The primary weapon of the Escort and Honor Battalion is the 7.62 mm M-14 rifle weighing 8.7 lbs. Doing the manual of arms with a real 14 isn't an easy task. Plus the fact we had to do it with those slippery white gloves. The pressure on the grip has to be doubled. The first day caressing the carbine found them like little kids trying to lift their daddy's shotguns. "Itlog lang ang kaya niyong kapitan" ("It's only eggs you can get a grip on!") exclaimed the commander who happenned to be observing.

With this situation, a new P.T. (Physical Training) module was introduced - the rifle exercises. Push ups with the rifle between the legs, Jumping Jacks with the rifle swinged up and down with both arms, lunger with the rifle "lunged" between the legs and nine other variations designed to get us used to that 8.7 lbs we would lift over and over again for hours.

The routines were practiced over and over and everytime, it got better. Then came the day when everyone was lifting their 14 as if it was as light as a pretty girl's lingerie. They had gone beyond expectations as they executed movements with a fascinating snap. With their white gloves, it was quite a beautiful sight to see the manual of arms.

The affection for the M-14, an instrument of destruction made of iron and wood, has never been so sweet.

If we just complete the Parade Sequence, we could surely beat our greatest traditional rival - the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) - and win the AGTI for DLSU.

Next: Operation Cadence