BY MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA
I was amused to see that some generals probably retired and active who were mostly alumni of the elite Philippine Military Academy have passionate intellectual conversations cum posts on my column’s Filipino Cadets Bare Sad Plights at West Point I posted at the community page of social media’s Face Book SAF: Medal of Valor Awardees.
The post was about a cadet at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York City who deplored his and his fellow cadet’s financial plights there.
That grumbling had been accentuated by a Filipino cadet from a military academy in South Korea who narrated their lamentable financial state there.
I will just quote the excerpts of the main complaints of the cadets in West Point and in South Korea for brevity so you can go to the comments of these star ranks.
But if you want to read the whole story you can click here and return to this blog for those informative comments from the generals.
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| Filipino Generals |
PINOY CADET IN WEST POINT: USMA Second Class Cadet Jesson Peñaflor said that he and his co- West Point, New York based cadet have to pay each $2,000 (P105, 270.00) their education and training supplies and equipment at USMA before they trudge their four years military and academic courses”.
“Since West Point has not accepted a Filipino cadet for two years in a row now. I just hope that at the next time West Point does (accepts another Filipino) the government could just help with a plane ticket for a vacation even just once in all his four years, sir,” Peñaflor retorted.
PINOY CADET IN SOUTH KOREA: “This message seems inappropriate but I just cannot keep myself from sending my gratitude to what you posted about cadets in West Point, sir. I am also a cadet sent to a foreign academy, sir. We are 15 here in Korea, sir. Three cadets are sent to the army air force and the naval academy (sic) every year here, sir and three are at the language institute studying the required language, sir. There are also cadets in Japan, Australia and Canada, sir. Every one of us are experiencing the same thing, sir but for the service we want to give in the future we are trying to keep ourselves firm and strong so none of us will even think of quitting and leaving the service. Thank you for what you've posted, sir. People who can help us may not see it but simple people who see and appreciate our small sacrifice will give us more strength and become our inspiration to work harder. Thank you again, sir and may God bless you always".
REACTIONS
Ervin Hoyaah: I assumed that this foreign service cadets sent to USMA were in the payroll of the AFP and continue to receive their salary as PMA cadets. So why would they lament that they have to shell out their money to pay for uniforms, when PMA or OCS cadets are also paying their uniforms. Except if they follow the same path from that of a daughter of a USCGA alumni who was then a PN Commodore but does not want to become a member of PMAAAI and enrolled directly his daughter in the US academy without going to the recruitment process in the AFP at nang singilin ng mga Americano ng tuition fee, nag lifeline sa Navy at ilang office din ng PN ang nawalan ng MOOE pambayad habang pina-process sa payroll ng AFP as a cadet.
Francis Carandang: It’s not their money they are shelling out, it’s an advance from the allowances they’ll receive from the host countries.
Dominic Martinez: The who? Starts with D?
Ervin Hoyaah: Nasa serbesyo pa ba iyong anak niya na pina-paaral sa proceeds ng bond paper?
Dominic Martinez: D ko kilala 😊
Jun Sal: “D” ba simula ng pangalan nya talaga? As in “D”a who?\
Dominic Martinez: Bai when they become foreign cadets do they still received the PMA cadet’s allowances?
Ervin Hoyaah: If they entered USMA through the normal defense agreement, then, they are technically AFP Cadet in exchange student status with a Foreign Service academy and are still within the payroll of the AFP. In short, may LBP ATM sila at bawas-bawasan naman nila ng konti ang Cap Con at ano ba iyang 2000 USD, tatlong buwan na suweldo ng kadete lang iyan.
Resty Aguilar: Let PMA authorities clarify this to us.
Francis Carandang: No such thing as free lunch.
Their counterparts who did four years in Loakan have to pay their laptops if they need one anyway coming from their “salary”.
They forgot to mention that the cost of education and the allowances, which will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in direct and indirect costs vested by allied countries will come from the hard earned money by these countries taxpayers.
That 2000 dollars in effect is just an advanced drawn from their allowances given by the host countries anyway thus not from their own pockets nor from any Filipino taxpayers whom they’re going to serve when they graduate so what’s the fuzz .
Please do not forget that Filipino value called grateful.
Their counterparts who did four years in Loakan have to pay their laptops if they need one anyway coming from their “salary”.
They forgot to mention that the cost of education and the allowances, which will amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in direct and indirect costs vested by allied countries will come from the hard earned money by these countries taxpayers.
That 2000 dollars in effect is just an advanced drawn from their allowances given by the host countries anyway thus not from their own pockets nor from any Filipino taxpayers whom they’re going to serve when they graduate so what’s the fuzz .
Please do not forget that Filipino value called grateful.
Ervin Hoyaah: Sir, I was wondering why no mention of the PH Defense Attaché attending the graduation. Does this mean that the Filipino Cadets mentioned did not enter USMA through the formal RP-US Defense Agreement?
