By Francis Wakefield A new set of soldiers completed their military training as it marked the closing ceremony for Candidate Soldier Course “SIKLAB” Class 536-2018 at the Division Training School in Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao recently. (Photo courtesy of
6th Infantry Division - Kampilan via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Of the 264 graduates, five of them took their oath at the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City on March 24, another nine took oath at the 10th Infantry Division n Mawab, Compostella Valley on March 9, and 250 others took oath at the 6th Infantry Division, Camp Siongco, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on March 16. The new breed of soldiers underwent a four-month military training divided into three modules: Transformation; Basic Squad Training; and Application of Knowledge in accordance to Army Transformation Roadmap. They also underwent training on army soldiers’ combat skills enhancement, explosive ordnance reconnaissance agent, pekititirsia kali, disaster response and rescue, water search and rescue, and air to ground operations. Candidate Soldier (CS) Wenfer S. Parreno topped the class (95 percent general average from academic and non-academic subjects) followed by CS Kelvin Clyde L. Regidor(94.77 percent)and CS Crislyn B. Monterde(94.76 percent). Meanwhile, CS Aguinaldo E. Plarisan obtained the highest rating in the Physical Fitness Test (98 percent) all throughout the duration of the training. The Top Gun award was received by CS Arce C. Nabos who obtained the highest rating in Basic Marksmanship (100 percent). The Leadership award was given to CS Aguinaldo E. Plarisan for demonstrating an outstanding attitude, military knowledge, and exemplary military bearing in the class. Division Governance and Strategy Management Office Chief Col. Jovencio F. Gonzalez reminded the new soldiers that they must share what they have learned from their training to their fellow soldiers when they will be deployed to their new assignments with good attitude, skills, and knowledge. “The more you sweat in training, the lesser you bleed in battle," Gonzales said. Brig. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana,6th Infantry division commander, who attended Lanao del Sur’s Provincial Development Council meeting in Marawi City, extended his congratulatory message to the new soldiers for completing their rigorous training. He said that they should love their chosen profession and focus on the job to help in the effort of the government to achieve long and lasting peace in Central Mindanao. The new soldiers are composed of 29 females and 235 males coming from the different regions in Mindanao.