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, 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.

In his speech, Colonel Espineli challenged the trainers to direct the new recruits to become good and professional soldiers. “I congratulate each and every one of you for volunteering and joining 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 undergraduates, 26 vocational graduates and 24 high school graduates with special skills.

The training of the new recruits will be led by the instruction 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.

PR by the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division