The Corpsnicles..
Chapter Bravo - Barracks
I also put much value in the word bravo. When i was still a kid watching the TV series Combat Missions, I intuitively chose the Bravo Squad. Eventually, they won most evolutions and got the spots for the championship. One of my favorite childhood cartoon character had the name of Johnny Bravo.
In the Corps of Cadets, I belonged to the 2nd Company which could have been Bravo Company. I underwent my Cadet Officer Candidate Course under the batch 61-B(ravo). In addition, the first unit that I held command of was the Bravo (CASMAC) Company. I guess the best cadet officers came from whatever bravo batch, unit or affiliated icon.
There are several privileges when one graduates from COCC. It starts from tuition fee discounts, registration priorities, scholarships, uniform allowance and other UP related assistance. The cherry on the top is the grant for billeting, or lodging, in the Granadillos Hall - the cadet officer's barracks of the Diliman Corps.
At the realization that you are granted access to this hall, you wouldn't know if you'd be happy or problematic. For an under class man, it may be another name for hell rather than a lodging hall. The endless orders, tasks, routine, and schedule will keep you on your toes even after graduation from plebe year. However, all of the sacrifices and investments will pay off. Eventually.
I moved in during my senior year in Bio and my first class year as a cadet officer. As the Corps Commander, i was entitled to have my own quarters, a.k.a. the Corps Commander's Quarters. It has the best bunk, cabinet, footlocker, table & chair, etc. I made that i point that i had the best. I just live nearby the campus, but i liked staying in the barracks whenever i needed to study, sleep, eat, work or while thinking about deep thoughts. The barracks was the place to be. Total freedom. My parents agreed for me to stay there for most of the week as long as i studied.
Another home means another family. I've had my share of experiences with different cadet officers. Upper class men, classmates, lower class men and the tactical officers too! Promdi man o taga-Maynila, andyan yan lahat. The roles varied: janitor, cook, alarm clock, guard, garbage sorter, assistant, boss, mess maker and party goer. It's the interaction that keeps you alive.
Food in the barracks is quite a problem, especially for the type who picks his food often. The choices are: eat out, deliver, cook, canned goods, instant noodles, instruct someone to cook, steal or leech. Habang nasa Corps ang isang CO, hindi dapat siya nagugutom. Laging naghahanap ng paraan, madiskarte at 'di nagpapahuli.
The first actions you do inside the barracks is cleaning. A lot of cleaning. Everyday officers clean their personal areas, while the lowest class had the task to clean the communal areas: the latrines, the study area, the lounge, the kitchen, the hallway, the backwash, the walls, floor, windows - the surfaces, and the dining area. My favorite area to clean as the Men's Latrine, even when i was the Chief i took time to clean the latrine. I also did my laundry there from time to time. Kapag sinabi na malinis, dapat kaya mong panindigan. Yung tipong nilinis mo yung sahig, tapos pwede ka gumulong gulong o magpaa na walang takot na madumihan ka. Kung hindi, lagot ka. Hindi mahirap maglinis. Sa mga pagkakataon na kasama mo yung mga kaklase mo, nagiging magaan at masaya ang panahon na nagwawalis-walis ka.
A sample of our schedule
4:00 - Reveille or Wake-up
4:10 - Physical Training/Road Run
5:15 - Morning Mess or Breakfast
5:25 - Barracks Clean-up
6:25 - Personal Time
6:40 - Barracks Inspection
6:50 - Release for Quarters (esp. those who have class at 0700H)
1800H - Call to Quarters or Assembly
1815H - Evening Mess
1900H - Study Period
2100H - Personal Time
2145H - Tattoo or Settling Down Time
2200H - Taps or Time for Sleep
0000H - Lights out
Hindi pala total freedom. Maraming mga ipinagbabawal at ipinapataw sa bawat taong naninirahan sa barracks.
Some rules derived from the Barracks Rules and Regulations:
1. Never leave your area unorganized. Areas should be inspection-ready whenever a CO leaves for class.
2. Follow the barracks schedule and the orders of the Barracks Commander.
3. Ask permission when entering and leaving the area of a senior officer.
4. Compartments of the locker must have at least five articles. The compartment are as follows: A - Academic Related; B - Toiletries; C - T-shirts, Shorts, Socks, Underwear; D - Military Paraphernalia and Food, E - Military Uniform, Collared Shirts, Jackets, Elongated Articles, Pants, Belts and Headgears; F - The Magic Box.
5. All misplaced articles will be immediately disposed.
6. Cadet officers must log-in and log-out.
7. Cadet officers are not allowed to sleep between reveille and taps.
8. Shoes must be cleaned and kept under the bunk. These must be aligned with each other.
9. There should be no cobwebs.
10. Windows and lockers must be closed when staying out for more than 15 minutes.
11. There should be no clothes and dishes at the backwash during inspection. The garbage bins must be emptied out before inspection.
12. Follow proper folding of bath towel, underwear, socks, shorts, shirts and pants.
13. Cadet officers must apply for "late light" if they wish to continue working on academic or corps related items.
14. The buzzer will be rung during reveille, inspections and times of emergencies. Only authorized officers such as the Corps Commander, Cadet Officer of the Day, and Barracks Commander may ring the bell.
15. You may not wear shorts and slippers outside the barracks premises.
When officers fail to follow the rules, they get demerits and this usually translates to exercises such as push-ups and rounds at the quadrangle.
Mahal ng bawat cadet officer ang barracks at tinitiyak ng bawat isa na aabot o lalampas sa pamantayan ng kalinisan at kaayusan. Hindi basta-basta pwede dumaan ang mga tao sa barracks nang walang rason o pahintulot. This is our home. This was my home.
Andami kong gusto ilagay tungkol sa barracks, pero lumilipas lang lahat. Medyo tinatamad na rin ako magsulat sa kasalukuyan. Maaring ituloy sa susunod...
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