PMA lowers height requirement to 5 feet

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines  – The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) here has lowered the height limit for both male and female cadets to only five feet to give more people the opportunity to enter the premier military institution in the country.

“It has been observed during the conduct of the Limited Physical Examination (LPE) during the previous PMA Entrance Examination (PMAEE), many are denied the chance to go through the first phase of the selection process, solely for the reason of not meeting the height requirement,” said PMA Superintendent Maj. Gen. Nonato Peralta Jr.

The lowering of the height requirement from 5’4” for male and 5’2” for female is expected to increase the number of applicants, considering that more Filipino youths would now have the chance to take the PMA Cadet Qualification Test (PMACQT) given annually in different examination centers nationwide.

This year’s examination date is set on Aug. 26.

“With the previous height requirement, many Filipino youths, who have good educational background and are physically fit, are disenfranchised from the opportunity of being able to take the entrance examination.”

The latest PMA admission reform is welcome news especially to most Igorot applicants from the Cordillera region who are generally shorter than their counterparts from other parts of the country.

Igorot applicants have to get “endorsements” from their local congressmen who appeal to PMA officials to “waive” the height requirement for cadets.

Peralta said, “We will be increasing the pool where the best candidate for PMA cadets would be selected.”

Aside from the 5 feet flat height requirement, a cadet should be a natural-born Filipino citizen, physically fit, of good moral character, single and has never been married, at least high school graduate, no administrative or criminal case, must pass the PMAEE, and should have been born from April 1, 1991 to April 1, 1996.

Being a PMA cadet gives an individual a noble privilege to serve the country. One is able to avail of a free college education with a well-rounded curriculum as well as receive monthly salary and allowances, the PMA superintendent noted.

After graduating from the academy, the cadets have guaranteed progressive careers as officers in the Army, Navy, or Air Force.