At Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City last July 1, the Philippine Military Academy gave its cadet corps a firsthand look at competitive shooting as a formal Olympic discipline — an experience deliberately set apart from the practical marksmanship drills that are already embedded in their military training curriculum.
More than 450 cadets of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines took part in the demonstration, which the PMA Public Affairs Office said was organized in close coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA).
A Foreign Coach Leads the Session
Central to the activity was foreign coach Mukhamedrakhmov Azizjon, who guided the cadets through the technical and safety dimensions of Olympic-level shooting. According to the PMA Public Affairs Office, Azizjon walked participants through the discipline-specific protocols and precision techniques that define competitive shooting at the international level — approaches that differ substantially from the field marksmanship cadets are trained in as part of their standard military formation.
The presence of an internationally experienced coach underscored the structured, institution-backed character of the initiative rather than treating it as a casual or standalone event.
Olympic Sport vs. Military Marksmanship: Understanding the Difference
One of the demonstration’s central objectives, the PMA said, was to give cadets a concrete appreciation of how Olympic shooting diverges from the practical marksmanship woven into their daily curriculum. While field marksmanship is an indispensable competency for any commissioned officer, PMA noted that exposure to shooting within a competitive, sport-oriented framework can sharpen a cadet’s internal motivation and cultivate a deeper drive toward mastery of the skill.
The academy reported that the activity generated visible enthusiasm within the corps and was seen as a meaningful opening toward greater cadet participation in the sport going forward. Officials said the event was not simply an exhibition but a deliberate step toward identifying cadets who may have the aptitude and interest to pursue competitive shooting at a higher level.
PSC–PMA Collaboration Driving the Program
The July 1 demonstration sits within a broader, continuing partnership between the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine Sports Commission, according to the PMA Public Affairs Office. Under this collaboration, cadets are being systematically exposed to a wider spectrum of sports disciplines as a component of their holistic officer development — one that recognises athletic excellence as complementary to, not separate from, military formation.
The PSC has been actively supporting sports development initiatives at Fort Del Pilar with a shared institutional goal: identifying and nurturing future Olympians from within the ranks of the Philippine Military Academy’s cadet corps. The Philippine National Shooting Association’s involvement in the July 1 activity added a layer of national governing body credibility to the effort, reinforcing that the program is aligned with the country’s broader sports development framework.
PMA said the activity is one of several initiatives under the PSC partnership, all oriented around instilling the values of focus, sustained discipline, and the pursuit of excellence in the officers being prepared for national service. That combination of military and athletic development, the academy implied, produces a more complete and competitive officer.
Broader Significance for Philippine Sports and Military Development
The initiative reflects a growing recognition within Philippine institutions that the pathways to Olympic representation need not be confined to traditional civilian sports pipelines. Military academies, with their culture of discipline and structured physical development, represent an underutilised pool of potential competitive athletes. By formalising sports exposure programs through partnerships with bodies like the PSC and the PNSA, PMA is expanding the avenues through which Filipino athletes may eventually reach international competition.
The involvement of a foreign technical coach — rather than relying solely on in-house military instructors — also signals a commitment to delivering internationally benchmarked instruction to cadets, even at the demonstration stage. This approach suggests that the PMA–PSC partnership is invested in quality of exposure, not simply volume of participation.
For the PNSA, access to a large, disciplined pool of potential shooters within the cadet corps represents a meaningful opportunity for the national shooting program. The July 1 event may well serve as a talent identification moment as much as an educational one.
By the Numbers
- 450+ cadets of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines participated in the demonstration
- 1 foreign coach — Mukhamedrakhmov Azizjon — led the technical session
- July 1, 2025 — date the demonstration was held at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City
- 3 organisations behind the initiative: PMA, PSC, and PNSA
Why This Matters
The PMA–PSC demonstration represents a concrete institutional step toward developing Filipino military cadets as potential Olympic athletes, with the formal backing of both a national sports commission and a recognised shooting association. By integrating structured Olympic sports exposure — including guidance from a foreign coach — into cadet development at Fort Del Pilar, the program expands the channels through which the Philippines can field competitive international athletes. The scale of participation and the involvement of multiple national bodies indicate that this is a sustained, programmatic effort rather than a one-time showcase.
Source: PMA Public Affairs Office, as reported by the original publisher
