1940
As the conflict in Europe was underway, and with Japan entering into a tripartite agreement with Germany and Italy, raising tensions in the Pacific, the Philippines was preparing for its possible involvement in a war. With the passing of the National Defense Act, it was now the prime duty of the government to defend the state.
Amidst all these, PMA just had an Academic Revolution; changing the three- year curriculum of the Philippine Constabulary Academy into a four-year course, making it a Bachelor of Science degree. The change was made to provide each cadet with a balanced and liberal education in arts and sciences, and also to build a progressive and successful military career in order to represent the Armed Forces in any group, at home or abroad.
With the change in the institution’s curriculum, cadets were expected to be prepared for an immediate application of their classroom trainings in the field as part of the Armed Forces. PMA Class of 1942 was the last pre-war class to complete the four-year course.
1941
December of 1941 brought about an unexpected turn of events in the life of the PMA Cadets, especially to the graduating Class of 1942. On December 7th, Pearl Harbor was bombed in a surprise attack by the Japanese forces. A few days later, while the cadets were having their classes in Teacher’s Camp, the Cadet Officer of the Day announced that Camp John Hay, an American base in Baguio City, was bombed.
As classes were suspended and as the cadets left their classrooms, they caught sight of a squadron of Japanese planes unleashing a bomb on Teacher’s Camp. On the night of December 12th, cadets, officers and all enlisted personnel were ordered to vacate Teacher’s Camp. Throughout the chaos and uncertainty, the members of Class 1942 along with the officers and enlisted personnel motored down Kennon Road, eyes alert and rifles ready, in their minds was the thought that war was upon them.
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