289 new Candidate Soldiers took oath to serve the country

By DPAO, 8ID PA
June 6, 2019

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar – A total of 289 new Candidate Soldiers of the Philippine Army took their oath of duty and service to the country in a simple ceremony held at the hallowed grounds of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division Headquarters in Catbalogan City, Samar on Wednesday morning June 5, 2019.

The oath taking rite was immediately followed by the opening of the Philippine Army Candidate Soldier Course Classes 583 & 603 -2019 by no less than Major General Raul M Farnacio AFP, Commander of the 8ID in the presence of the candidate soldiers’ love ones; and Officers, Enlisted Personnel and civilian employees of the Stormtroopers Division.

The 4-month course is expected to transform and mold the new recruits from being “boys” into “men”. After completing and passing the rigid training, they will be then enlisted into the Philippine Army with the rank of Private.

Major General Farnacio in his remarks assured the candidate soldiers’ parents that their sons, after the training will be competent and disciplined soldiers. “’Ang araw na ito ay hudyat ng malaking pagbabago sa inyong kinagisnang buhay bilang sibilyan. Mula ngayon, sasanayin at tuturuan kayo ng ibat-ibang kaalaman at kakayahan. Ang inyong pagsasanay ay hindi magiging madali. Hindi lamang tatag ng katawan ang susubukin maging ang tibay ng damdamin at bilis ng kaisipan din.”

“Bilang Division Commander, aking inaasahan na kayo ay magiging mga sundalo na may mataas na antas ng disiplina, buo ang paninindigan, matapang, at tapat sa tungkulin na ngayon ay inyong sinumpaan”.

“Huwag ninyong bibiguin ang inyong mga magulang at ang lahat ng taong nagtitiwala at umaasang mapagtatagumpayan ninyo ang lahat ng hamon ng pagsasanay upang kayo ay magiging ganap na sundalo. Wala ng atrasan! Gabayan sana kayo ng Poong Maykapal,” Farnacio said.