8ID trains army recruits for peace and development in Samar
By DPAO, 8ID PA
July 9,
2012
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers)
Division, PA formally accepted 95 young recruits into the ranks of the
Philippine Army as they took their oath of duty and service to the
country in a simple opening ceremony of Candidate Soldier Course (CS)
class 299-2012 on July 9, 2012 at the 8ID Headquarters in Catbalogan,
City.
The ceremony was graced by Colonel Virgilio M Espineli the Assistant
Division Commander of 8ID, in the presence of the candidate soldiers’
families, Officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the
command.
The CS training will be a 5-month course in which the Army trainees
will be transformed into Peace and development advocates, and will
assist the peace and development efforts of 8ID in line with the
implementation of Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan in the
area. Upon completion of the training, the trainees will be enlisted
into the Philippine Army with the rank of Private.
Colonel Espineli in his remarks challenged the trainors to train the
new recruits to become good and professional soldiers. “I congratulate
each and every one of you for volunteering to join this noble
profession of arms and for successfully passing all the requirements
and screening for the Candidate Soldier Course Class 299-2012”,
Espineli said.
The candidate soldiers came from the different provinces all over the
country. 68% are from the Visayas while 7% and 20% are from Luzon and
Mindanao respectively. The youngest trainee is 18 years old and the
oldest is 24 years of age. For educational profile, the recruits are
composed of one (1) registered nurse, one (1) license criminologist,
17 college graduates, 26 college level, 26 vocational graduates and 24
high school graduates with special skills.
The
training of the new recruits will be guided by the guidance issued by
MGen Gerardo T Layug AFP, Commander 8ID, PA, that every soldier will
not only be trained to fight and defend the country, but more
importantly to become human rights advocates and ardent catalyst of
peace and development in the countryside.