RETURNING TO THE NEST

by P2LT GUERRA

What should have been the precursor to our country’s Air Force Academy, the Philippine
Air Force Aviation Officer Candidate School (PAFAOCS) was established in June 16, 1998 to
train cadets to fill the ranks of the nation’s sky guardians. Cadets will be trained for 12 months
before becoming commissioned officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and will
undergo specialized training in different fields with the Philippine Air Force (PAF). AFP General
Headquarters renamed the school to Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School (PAFOCS)
after two years. The PAF Officer Candidate Course (PAF OCC) became the officer pre-entry
training course of PAFOCS until today.
In December 4, 2015, the AFP conducted a synchronized graduation for the three major
services (Air Force, Army, and Navy) Officer Candidate Course at the AFP Theater in Camp
Aguinaldo, Quezon City. 42 Officers from the Philippine Air Force, 58 Officers from the
Philippine Army, and 53 Officers from the Philippine Navy composed the graduating Class of
2015 ready to face the challenges of being officially part of the service.
Two standard awardees of the Philippine Air Force would go on to take flight on an
interesting career journey and coming back home to serve in their Alma Mater nurturing the next
generation of Air Force Officers: then 2LT GEMADEL MAQUILING PAF recipient of the
Secretary of National Defense Award and then 2LT TYRONE ESTILLERO PAF recipient of the
Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines Award.
Fast forward to seven years later, now CPT GEMADEL M SIAPNO PAF and CPT
TYRONE T ESTILLERO PAF both are currently assigned in PAFOCS as Head for Excellence in
Leadership Department and Director for Logistics respectively. Starting as Officer Candidates in
the quadrangle of the PAFOCS Barracks, now they are the ones supervising the formations,
drills, and inspections of future PAF leaders in the sacred grounds.
To say that PAFOCS have produced exemplary PAF Officers over the years is an
understatement. The school’s alumni build and support the pillars of their Alma Mater’s
existence. They will not only fly high and conquer the skies but they will also teach and bring the
flock of younglings destined to shape the future of the nation’s guardians of the sky with them
on their flight path. It is one of the multiple ways of paying homage to their roots no matter how
high they soar just like eagles returning to their nests.