Army artillery regiment to recruit soldiers

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – The Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) under the leadership of Brigadier General Leandro Loyao III is now accepting applicants who would like to join the military service.

Major Christopher Onuendo, executive officer of the 1^st Cavalry Squadron Batallion, Mechanized Infantry Division said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that the unit was tasked to recruit candidates in its area of responsibility (AOR) to fill up the quota for calendar year 2015.

Onuendo added that the candidates should possess the following basic qualifications such as natural born Filipino citizen, at least 18-26 years old and must not be 27 years old or older on or before the date of appointment as candidate soldier, single and never been married, of good moral character, at least 5’ or 60 inches tall, must have passed the Philippine Army Aptitude Test Battery (PAATB) with a score of a least 80, must have passed the AAR pre-qualifying examination and physically and mentally fit for military training.

Other qualifications set are as follows: professionals (doctors, teachers, engineers, etc.); Graduate of MS43 and advanced ROTC; College graduate; with 72 units in college; high school graduate but possessed technical and/or vocational skills needed by the AFP such as: automotive mechanic, embalmer, electrician, carpentry, masonry, welding, driving and etc), technical and vocational skills shall be supported by a certification from the employer of at least one year work experience not including the On-the-job-training.

Onuendo announced that the registration/pre-admission started on the 2^nd week of January and will end on February 10.

Onuendo said a pre-qualifying exam would be conducted to the CS applicants on February 17, 2015 at 1pm at the headquarters f 1^st Field Artillery Battaltion, Kuta Major Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan, Labangan.

“The pre-qualifying exam will be a 100 item math heavy exam (basic high school mathematics): 75 items will be devoted for mathematical examination and the 25 items will be for indicative or analytical exam,” he explained.

“The examinees are allotted only two hours to answer the test questions,” he added.

In consonance with the Philippine Army’s vision of becoming a world-class army that is a source of national price, Onuendo said it seeks to recruit new breed of soldiers, choosing the “best and brightest” among aspiring applicants. 

“The Artillery Army Regiment (AAR) Recruitment Board will select the best and brightest among aspiring applicants,” he explained.

Those who will be absorbed in the AAR will enjoy the benefits and privileges such as: stable job, high pay and allowances, local and foreign schoolings, and will get a chance to serve the country and fellowmen, he concluded.