194 OCC graduates join AFP ranks Tuesday

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 13): 194 OCC graduates join AFP ranks Tuesday

Some 194 probationary 2nd lieutenants and ensigns from the three Major Services' Officer Candidate School (OCC) formally joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

This took place after their joint graduation ceremony Tuesday at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, said public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo.

“After a year of rigorous training in their respective OCC, 68 officer candidates from the Philippine Army, 63 from the Philippine Air Force, and 63 from the Philippine Navy will now join the regular force of the AFP,” he said.

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, AFP deputy chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Melchor B. Mison, Jr., and Major Service commanders and other ranking military officials formally welcomed the new officers and presented the awards to the top three students.

Leading the Army’s OCC “Kadasig” Class 47-2016 were Probationary 2nd Lt. Phil Jun D. Ocumen who received the Presidential Saber, Probationary 2Lt. Kimberly Jean W Lappao, who was awarded the Secretary of National Defense (SND) Saber, and Probationary 2Lt. Armie B. Macapinlac, recipient of the Chief of Staff AFP (CSAFP) Saber.

For the Air Force’s “Siklabtala” Class 2016, Probationary/2nd Lt Iris Q. Eugenio received the Presidential Saber followed by Probationary/2nd Lt. Nathaniel D. Diaz with the SND Saber and Probationary/2nd Lt Argie Clarence C. Torralba with the CSAFP Saber.

While the Navy’s “Madangpanan” Class 28 were led by Marine Probationary/2nd Lt. Mark Andrew S. Badilla who was awarded the Presidential Saber, Probationary/Ensign Ricky T. Degutierrez with the SND Saber, and Probationary/Ensign Jesus Hell C. Carballo with the CSAFP Saber.

“The conclusion of your course is as important to you as it is to us in the AFP. We wholeheartedly receive you not only to the camp but also to the organization that only the brave and the patriotic enough dare join,” Mison said.

Lorenzana, on the other hand, advised the graduates to take responsibility in the new positions that they will be holding.

He further assured the graduates that the DND will continue to support the modernization program of the Armed Forces.

“I thank you for volunteering to serve our country. You will be in the forefront; you will be putting your lives on the line, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I wish you good luck to your new career and I hope that all of you will reach the pinnacle of your respective military careers,” Lorenzana concluded.

The new officers will be granted a month of academic leave before reporting to their training commands where they will be given their unit assignments.

The OCC established in the three Major Services train civilians and enlisted personnel who are baccalaureate degree holders to be future members of the AFP regular force.

The one-year course prepares an officer candidate with a rank of probationary second lieutenant or probationary ensign to be mentally, physically, and emotionally fit to the AFP’s Corps of Officers in the regular force.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=948078