PCG: Three cadets were appointed as international cadets of the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) Class of 2021 after they were being admitted as swab members during their swearing in ceremony in Washington Parade Field, USCGA, New London, Connecticut, USA last 26 June.

Cadet Daisy Anne L Atayan from Iligan City and Cadet Dianne Shaira L Basuel from South Cotabato had undergone a one-year training at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in Zambales under the PCG Cadetship Program prior to admission for a four-year academic and professional training program to one of America’s finest military educations. Meanwhile, Cadet Genison C Basilio from Nueva Vizcaya also successfully qualified for the international cadet program out of the nominees chosen by the PCG.

The would-be cadets, referred to as Swabs, start their intensive training program otherwise known as Swab Summer which takes a seven-week orientation involving general military skills, physical conditioning to develop self-discipline, military bearing and esprit de corps. 

Out of the 297 cadets composing the said class, only 35 percent are under-represented minorities while 34 percent are women which includes 10 international cadets representing the Marshall Islands, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Micronesia, Georgia and the Philippines.

The USCG has participated the international exchange cadetship program since 1975, graduating cadets from 26 foreign countries. The said exchange program aims to promote a spirit of cooperation not only between national governments but also with their respective maritime organization of foreign countries in the USCG.

In May 2015, Ensign Niño Jhanus G Aniban USCGA from Cebu and Ensign Sean Jayner D Cabral USCGA from Batangas were the first batch to graduate under the PCG Cadetship Program. Cabral and Aniban were two of the six chosen international cadets who joined the class together with foreign cadets were from Antigua, Tunisia and the Republic of Georgia. On the other hand, the second batch of recipients were Cadet Eric Joseph D Noble from Quezon City and Cadet John Manuel B Ramos from Laguna who are members of USCGA Class of 2020.

Other PCG officers who are USCGA alumni include former PCG Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo (Class 1979), Commodore Gilbert Rueras PCG (Class 1982), and Commodore Aaron Reconquista PCG of Class of 1986.

After their graduation, the cadets will be commissioned in the PCG with the rank of Ensign upon graduation from the academy and will render a minimum of eight years of continuous active service. The PCG Cadetship Program is a part of the Command’s vision of establishing its first Cadet Corps as a precursor to the establishment of the Philippine Coast Guard Academy.

(Photo courtesy by theday.com, ENS SEAN JAYNER CABRAL PCG and USCGA Parents- Class of 2021 FB Group)