Wednesday, February 4, 2015

5,000-strong Army unit in Bicol gets a ‘mother’

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 4): 5,000-strong Army unit in Bicol gets a ‘mother’

The first-ever lady Sergeant Major in the history of the Philippine Army (PA) has assumed the post to serve as “mother” to the 5,000-strong male-dominated military contingent in Bicol.

Wearing a shoulder rank of master sergeant, Army enlisted woman Rosa Maria Lanila recently took over the post in the PA’s 9th Infantry (Spear) Division (ID) based at Camp Elias Angeles here from a male counterpart -- Senior Master Sergeant Alex Allejos.

Allejos served the position for six years and retired last Jan. 16 after 36 years in military service.

The latest to be declared as already “peaceful and ready for further development” is Camarines Norte, where the military has claimed a momentous victory in its decades of fight against communist insurgency in Bicol by neutralizing the NPA and restoring peace in the province.

“We want to provide the rest of the region a space where the people can feel safe and grow as progressive communities just like what these two provinces are now enjoying, and Sergeant Major Lanila will play a crucial role in this aspiration,” 9th ID commander Maj. Gen. Yerson Depayso said on Tuesday.

The sergeant major is a unique non-commissioned rank in the PA held by a senior enlisted member appointed to serve among other inherent tasks as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted soldiers to the higher command.

As such, Lanila would be spending much of her time traveling throughout the units comprising the 9th ID that include three infantry brigades composed of eight infantry battalions and seven support units.

The position would be a big challenge to her being a woman who has to look after the morale, discipline, living conditions in camps and welfare of the about 5,000 Army enlisted personnel or non-commissioned officers (NCOs) mostly men belonging to all these units, according to Depayso.

“She needs to act like a ‘mother’ and 'guiding light'” to these men in maintaining high standard of morale and discipline so that they remain the strong backbone in Bicol of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from whom their commanding officers draw all-out support in safeguarding the peace and tranquillity of the Bicolanos,” he said.

As their “mother”, Lanila should lead by example in the efforts of the entire organization to uphold military discipline and promote positive values and attitude which are determining factors if these NCOs are on their right track while serving the country as professional soldiers, Depayso said.

Lanila’s assignment to the post, he said, is part of the PA’s policy of giving female soldiers who, aside from being tasked for office and administrative works, are also being given the chance to be assigned in the frontlines for an opportunity to be able to serve civilian communities.

“The presence of the female soldiers somehow softens the aggressive and masculine perception of the people regarding the members of the Armed Forces,” he added.

For her part, Lanila said, she is very much honored with her new assignment which she considers as “very challenging,” given the fact that it carries with it the task of looking after the welfare of her fellow NCOs as what a mother does to her children.

“I don’t find it a difficult job as all I have to do is continue what my immediate predecessor has started -- work on the accomplishments of his unfinished works and sustain those that have been gained,” she explained.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=732093

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