ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Philippine Army started the conduct of examination for future leaders of government troops last April 30 at Capiz State University – Roxas City campus.

The same examination will be conducted in Western Visayas College of Science and Technology in Iloilo City today.

The Special Written Examination is needed for the Officer Candidate Course and for the applicants for Officer Preparatory Course.

Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office Chief Enrico Gil Ileto said the Philippine Army Recruitment Center Office for Visayas of the Army Personnel Management Center will facilitate the said examination.

He said that only natural born citizen, a bachelor's degree holder, having a score of 100 or more in the Philippine Army Aptitude Test Battery or passed the Army Qualifying Examination and Special Written Examination, with a height of at least five feet, with no pending case in civil and military courts, and is physically, mentally and psychologically fit are qualified to take the examination.

"For OCC candidates, he or she must be at least 21 to 24 years old and at least 21 to 30 years old for OPC candidates," Ileto said, adding that interested applicants may call telephone number (032) 231-5157 or log on to http://www.army.mil.ph/.

The OCC is a one-year course which prepares a candidate mentally, physically, and emotionally to become an army officer, he said, pointing out that upon graduation, the individual will be commissioned as an Army 2ndlieutenant in the Regular Force, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

He added that if one is already an Army 2nd Lieutenant in the Reserved Force, AFP on inactive status, the six-month OPC prepares one for active duty in the AFP's Regular Force.

According to Ileto, included in the pay and benefits for the officers include a monthly gross pay and allowances of P29,007.00 for Officer Candidate and P32,668.00 for 2Lt (Call to Active Duty) aside from the insurance and healthcare benefits, billeting and housing privileges, job security, leadership and other skills trainings, opportunity for career advancement based on performance, opportunities for post graduate studies both within and outside the country, and an opportunity to lead in the Philippine Army.*PIA