PCG: Two Filipino cadets who were sponsored by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and were appointed as international cadets to the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) graduated today at the Cadet Memorial Field in New London, Connecticut, USA with President Barack Obama gracing the 134th Commencement Exercise of USCGA Class of 2015.

Cadet Niño Jhanus G Aniban USCGA from Bantayan, Cebu and Cadet Sean Jayner D Cabral USCGA from Calaca, Batangas had undergone training at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in Zambales under the PCG Cadetship Program last June 2010 before being admitted as swab members (seven-week military training program) out of the 291 cadets who entered the academy last June 27, 2011. 

Cabral and Aniban were two of the six chosen international cadets who joined the class. Aside from them, other foreign cadets were from Antigua, Tunisia and the Republic of Georgia.

PCG Commandant, Admiral Rodolfo D Isorena lauded the cadets for finishing the four-year rigid course at the academy and expressed his gratitude to the cadets for bringing pride to the organization.

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.

Commander of the Coast Guard Education and Training Command, Commodore Aaron T Reconquista who represented the PCG in the graduation administered the oath of allegiance of the cadets to the Philippine flag after the graduation ceremony. COMMO RECONQUISTA is a graduate of the USCGA Class of 1986.  Other USCGA alumni from the PCG include former PCG Commandant, Admiral Wilfredo D Tamayo PCG (Ret) who is a graduate of USCGA Class of 1979 and former Commander of Maritime Safety Services Command, Commodore Gilbert S Rueras PCG (Ret) of USCGA Class of 1982.