I Love the Infantry!

I had my short vacation at home after my graduation from PMA, and afterwards I reported to Headquarters Philippine Army. Other newly-commissioned Army Lieutenants in my class reported back with me. The Army leadership decided to send us first to undergo officers’ basic specialization courses. I chose Infantry as my specialization course. To me, being an Infantryman was the best you can be in the Army. It was the specialization that would get me closest to the battlefield. To borrow the words of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ernie Pyle, “I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end, they are the guys that wars can’t be won without.”

After completing our officer basic course, we were asked about our preferred Army units before we were issued final orders of deployment. I proudly volunteered to be a Scout Ranger. That meant the Army would need to be convinced that I deserved to be assigned to the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) for me to eventually become an organic officer of the unit. It was a tough choice. The unit is known to really go into many serious non-stop combat operations for days, weeks and even months. To be assigned in FSRR, an elite Army unit, is a matter of pride – and I was full of it.

There were 25 officers from our PMA class who enthusiastically volunteered. Ten of us, along with a graduate from a foreign military school, were chosen. The FSRR is known as one of the best special operations unit in the world. In terms of physical fitness, I felt like I was the weakest. On hindsight, I believe I was only on the radar of the special operations recruiters because of basketball. Those veteran special operators loved basketball! I’m glad they picked me from the tough lot. 

--THE RESCUE (2019)