The Essence of Being a Cadet

Life is full of ups and downs. It is what life is all about, twist!! I for one had experience it. I had been to several actuation but I didn't prosper until I experience to be a cadet of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association Philippines Cadet Program.

The Norwegian Shipowners' Association Philippines Cadet Program had provided hopes to ordinary citizens of the country to experience a free education and an insured future. This is indeed a gateway to be successful for lots of us most especially on the lower bracket of the population. It doesn't only offer a lucrative future but it is a life full of training to become one responsible marine officer anchored on the virtues of humility, righteousness and integrity.

The Cadetship

It is a four year education that will lead to a degree on Marine Transportation or Marine Engineering. Cadets will first undergo one year of regimental training. Much like the cadetship offered in the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), the NAVY Academy of the Philippines and the regimental training of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP). Here, cadets are expected to learn the virtue of discipline and humility while balancing their academic performance. Cadets who undergo these one year training are referred to as fourth class (4/C) cadets.

The cadets under the NSA Program had also undergone different significant training and seminar offered only  by NSA themselves. They pay top caliber instructors and experts from the maritime industry just to conduct the said training and seminar. This actuation is actually for the preparation for the cadets that would undergo their Shipboard training when they finish their two year academic requirements. These cadets would board their respective vessels under various Norwegian principals like Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab AS (DSD Shipping), Hoegh Fleet Services, OSM, TSM, Grieg, KJGS, Solvang, Knutsen, Stolt- Nielsen, Klaveness and a lot more.

After one year, those cadets who went on board will go back to school and finish their degree.

The NSA cadet program is offered only to few recipient schools and these are the Davao Merchant Marine Academy College of Southern Philippines, University of Cebu- Lapu lapu and Mandaue and John B. Lacson College Foundation in Bacolod.

Life of a Cadet

The NSA Cadetship differs from each of the institution however, all of them are geared towards developing future conquerors of the seven seas. Every institution have their own policies to be maintained as a student and as a NSA cadet. 

Being an NSA cadet is full of expectation. As what others referred to us, we are the cream of the crop of the our institution. We are models of discipline and integrity not only on the walls of the our dormitory but also on the streets of our backyards. We are trained to lead people and the responsibility vested to us is huge and people look up to us as even though we are perfect. 

However, cadets are still humans. We commit mistakes, be punished and sometimes be irresponsible. But, the difference of the cadets from others is the essence of coping with the situation. WE NEVER BACK DOWN. WE EAT CHALLENGES AND CONQUER OUR FEARS. Although we accept our mistakes, we do not let our pride eat us; we stand up and fight back.

The Cadetship is one of the most memorable moments of my life. It is were I was molded to become a gentleman, a professional and an officer. The experience is never comparable.