350-slots up for grabs for new army recruits

By ALICE NICART, PIA Samar
February 8, 2011

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The recruitment office of the 8ID, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, under  Lt. Col. Joel Paloma of G1, announced recently the opening of 350 slots for incoming soldiers for the Philippine Army.

Procurement Officer, Lt. Emerson Borja, disclosed that on February 2, 600 examinees trooped to 8ID Camp Lukban, barangay Maulong to take the examination and on the following day, 550 more took the test at Leyte Colleges, Tacloban.

Of the 1,150 examinees however, only 264 passed the physical fitness test.  The officer also admitted that should a few of them would not make it in the physical test, they will be given a second chance.

Three batches will be offered to the trainees: 1st batch with 125 trainees, 2nd batch 125 and 100 for the 3rd batch.

The trainees will hurdle the 19-weeks rigid training; 13 for basic theories and principles and six (6) weeks for jungle warfare course.

Asked why he allowed his son to join the military service, a father who requested anonymity confessed that poverty drove his son aside from the mere fact that he always wanted to get hold of a toy gun during his childhood days.