On ROTC: Mandatory?

On being mandatory

This was one of the items that I needed a stand on. During my stay in the Corps, there were small talks about two to three bills for the mandatory implementation of ROTC in college. Being one of the most sensitive topic related to ROTC, i actually didn't have a clear opinion on this one. I needed to be informed of all the points that each stakeholder or institution involved before I made my stand. For example

- How much support will the Armed Forces of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, UP Student Council and Republic of the Philippines give to ROTC?

Most revolve around that question since I believe, in an ideal perspective, that ROTC is the best choice among the NSTP options. Another question comes into mind, what does LTS and CWTS offer? I have no idea since I wasn't able to enroll nor observe their training. So I leave my bias at that point. For an individual, ROTC is initially a no-brainer course as early training focuses on physical training, drills & marches, standing operating procedures, protocols and your basic military subjects.

I mentioned the word early since, ROTC does not stop there for UP student's greatest asset has not been fully utilized. Once your learn the military code and SOPs, other military subjects are added to your training. Examples of which are Map Reading, Combat Training, Marksmanship, Emergency Response and Small Unit Leadership. You go up several levels when you decide to become a cadet officer. So much things can be learned during one's stay in this program that for me, one year of Basic training isn't enough. 

Given the conditions of the program, 5 hours a week for two semesters, not all may experience the leadership development that ROTC offers too. The application of classroom lessons onto the field involves the favorite critical thinking and decision making, that a UP student should yearn for. ROTC is merely a laboratory for leadership that could be hardly seen in the university. 

The skills that cadets learn, the principles and fundamentals, and the process of acquiring that knowledge are the acts that build character. ROTC sticks to specific training, in a military fashion and environment, to educate for it has worked for centuries already. To a certain level, it instills discipline and social responsibility among the cadets. Sadly, ROTC cannot boast that all its graduates are doing the right thing all the time, but the program guarantees better individuals, or until they have been influence by others. Imagine if students experienced a full cadet schooling, three years at least. 

Once a cadet finishes the course, he or she may continue onto being a Reservist or a Regular (as long as they pass thru the proper channels) in the Army or AFP. As far as I know, the AFP remains structured in a way that non-military professions are involved in its operations. Engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, researchers, scientists, teachers, athletes and many more have their place in the military. Military education and civilian education go hand-in-hand. Having one as part of your background would make you more stable in the outside world. 

You must experience it to truly understand. I know this doesn't only go for ROTC.

As a graduate alone, my response to ROTC being upped for being compulsory is a no. With the few who volunteer, ROTC should train these handful, compared to the thousands before, to become the best that the program wants them to be, or what the country needs them to be. From there, it may be an easy push for it being mandatory, but not per se - with the program being wanted and needed that its state of being mandatory will no longer be needed. No matter how many students enroll, there must be competent personnel ready to teach and facilitate the ROTC program, and of course, the material support will be handy in the process. 

I would probably write another piece once I get my thoughts in line.