Philippine Asian News Today | Page 13

August 16 -31, 2016 then everyone would be doing it. Lastly, it’s because of my career with the CAF that I have learned transferable skills such as: loyalty, commitment, having a good work ethic and leadership skills. These transferable skills are not always easy to come by in the civilian world. You can definitely inherit these skills which will aid to your job skill sets when you decide you want to retire from the military. RC: What do you see yourself doing in the next 10 years? JLL: In the next 10 years, I hope to have commissioned from the ranks (CFR) and become an Officer by utilizing my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Human Resources Management with a minor in Psychology. How I will use my degree is to become a Personnel Selections Officer in the Army. Personnel Selection Officers apply behavioural science knowledge and procedures to evaluate the factors that affect working relationships. They provide professional advice to military commanders, particularly in the areas of recruiting, selection, leadership, performance appraisal and other human resource issues. I also hope to be married by then and having a family of my own. ;) RC: If you weren’t in the military now, what would you be PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY doing? JLL: If I wasn’t in the military, I would probably be wondering to myself about my life what life’s purposes would be. I’d wonder what I could do in my life for it to have significant meaning. I would think to myself that, “if I were to die so suddenly, I want to die for something honourable”. Having travelled to Egypt and visiting some of the poverty-stricken areas of the country, allowed me to really appreciate what we have as Canadians. So, if I wasn’t in the military, I would want to somehow figure out a way to contribute to the greater good by giving aid to developing countries. Jennifer hopes to inspire more women to join the military, to serve their country and to be the best at what they do, and doing that with eyebrows on fleek. ;-) CAF Recruits through POLO The Philippine Overseas Labour Office or POLO regularly conducts information sessions that assists temporary foreign workers, permanent residents and Canadian citizens to help them find work in their areas of interest. The POLO, together with the Consulate General Office under Deputy Consul Bong Villanueva, a PMA alumnus, invited the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to do a recruitment workshop for the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association of Western Canada former officers and alumni, and those who are interested in a career in the military. The PMAAAWC was represented by retired Col. Romeo Ranay, and also present were the staff and volunteers of POLO Liza Dela Rosa, Bullet Bullet Buenaventura, Agnes Tecson and Cynthia Tamondong. Consul General Neil Ferrer opened the activity with an acknowledgement to the CAF and the POLO for the work that they do in the recruitment of Filipino-Canadians. Sgt. Jeff Hynes, Sgt. Bernie Khor, and Master Corporal Jennifer Ladrillono- Labrador presented the opportunities that the CAF offers to young people who are thinking of joining the armed forces, especially going into university. LadrillonoLabrador, a Filipino-Canadian, shared her experiences in the military, especially the training that she received from the forces. She said she wants to promote military service to young women who are rarely interested in the military. The CAF team explained the numerous opportunities and areas of education, as well as the various professions that are possible employment needs of the military. LadrillonoLabrador, for instance, is a combat engineer and is a soldier specialist who performs a variety of construction and demolition tasks under combat conditions. She and Kohr are front-liners and are trained for situations that involve combat, while Hynes is an army machinist. There are about 107 occupations in the military, and most of them are not combat occupations, but all those who serve in the military have basic training. The team also explained how recruitment for the forces is from ages 18 to 56, as the maximum age to serve is 60. The workshop was attended by former officers and their families who were very much interested in the opportunities that the military offered. The CAF hopes to encourage and recruit more young people, especially those coming from military families, to join the forces and to have a career in the armed forces. WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM A13