READY FOR TRAINING. Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana (back to camera), commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, speaks before candidate soldiers during sendoff ceremonies at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, Sunday. A total of 345 trainees are up for a 14-week military training to become future soldiers of the Philippine Army. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)
DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao -- The 14-week military training for 345 candidate-soldiers started Sunday at the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) Training School in Barangay Semba here.
Earlier on the same day, the candidate-soldiers took their oath at the 6ID grandstand followed by their send-off ceremony. The newest batch of soldier applicants stood before 6ID commander, Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana with their loved ones as they took their oath.
Sobejana said the applicants underwent strict selection process after passing the physical, medical, neurological, and psychological examinations.
The 345 candidates were chosen from among 1,500 applicants. “They are now the most competent candidates who will be honed to become future soldiers of the Philippine Army,” Sobejana said.
He added that the candidate soldiers will undergo military training broken down into three modules --Transformation, Basic Squad Training, and Application of Knowledge.
“This training will mold them to become well-disciplined, competent and capable soldiers to fill in the enlisted ranks of the Army,” Sobejana said.
“I would like to assume that you have prepared yourselves to undergo the life-changing experience. These three to four months will help you to become the person you wish to be,” the 6ID chief added.
Of the 345 soldier aspirants, 310 are males and 35 are women. The candidate-soldiers came from the areas of coverage of the 6ID that include the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and parts of North Cotabato and Lanao del Sur.
Two of the applicants from Parang, Maguindanao did not make it to the final stages of the selection process after they were killed in an ambush last week in nearby Sultan Kudarat town, also in Maguindanao. (PNA)
