ROTC: What makes it still relevant in today’s time?
ROTC or Reserve Officer Training Corps is one of three components of the
National Service Training Program of the Philippines. It is the component that delves on
the civic education and defense preparedness program for Filipino college students.
ROTC Basically, this component desires to provide military education and training for
students to mobilize them for national defense preparedness. The objectives of this
component include preparation of college students for service in the Armed Forces of the
Philippines in the event of an emergency, and their training to become reservists and
potential commissioned officers of the AFP.
People have this common notion when they hear the word ROTC that students
would be recruited and compelled to join the Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP, and
fight against the militants and other terrorist groups. Also, what other people think
whenever they hear the word ROTC is the danger that comes along with it, that’s why
most parents don’t want their child to be enrolled in the program. All of these thinking that
were instilled in the minds of the people is due to the incident that had happened 17 years
ago, where Cadet Mark Chua, of University of Santo Tomas, was killed after he exposed
corruption that plagued the ROTC at the University of Santo Tomas. Controversies of
hazing, abuses by trainers and cadet officers, corruption, among others arose after the
incident, and ROTC became optional starting in 2002 through RA 9163 or the National
Service Training Program Act.
We could not blame people to have that kind of thinking towards ROTC, because
of the issue of violence and abuses that have made an impression that such program is
no good and that the students are not learning anything but only to march and hold rifles
on the field under the deadly and sweltering heat of the sun. Despite of that, many are
still in favor of the implementation of the program. In fact, in a report on Manila Bulletin
stated that people have sent their supports toward the program as they believed that
military training fosters not only discipline but also chivalry which now seems to be waning
among the youth in these modern times. All the marching and the various formations that
ROTC cadets execute under the hot sun indeed have their purpose. Leadership skills,
teamwork and unity are developed and the grueling exercises instill the value of discipline
and sacrifice to achieve common objectives.
Furthermore, in a report by Francis Tolentino to Manila Bulletin, he stated the four
of the main reasons why the Reserved Officers Training Corps should be part of our
tertiary education curriculum. First, it is a potent tool in instilling discipline and nationalism
among young Filipinos. Second, disaster resiliency and preparedness can be made part
of the ROTC. Third, ROTC cadets may also be a pool from which national athletes may
be selected to represent the country in various sports events. Lastly, since the Universal
Free College Education is already in effect, the ROTC program can be part of said
scholarship system.
For me, values of discipline, honor, respect, and the sense of responsibility can be
acquired through the program and principles of ROTC. Aside from that, students under
the program develop and improve their time management as they are focused and
concentrated not just in their academics, but also in how they develop their social wellbeing.
In this generation, we can barely observe that most of the youth are outrageous
and undisciplined. Also, respect with their parent, to elders, or even to other people is
hardly observed. As humans, these acts that do not contribute to humility and unity of the
people of the community should not be tolerated but must be corrected. Also, as
personally experienced as Scout, discipline is one of the most difficult values that
someone can master and acquire. It takes patience, time and effort in order for someone
to become that disciplined enough. Moreover, students, nowadays lack the sense of
responsibility, since most of them prioritize extra-curricular activities that are irrelevant
such as going to party or other insignificant social gathering despite having a task to be
submitted the next day. With ROTC, I know that these values and principles can be
achieved. As students undergo disciplinary and military training, strict imposition of
respect towards higher officials and discipline within one’s self are observed. With ROTC,
it is essential to bring back the old glory of citizens’ military training, minus all the bad
things that have tarnished its image.
Furthermore, with ROTC and as military training is imposed, students also acquire
and learn basic defense skills and trainings that are essential for one’s defense and
safety. As I have experienced in my ROTC here in UPV, we were taught of proper firing
of M16 and Calibre 45 pistol. This is one of the basic defense acts that is being taught in
ROTC. Given with the situation we have in our country, were our national security is not
in firm and secure conditions, we have to be aware of the basic defense techniques that
we could apply to this situation.
Nevertheless, ROTC programs are a primary means to implement the "citizen
soldier" model and provide officers who have been trained at a wide variety of civilian
institutions. ROTC prevents the military officer corps from becoming isolated from the
mainstream of Filipino life. With that, I believe that Reserve Officer Training Corps or
ROTC, is still relevant in today’s time. I believe that the values and principles of respect,
honor, discipline and sense of responsibility can be acquired through the aid of the
program, as it is evidently observed that these are not given importance by the present
generation of the youth. The program needs widespread acceptance and that the
common impressions that are fastened to it must be corrected. Moreover, the public must
have to realize the necessity of ROTC in our country’s development and security, thus,
there is need to enhance the program and put in place the necessary safeguards to avoid
controversies anew.