NEWSFLASH

340 NEW CADETS FOR PMA'S CLASS 2004

PORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, March 25, 2000 - A total of 340 cadet candidates will compose the Class of 2004 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) here.

PMA Superintendent Major Gen. Melchor Rosales said 14,103 out of the 18,510 applicants completed the qualification test conducted nationwide last September 12, 1999, from which 1,488 passed the test.

However, only a total of 26 females and 314 males have qualified for the four-year rigorous training in the Academy after a series of stringent physical fitness, medical and neuro psychiatric tests, tactical interviews and final deliberations.

Metro Manila has the highest number of qualifiers with 67 or 19.7 percent followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region with 40 or 11.76 percent.

The cadet candidates are between 18 and 20 years old. Fifteen graduated as high school valedictorians and 123 with honors. 301 are in the college level, 27 are high school graduates and 12 are baccalaureate degree holders.

These 340 cadet candidates are expected to report to the Academy on April 1, 2000 for the traditional reception rites. This batch, according to Rosales, is one of the best qualified to undergo the "rigorous academic and training requirements" of the Academy.

The continuous improvement and upgrade of the Commands Cadet Procurement System has attracted the best and brightest aspirants from the youth sector to join the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the Academy, Rosales Added.