Rotc in the Philippines

ROTC: Empowering the youth for peace and progress “Why take the hard way, if there’s an easy way”, these are the words that will come out from the mouth of an average and malingering human being, but taking the Reserved Officer Training Corps as their National Service Training Program will make them no average human being. These Cadets like me stepped out from the rest, to be above all the rest. Taking up the Civic Welfare Training Service, will be no extra ordinary just like every civilian can do and unlike a militiaman can do.
Not all students in the tertiary level have the guts and courage to take the ROTC as their chosen NSTP or to enter a Military Service, but why do you think these students outside the military profession did not take this path of being a future reservist, a defender of the republic and a keeper of harmony among the Filipinos? First, they say that in ROTC they will stand up under the heat of the sun for a long time, yes they will stand under the heat of the sun, but that is part of their training however, they will not stand up that long that will be too hazardous for their wellbeing.
Second, they say that Hazing is rampant and were being conducted to cadets in ROTC, but Hazing is clearly not tolerable in the organization, how will a Cadet, a youth will empower peace and progress if they will be exposed to unlawful violence such as hazing? Third, ROTC is full of burden and hardships. These people consider Physical Training as burden and hardships; these are only part and parcel of their training as Cadets and to be a future defender of the state.

Physical training is for the betterment of their wellbeing and life when they came back as a civilian in the society, they entered a Military Service not a playground. These are the three common reasons on why these students who did not take the ROTC and rejected to be part of the corps. These students or even the civilian world perceived only the one side of the coin, the negative side of Military Service. In ROTC, it promotes patriotism, moral values, virtues, respect for rights of the civilian and adherence to the constitution, the core values on empowering peace and progress.
These youths, the cadets are casted to be future leaders of our country and to be the hope of our nation, here where some of our finest warriors are products of the ROTC. They are equipped mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. They are trained to be disciplined, to build a better personality, and to overcome weaknesses. Military Professionalism is not the only lesson taught here but as well as the Conduct of a good Civilian. ROTC is one good way of keeping the youth away from harmful vices. As Rizal quoted “The youth are the hope of the nation”.
ROTC Cadets as part of the youth sector are the hope of the nation and one of the primary movers on empowering peace and progress of the nation. As they come back to civilian life they are prepared to be a soldier, a leader, and a better civilian or member in the society. They are deployed as civilians to contribute in the development and progress of the society and nation. What Parents cannot taught and straighten up to their children for years, can be done and straighten in several Sundays in ROTC. Disciplined and cooperative members of the society are one of the ingredients for the peace and progress of the nation.
The reservists, including the ROTC Cadets are the backbone of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and as well as the society. The ROTC Cadets, Reservists and the Regular Force together with their Civilian Counterparts are having a joined force for the betterment and the advancement of the Philippines. The Military especially the reserve force supports all civic welfare activities done by the government and some Non Government Organizations; in regard with this the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched the OPLAN Bayanihan that was criticized by numerous activists, leftists, and detractors.
Despite of these criticisms, this operation was pursued and successfully continues to help the wellbeing of the civilians, such activities are food programs, medical missions, clean up drives, and other civic and humanitarian efforts, these is to promote peace and to prevent armed struggle among the Filipinos . In times of catastrophe and calamity the ready reserve force and a number of ROTC cadets are called to respond, help and rescue the people in need, after these, these soldiers remained in active duty to conduct relief operations.
These duties and service to the nation may be done not only by the Cadets or men in military service, but also by people in the civilian community or any ordinary citizen in the society. Small actions can make a big difference. Men in uniform cannot do these things all by themselves effectively, but rather if the civilians will come in aid to them or cooperate with them big difference will come out, Peace and Progress in the Philippines. In this we can say that Military is no powerful or more useful than the civilians. Men in uniform have been trained to gain more abilities, but they are trained to phold the civilian supremacy at all times. The ROTC Cadets magnifies the epitomical image of an ideal Filipino who contributes to the progress and keeping the harmony among the Filipinos in the Philippines. This shows that the ROTC Cadets as a future reservist are the epitome of an ideal citizen of our country. A citizen that has a heart to sympathize his fellow Filipinos, and a soldier that has patriotism to preserve the peace and order in the country. Be a young hero, join the unit, be an ROTC Cadet! * CDT. DIEGO MARIANO