Only ROTC grads in uniformed services, but keep ROTC voluntary

This is a reaction to Ramon Farolan’s column titled “Men of ROTC” (Opinion, 2/27/17) which cited some ROTC graduates who distinguished themselves in combat during World War II and, later, rose to the top leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In doing so—indeed those success stories are true—Farolan advanced his advocacy to restore the ROTC as mandatory college requirement rather than having  it under the present system where it is voluntary.

Lest the public be mesmerized, the names mentioned were commissioned at least 50 years ago. The retirement system then was determined by years of service, which was 30; today, retirement is determined by calendar age, which is 56. Because of this system, PMA (Philippine Military Academy) graduates are favored, and this is the reason why, today, only PMA graduates occupy the high positions in the AFP. ROTC graduates are second-class citizens in the AFP, and unless the present retirement system is changed, they will remain so.

Here is why:

Student A and Student B are honor graduates of high school in 2017. Both are 18 years old. Student A enters the PMA and Student B enters UP. Come March 2021, both students graduate.

A is immediately commissioned in the regular force of the AFP as second lieutenant. B, who finished ROTC, wants to be commissioned in the AFP. It will take B about two years to get his commission. By then A will be already ahead of B many files in the lineal list.

In 2055, A and B shall have reached the mandatory retirement age of 56. A might be a major service commander or higher; but B, who is many files lower, might have reached only the position of a brigade commander.

Going back to the major issue as to whether the ROTC should be mandatory or voluntary, I say that it should be voluntary. But to make it attractive, enact a law that says only ROTC graduates shall qualify for enlistment in the uniformed services like the AFP, Philippine National Police, and Coast Guard.

The slots for enlistment in the uniformed services are coveted and will be far below the number of ROTC takers. Therefore, there will be competition among the students for the slots, thereby creating a situation where the uniformed services can select the best people to enlist.

For the officer corps, I think it is best to scrap the advanced ROTC program and create schools for the uniformed services patterned after the PMA, where high school graduates are admitted for a free education. That will eradicate the unjust system existing in the AFP today.

To begin with, how will the advanced ROTC course be managed when the basic ROTC is in high school?

ANTONIO E. SOTELO, retired lieutenant general, AFP, antonio.e.sotelo@gmail.com