Army starts training new recruits

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 27): Army starts training new recruits

The Army's 10th Infantry Division will start training of 300 lumads from Davao City, Davao provinces and the Socsargen areas.

The 300 lumads are part of the 400 new recruits to undergo a six-month training in basic military training and candidate soldier course at the 10th Infantry Division Academy to become soldiers.

This was revealed by Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson for the 10th Infantry Division, saying 19 of the 300 lumads are females. The recruitment of the lumads was made after learning that many of them wanted to join the government forces.

Batchar also pointed out that the lumads are vulnerable to the recruitment of the lawless groups. In fact, he said majority of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who were arrested or surrendered to the government authorities were lumads.

Asked if the Army consulted the tribal leaders, Batchar said the Army went through the consultation process because they cannot just accept lumads without the recommendation of the tribal leaders, who know the members of their community.

To give the lumads wish to become soldiers, Batchar said some requirements were waived by the Army such as education level, age, and the civil registry documents. The lumads, however, were required to undergo the medical examination.

All the new recruits will serve as soldiers for one term (3 years) and will be given the opportunity to re-enlist for another three years if they want. But, they will have to take the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test (APSAT) to qualify for another three years of service.

Lt. Col. Norman Alcomindras of the 10th ID G7 said that after training, the lumads will be deployed to different brigades.

Alcomindras also confirmed that the recruitment of lumads went through series of coordination and processes through the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCD) in respect to their culture.

Batchar dismissed impression the lumads will just serve as CAFGUs. He said the lumads will serve as soldiers and they are entitled to free uniforms, accommodation, and other benefits given to a soldier.

Batchar said the advantage of enlisting the lumads is their familiarity with the terrain in the hinterlands.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1010960