Ervin Hoyaah: Actually, the general provision allowing military training assistance to personnel of the AFP including the opportunity to study in any US Service Academies after July 4, 1946 was formally incorporated under the Military Assistance Agreement signed between US and GRP dated March 21, 1947. This was further articulated under the expanded 1953 Military Assistance Agreement to include reciprocity for US Citizens studying in AFP Service Schools (not necessarily only PMA) ratified into effect last June 26, 1953.
Ervin Hoyaah Dominic Martinez: In effect pa din pero hindi na lang na-implement. Some courses were cancelled by the US Government kasi nag-AWOL ang mga estudyanteng Pinoy at sabay TNT. The specific case were I have personal knowledge is the Seabees training program where all Pinoy students including an officer went on TNT after graduation from the Seabees Training Center in Port Hueneme instead of returning to the Philippines. As a result, the military training assistance for the PN Seabees to study in NB Ventura County is still not granted despite repeated request until this date.
Romy Posadas: The PMA cadets can still start the USMA "Beast Barracks" even without the USD 2000 required at the beginning (USD 300 during our time, which I did not pay but was deducted from my cadet pay). It will just be deducted from their cadet pay over a period (2 years maybe). The $2000 is to help defray for the initial costs of uniforms, laptop etc. So maybe their complaints may be due to steep deductions. But they should not complain. They are still part of CCAFP so their pay and allowances are intact and continue to be paid. They could always ask PMA to advance the USD 2000. When they graduate, their accumulated pay in PMA will be more than 2 million pesos probably. So this complaint is misplaced. All cadets entering USMA pay the 2,000 in exchange for an education and training probably worth more than USD 300,000 over four years
Sam Marcelo: During my USNA grad daughter’s time the service academy scholarship was $350,000 in four years. ROTC scholarship pale in comparison at only $175,000 in four years.
Francis Carandang: I’m sure any young Americans are happy to take the slots of these exchange cadets paid for by American tax payers.
Sam Marcelo Francis Carandang: No kidding!
Romy Posadas: Incoming American cadets also pay the $2,000 so I cannot see the need for the complaints from PMA cadets going to US or foreign service academies. Be thankful for the experience and opportunities. They have to survive on their own. If they want to travel back for a vacation, save, save save for the fare and travel expenses or stay in the host country, soak up the culture, stay with classmates, develop long term friendships with classmates, tour the country. It may be a long time before they go back to the host countries.
Romy Posadas : Why would they expect the government to shoulder a vacation during their four years stay there? Mag ipon sila. If not maximize travel around the US (East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, South). Many Bugobugos will surely host them. Better yet, save for a trip to Europe and get free rides via USAF. Libre lang ng US ang papunta at pabalik after graduation
Almar Pantaleon: Ayaw nila magpadeduct... Di maghanap sila ng sariling supplier.
Iwas hassle na nga iyan.
Iwas hassle na nga iyan.
Francis Carandang: Developing one’s self entitlement so early in their career is not good
Sam Marcelo: “Don’t fight the problem. Decide it.” - General George C. Marshall, World War II Chief of Staff
NaldDo Hugo: Parang Mahirap mag-comment kapag di mo naranasan pinagdaanan nila
Robert Divinagracia: Clincher na comment ito bok. Agree.
Alexander Cabales: It was their choice to study there. They could have opted for PMA. Many years back, when the US bases were still in the Philippines, the US service academies allocated one free slot each every year for Filipinos. When the bases ended, this arrangement was changed. The Filipinos now had to compete with some 54 (?) other allied countries for this 1 slot. In most cases, it is the Filipino that bested the others for this free slot. If the slot is taken by another nationality and the qualified pinoy opts to still study in the US academy just the same, then he has to shoulder the expenses.
Romy Posadas: 160 allied countries to compete for 15 slots per year
Rolly Rulloda: GHQ pays their academic expenses via PhilDAFA to USA.
Ray Lago Noble: Feeling anak mayaman. Wrong sense of entitlement... gayahin mo ung "nag-garage sale" pero naka signature bag! Sanamagan!!!
Sam Marcelo: Panay angal kasi. Hindi pa happy at nakapagaaral sa West Poweynt. They should know by now that they can’t have it all. Other kids would do everything just to get their spot!
Danny Alonzo: Manoooong please, please pass the platter of Rib Eye Steak...Medium rare please...hihihi...
Sam Marcelo : Hu! Mister U, mag observe ka naman! Yes Suh! May Cadet So and So care for a plater of Lobster Suh?!!?
Ellery Tiongson: give it here, Mr. U.. 😂.. You recite..
Sam Marcelo Ellery Tiongson :“Go placidly amidst the noise and haste and remember what Peace there maybe in silence...
Ellery Tiongson: Load and load... 😄
Resty Aguilar: Let's allow PMA authorities to clarify this issue first.
Teo Dorico: Gusto libre lahat? sonamagun
CREDIT TO THE FACE BOOK’S SHARE OF POLICE GENERAL JUN MARQUEZ (PMA CLASS OF 1984)
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(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com)column
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