"Brotherhood, Camaraderie, and Loyalty: The Foundation of My Squad, My Family"

"FAMILY MEANS NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND."

- David Ogden Stiers (1)

Reception Rights: I will never forget hearing the words "Ako si Cdt 2nd Class... and ako ang magiging squad leader mo" over a whirlwind of tearful goodbyes, sobs, and chants as I enter this Academy, received by a battalion of upperclassmen. Being a New Cadet in this Academy, you are always filled with dread and panic as you step into a strange and unfamiliar environment. The fatigue of performing such tedious activities each day can create, if not break, a lot of people who wake up early, shape their minds and body to become stronger in the pursuit of their ambitions of becoming public servants and push themselves to the absolute boundaries outside of their comfort zone.

Hence, it is crucial to have a reliable source of support in situations like these. I had no idea that this particular stage, where I first heard the terms "squad" and "squad mate," would forever alter my life. I initially had no expectations whatsoever regarding the squads, platoons, or even the companies within the Academy.

Over the next four years, it was all but a grouping for me to achieve my goals of becoming a police officer and a public servant. My squad mates are nothing more to me than complete foreigners who moved from different parts of the country who aspired to become police officers and who later became our close friends and family in the Academy. In the midst of the difficulties floating down the river of my cadetship training, I was prepared to tackle my own difficulties alone. However, this notion was disproved when my first squad leader urged us to treat our squad members like family because they are the people you can lean on and call when faced with difficulties. He made it clear that throughout my time as a PNPA cadet, my squad mates are the people I can always count on for various matters relating to my training and personal life inside the Academy. In the course of my training inside the Academy, I gradually came to the conclusion that he was correct.

Your squadmates are your family, no matter which part of the nation or what status of living they once had outside the portals of the Academy. They have struggled with the same things together, faced obstacles together, and endured pain together. For in the face of all the hardships that the cadetship training offers, your squad mate is the one that is right behind you, ready to give support with anything within their capabilities.

This is what it takes to be in a squad, and I now clearly understood what it meant: my squad is my family because, no matter what, they are always willing to support me in conquering my difficulties and problems. In a squad, you defend your teammates and stick by them through good and bad times because you know and are certain that they will do the same to you.

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(1) David Ogden Stiers https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/david_ogden_stiers_331251#:~:text=David%20Ogden%20Stiers%20Quotes&text=Family%20means%20no%20one%20gets%20left%20behind%20or%20forgotten.