My PMA Cadet Years (Fourth Class) - FTX, Chickenpox And Academics

May 29 to June 5, 1995 – Field Training Exercise (FTX).  The corps jumped off to Fort Magsaysay, where our class had our very first experience of the FTX.  This is actually designed for cadets to give them the opportunity to apply what they learned in the academy during the summer military training and to test their endurance and adaptability in the rugged terrains and under different weather conditions.  More, cadets take part of various activities such as combat simulations (i.e. attack formations, raids, patrols, interrogations, community relations and others) and practical weapon firing.

The part that I enjoyed most was the war games where two battalions would attack the other two battalions.  A gadget was attached to our M16 rifle and we were wearing a special vest where the number of hits can be recorded and counted through a device... on the other hand, when a person is hit, an alarm attached to his vest will be triggered... while the most rotting part was being the sentinel on duty... that after the whole day of activity and everyone was sleeping, I still had to keep my eyes open to guard our camp from a possible enemy attack... “the worst”.

Immediately, after we returned to PMA, I was confined in our Station Hospital (PMASH) for having chickenpox.  I suppose you may say... good for you, at least you’ll have time to take a rest after the FTX... but on the contrary, how I regretted it... Of all the days it could have chosen, why in the time when the upperclassmen will all be going to Manila for the June parade and we, plebes, would be the “kings of barracks”... I was confined for more than 2 weeks in PMASH feeling awful and uneasy because of this blisters all over my body... while my “mistahs” (classmates) were all enjoying the little freedom they had... “Sincerely!!!”

Florendo Hall... where the topmost will be my place for more than 2 years.

Melchor Hall... our academic building.

It was June 22 when I returned to barracks, academics had already started... and I needed to cope up with the lessons and other corps activities.  We particularly had similar subjects as that of other universities and colleges.  Except that we focused more on some combative sports (wrestling, boxing, judo and taekwondo) in our Physical Education subject and our usual military courses.

From here, July and August passed by slowly... how I wished I could have had fast-forwarded it (LOL)... there were a lot of activities that transpired... the corps drills, endorsements during mess, swimming and gymnastics lessons, failures and successes in lesson and unit exams, meaningful Sunday worships, “sluggable” Saturday inspections, sports fest, plebe duties, Alfa’s traditions and practices (the sundial and pomade), mase2x, laxities and endorsements... so again, mase2x and more... and before we knew it... it was already September...

During 1995 sports fest... the green alfans...

Yahweh bless.

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