LIEUTENANT COLONEL ARNOLD FETIZA FERNANDEZ is the 22nd Battalion Commander of the Engineer Maintenance and Support Battalion, 51st Engineer Brigade, Philippine Army. He assumed command of the premier engineer maintenance unit after his stint as Commander of the 514th Engineer Construction Battalion which was recalled from Mindanao AOR for absorption to the pioneering Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army.
He began his career as a cadet in the prestigious Philippine Military Academy and graduated “cum laude” on March 1986 as an Army Officer.
In the Corps of Engineers, he began his field work with the 513th Engineer Construction Battalion of the 51EBde, Philippine Army as the Charlie Company Commander. At a later time, after he graduated number 1 in his Engineer Officer Basic Course on 1988, he became the Alpha Company Commander of the 522nd Engineer Construction Battalion which made him “The Best Company Commander” in the whole of 51st Engineer Brigade, year 1992.
Along with his colorful service exposures, he handled sensitive positions in the Corps of Engineers, United Nations Offices, Staff Positions in GHQ and Tactical positions in the academic military institutions.
Sooner, after he finished his advance course as top six in 1995, he was exposed to foreign assignment as Company Commander of the Philippine Construction Engineer Team of the United Nations Task Force in Thailand year 2000 where he gathered exemplary awards from the United Nations as well from the Royal Thai Army.
He also served in the Infantry as the Secretary General, Training Officer, Logistics Officer and the Division Training Unit Commanding Officer of the 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division in Tanay, Rizal year 2001.
Not long after he graduated top 1 in his General Staff Course, Philippine Army in 2004, he handled higher command position in Mindanao as the Battalion Commander of the 514th Engineer Construction Battalion, 54th Engineer Brigade, Philippine Army.
His awards and decorations include Military Merit Medals, the Military Commendation Medals, Anti-Dissident Campaign Medals, Luzon and Mindanao Campaign Ribbons, the Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbons, Civic Action Medals, Combat Commander “Kagitingan “ Badge, Presidential Unit Citation Badges, UN Service Medal, Instructor Badge, and the Outstanding Instructor Awards.
