Military recruiting university graduates

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) is currently recruiting 900 university graduates to be trained as military officers at the School for Military Career Officers and for Short-term Voluntary Officers.

Lt. Col. C. Soerachman, head of the Military Academy's public relations office based in Magelang, Central Java, reported to Antara that 780 men and 120 women will be enrolled in the army, navy, air force and police academies.

They will be selected from 1,189 applicants, consisting of 1,022 men and 167 women.

Soerachman said the selection is based on administrative, physical health, psychological, mental and ideological criteria.

For medical and pharmaceutical school graduates, the Academy settled on a minimum average grade point of 2.10 (from a maximum of 4.0). For graduates of other schools the minimum is 2.80. Those possessing a bachelors degree must have an average grade point of 2.50.

Soerachman said those who pass the entrance tests will undergo basic military training for five months. Male cadets will be trained at the Academy in Magelang and female cadets at the School for Women Army Corps in Bandung.

He explained that the career opportunities of these graduates will be the same as those who joined the military academy directly after finishing high school. This means that they too can attain the rank of generals and reach commander positions.

After completing the five-month program, these university graduates will be given the rank of second lieutenant. Graduate students stand to be promoted more rapidly compared to those with bachelor degrees. (pwn)