PMA Class 2030 begins long march from civilian life to military discipline

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — At the crack of command and under the Baguio sun, 367 young Filipinos bent, shouted, pushed, and stood their ground Saturday, May 23, as the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) formally welcomed the incoming members of PMA Class 2030 into the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The reception rites at Borromeo Field inside Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar marked the beginning of a difficult transition familiar to generations of PMA cadets: the stripping away of civilian comforts in exchange for the regimented life of future military officers.

Of the 367 incoming cadets, 290 are male and 77 are female, according to the PMA. They emerged from a highly selective process that began with 33,640 applicants nationwide. Only 24,630 qualified to take the PMA Entrance Examination, while 1,436 passed and proceeded to further physical, medical, and psychological screening.

The academy said the largest share of incoming cadets came from the Cordillera region at 12%, followed by the National Capital Region and Calabarzon, each with 11%.

Saturday’s rites were supervised by upperclass cadets from PMA “Siklab Kasilag” Class of 2028, who officially received the newcomers into the New Cadet Battalion. Images from the ceremony showed plebes being subjected to stress drills, pushups, military bearing exercises, and shouted instructions, all hallmarks of PMA’s traditional reception process.

In his opening remarks, the PMA Commandant of Cadets emphasized that the ceremony was more than symbolic.

“The Reception Rites marks a life-changing milestone. It marks the official beginning of your military career,” he told the incoming cadets.

“This is not merely a ceremonial event, rather, it signifies your transition from a carefree civilian life into the disciplined, demanding, and regimented life of a cadet,” he added.

PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia said the academy is continuing efforts to modernize both its academic and military training programs to match evolving security threats and international standards.

“The academy is aggressively undertaking initiatives to enhance our academic and military curriculum, elevating it to be at par with the highest international standards,” Valencia said.

He added that cadets would be trained not only in conventional warfare, but also in “critical and systems thinking, cybersecurity, international defense, and strategic leadership.”

Class 2030 will undergo PMA’s enhanced Bachelor of Science in Management major in Security Studies curriculum, first implemented for Classes 2028 and 2029. The program is designed to prepare future officers for modern warfare, territorial defense, and increasingly complex operational environments.

For many of the incoming cadets, Saturday’s ceremony was also a moment of separation from family life and personal freedoms, replaced almost instantly by military structure, hierarchy, and discipline.

The shaved heads, synchronized movements, and sharp commands signaled the start of four years that will test not only physical endurance, but also character, leadership, and resilience.

By tradition, not all who enter PMA will eventually march in graduation rites. But for Class 2030, Saturday marked the first step into one of the country’s most demanding institutions and into lives now tied to military service and national defense. – Rappler.com