FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army sends off 268 officer candidates who will undergo the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) and Officer Candidate Course-ROTC (OCC-ROTC) today October 4, 2021, at the Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Col. Patrick B. De Villa, the Director of the Army Personnel Management Center (APMC), graced the Oath-Taking and Send-off ceremonies of the OCC Class 56-2021 and OCC-ROTC Class 01-2021. The OCC will undergo a one-year training, while the OCC-ROTC will train for eight months. Both classes for training will be at the Officer Candidate School, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army in Camp O'Donnel, Capas, Tarlac.
The OCC class comprises 193 males and 51 females, while the OCC-ROTC class consists of 15 males and nine females.
The officer candidates came from different areas of the country. They possessed varied professional backgrounds ranging from engineering, journalism, criminology, and allied health courses. They will undergo rigid training that will develop their physical, mental, and leadership capabilities.
Colonel Patrick B. De Villa encouraged future army officers to build themselves as they undergo a life-changing course.
"For a year of military training, we expect you to cultivate a sense of responsibility, develop the values of professionalism, honor, and integrity, and most importantly, to become men and women of character. I encourage you to have a positive mindset. Focus on completing your training. Learn from the experiences you acquire and integrate those that will mold you into becoming leaders of the Philippine Army," Col. De Villa said in his remarks during the ceremony. #