Born into an aviation family and raised within the grounds of a Philippine Air Force base, a young cadet from Lapu-Lapu City has completed one of the most distinguished paths available to a Filipino military officer candidate — graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado after four years of rigorous academic and military training, and is now set to return home to serve the Philippine Air Force as a commissioned officer.
Cadet First Class Dans Uriel Bacalso Ferrer, 23, a member of the Philippine Military Academy's "SIKLAB-LAYA" Class of 2025, formally graduated from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) on May 28, 2026. The announcement was confirmed in an official statement released by the PMA Public Affairs Office and authenticated by Lieutenant Commander Jesse Nestor B. Saludo PN, Chief of the PMA Public Affairs Office.
While the PMA's home base is Fort General Gregorio H. Del Pilar in Baguio City, Cadet Ferrer's graduation reflects a specialized track under the Foreign Pre-Commission Training Institution (FPCTI) program — a bilateral arrangement between PMA and USAFA that sends top-performing Filipino cadets to complete their full officer education at partner academies in the United States before returning to be commissioned into the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Four-Year Degree with Academic Honors at USAFA
Cadet Ferrer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Area Studies under the Military Strategic Studies track, with a regional concentration focused on Asia and a minor in the Japanese language. His consistent performance throughout the program earned him a place on the Dean's List — among the most prestigious academic distinctions awarded at USAFA.
His time in the United States also produced an extensive collection of military certifications and specialized qualifications. According to the PMA Public Affairs Office, these include the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), Rifle Expert qualification for the M4 (5.56mm), Pistol Expert qualification for the M18 (9mm), the Cadet Cyberwarfare Badge, and the Cadet Glider Wings with a star — the last of which was awarded in recognition of his solo flight in a TG-16 aircraft.
Cadet Ferrer further earned Parachutist Wings upon completing five solo freefall skydives, certifying his proficiency in airborne operations — a capability that will serve him well in his upcoming career with the Philippine Air Force.
Top Scorer in 2020 PMA Entrance Examination
Long before arriving at USAFA, Cadet Ferrer had already set himself apart within the Philippine military education pipeline. In 2020, he placed first in the PMA Entrance Examination — a highly competitive national assessment taken by thousands of aspiring officer candidates each year — marking him as one of the most exceptional candidates of his cohort.
His outstanding ranking made him eligible for consideration under the FPCTI program, through which PMA identifies and selects cadets for full-degree training at partner military academies abroad. His eventual selection for the USAFA program, the PMA Public Affairs Office noted, reflected both his academic standing and the institution's goal of developing officers with global exposure, specialized strategic knowledge, and cross-cultural adaptability.
A Family Legacy Rooted in Philippine Air Force Aviation
Cadet Ferrer's connection to military aviation runs deeper than ambition alone — it is woven into his upbringing. He is the son of Lieutenant Colonel Demetrio DL Ferrer PAF (Ret), a retired Philippine Air Force pilot and member of the PMA "MASINAG" Class of 1998, and Ms. Nancy Bacalso-Ferrer, a former broadcast journalist with ABS-CBN Central Visayas.
Growing up at Brigadier General Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Cadet Ferrer spent his formative years surrounded by the sights and sounds of military aviation. The PMA Public Affairs Office noted in its statement that his father's career as a PAF pilot served as the primary inspiration behind his decision to pursue a life in uniform and, eventually, in the cockpit.
His family, the statement added, has remained his most enduring source of motivation throughout what has been a years-long journey spanning two military academies on two continents.
Next Stop: Pilot Training with the Philippine Air Force
With his graduation from USAFA now complete, Cadet Ferrer is scheduled to join the Philippine Air Force as a newly commissioned officer. His immediate next assignment will be the Basic Aviation Officer Course (BAFOC), the standard entry-level training program for incoming PAF officers, according to information provided by the PMA Public Affairs Office.
Following BAFOC, Cadet Ferrer has expressed his intention to undergo formal pilot training — the culmination of a lifelong goal shaped by his father's example and his years growing up on an air base. His educational background in Military Strategic Studies with an Asia-focused regional concentration and a Japanese language minor further positions him as a valuable asset in areas such as regional security analysis and multilateral military cooperation with allied nations in the Indo-Pacific.
The breadth of his qualifications — spanning academic honors, cyberwarfare training, glider and parachutist certifications, firearms expertise, and a language skill directly relevant to the region — makes Cadet Ferrer an unusually well-rounded officer candidate for the demands facing the Philippine Air Force today.
A Message of Hope for Young Filipinos
In remarks shared following his graduation, Cadet Ferrer offered an encouraging message to young Filipinos who may be pursuing their own aspirations, whether in military service or beyond.
"To the Filipino people, never stop dreaming. Hangga't nagsusumikap tayo para sa ating mga pangarap, patuloy na uunlad ang ating bansa."
("To the Filipino people, never stop dreaming. As long as we strive for our dreams, our nation will continue to progress.")
He also extended his gratitude to his family, his American sponsor families who supported him during his time at USAFA, his friends, classmates, and the broader PMA community for their guidance and encouragement throughout his training.
PMA's FPCTI Program: Building Globally Competent Military Leaders
Cadet Ferrer's achievement stands as a tangible result of the sustained investment the Philippine Military Academy has made in international military education partnerships. The FPCTI framework, which underpins his USAFA placement, is part of a broader network of agreements between PMA and allied military academies designed to give top Filipino officer candidates exposure to foreign military doctrine, culture, and professional practice before they are commissioned into the AFP.
According to the PMA Public Affairs Office, Cadet Ferrer's accomplishment "underscores PMA's broader effort to develop future officers through international exposure, advanced military education, and cross-cultural learning." The academy described his achievement as evidence of its institutional commitment to "preparing young leaders who can bring home valuable knowledge, skills, and perspectives in service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines."
His original class designation — PMA "SIKLAB-LAYA" Class of 2025 — reflects his starting cohort at PMA, with the extended four-year program at USAFA pushing his formal graduation date to 2026. Upon commissioning, he will bring back to the AFP not only a degree and a distinguished academic record, but a set of practical military skills and international relationships that the Philippine Air Force is poised to benefit from in the years ahead.
Originally reported by: Philippine Military Academy Public Affairs Office / PMA PAO Official Statement