Last step for PMA aspirants

CEBU, Philippines - The 128 applicants from Visayas for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) who passed the written examination are now undergoing the second phase of admission to the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The successful examinees, 38 of whom are women, started yesterday their one-week Complete Physical Examination at the Central Command (Centcom) Headquarters in Lahug, Cebu City.

Major Christopher Tampus, spokesperson of Centcom, said the PMA Cadet Admission team headed by Maj. Darren Comia started the processing yesterday of the PMA applicants in Visayas.

The 128 applicants who reported to Centcom yesterday will undergo the physical and medical examinations that will end on Thursday.

Tampus said all applicants will be housed at the Centcom. The expenses for their one-week stay at the headquarters will be shouldered by the PMA, he added.

Tampus said each applicant will be given a notice on March 1 telling them if they passed this admission test. Those who will pass will go to the academy on April 1.

The successful applicants will be competing for a slot in the quota of 350 cadets for the PMA Class 2015, the military official added.

Once admitted in the academy, successful applicants will be enjoying full government scholarship, a monthly pay and allowances as well as a job after graduation as Lieutenant or Ensign in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

They will also get a chance to undergo a holistic training program in the academy, considered a rare privilege.

The 128 applicants were part of the 1,195 applicants who were able to pass the written examination last August in all 35 examination centers throughout the country. 897 of them are men while 298 are women. (FREEMAN)