWOL) and four (4) others voluntarily gave up on August. Four (4) more left the training before the culmination of the Jungle Warfare Operation Course. The 235 graduates were the survivors from the academic and non-academic trainings that they undertook since May 13 to September 30, 2010. Initially, the group is part of the 1,069 quota allocated for the 8ID, this year. It was learned that the biggest quota for recruitment in the Philippine Army was availed by the 8th Infantry Division.

Based on the statistics presented by MGen. Mario F. Chan, the ages of applicants range from 18 to 25 years old. At least, 39 were college graduates, 103 were in their college level and 93 were graduates of a secondary education. The distribution of the applicants in terms of their home provinces are as follows: Northern Samar, 36; Western Samar, 97; Eastern Sama, 51; Leyte, 37; Mindanao, 10; and Luzon, 4. General Chan informed that their ATMs are yet to be released on October 7 and an accumulated savings in the amount of P13,284 for a period covering August 16 to Sept. 30, 2010 are available for each one of them.

Gracing the occasion was Samar Governor Sharee Ann T. delos Santos who acted as the guest speaker. She was assisted in the distribution of Certificates by MGen. Mario Chan, 8ID Commanding General, Col. Arnulfo Atendido, Assistant Division Commander; and Col. Ray Aninon, Division Training Unit (DTU) Commanding Officer.

The program proceeded less formally with the Stormtrooper‘s Band performance that received warm applause from the audience. Likewise, the Commanding General showed the lighter and funnier side of him, when he punches lines and jokes in between his formal speech, which were perceived to be equally entertaining. “This is one of the most entertaining and lively military graduations that we have attended in the 8ID. Gen. Chan made the difference.” observes a media practitioner.