Trainees of the Coast Guard Officers' Course (CGOC) Class 29-2022 "Bravo" underwent Jungle Environment Survival Training (JEST) in Subic Bay, Zambales, from 18 to 19 July 2023.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) RTC-Bataan Course Director, CG Lieutenant Commander Geriel Cabacungan, presided over the training that honed their abilities in navigation, resourcefulness, and adaptability.
According to the PCG RTC-Bataan, the first phase commenced with an informative orientation where the trainees learned about the potential challenges in the jungle.
The camp instructors emphasized the importance of teamwork, quick decision-making, and mental resilience for survival in the wild.
Moreover, the trainees constructed improvised shelters using natural materials, cooked using primitive tools, and foraged for water, food, and medicinal plants in the wilderness.
The PCG RTC-Bataan said the JEST training developed their military skills and fostered personal growth, self-reliance, and an unyielding spirit.
"As they completed each phase of the training, these young men and women were proving their readiness for the PCG service and discovering their inner strength and determination," CG Lieutenant Commander Cabacungan expressed.