President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tasked graduates of the Foreign Pre-Commissioning Training Institution (FPCTI) to bring a fresh perspective to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

According to Marcos, their training will provide insights that will strengthen defense systems and enhance military cooperation across borders. Nine individuals graduated from the FPCTI.

“The training, the discipline, the strategies that you acquired abroad will certainly boost our forces’ capabilities, especially amidst the increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape,” Marcos said during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace on Thursday.

He noted that the world demands more today than in the past, as nations face multiple issues that transcend traditional political and diplomatic practices.

“We are now expected to be innovative, we are expected to be agile, and to have foresight. But one demand that has never changed is the demand for courage — to have the courage to respond, to have the courage to adapt,” Marcos said.

The President cited the successful 7th iteration of the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity conducted on 12 February as an example. During the activity, Filipino troops and the defense forces of Canada and the United States engaged in operations to enhance cooperation and interoperability among the three countries’ militaries.

The operations were conducted in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Marcos said the military activity demonstrated that the Philippines has remained resolute in preserving the country’s sovereignty by ensuring regional peace and international cooperation.

The Commander-in-Chief expressed hope that the new FPCTI graduates would be inspired by the leadership and achievements of their senior officers as they continue to grow within the AFP organization.