COME conducts first-ever Donning of Shoulder Boards Ceremony

The COME Corps of Cadets hosted its first-ever Donning of Shoulder Boards ceremony for its first-year cadets at the University Oval on January 22. Initiated by the College of Maritime Education, the act of donning symbolizes the beginning of the cadetship for the first-year COME students as they embark on their maritime journey within the university.

This milestone event resulted from the successful reception rites also initiated by the COME-COC for the first-year cadets. The ceremony was attended by the COME Corps of Cadets, faculty and staff, families of the first-year cadets, university officials, and guests.

In an interview with The Review, CDT 1CL Corps Commander Dheniel Angelo Sambrana, who initiated these activities, stated, “During the ceremony, I experiences a profound sense of honor, amazement, and pride as I see the proud parents don the shoulder boards of their sons and daughters. There is also a touch of excitement as I witnessed a dream of mine to provide a ceremony that I never experienced during my first year to our new first-year cadets. I also anticipate the impact that the ceremony will have on the cadets.”