The Reserve Officers Training Corps program (ROTC) was scrapped from college curricula at a time the sentiment against the military organization was at its peak. Also at the time, the program was rocked by scandals that were too hot to handle.
The ROTC is designed to be the bedrock of a citizen army that could be tapped on short notice to respond and attend to any event or development (e.g., calamities, catastrophes, war) that calls for their assistance or mobilization in the interest of the nation. It has two stages: the Basic and the Advance.
Basic ROTC covers basic soldiery and followership; this qualifies the “Basic graduate” to an enlisted rank in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Advance ROTC covers officership and leadership. The completion of this stage qualifies the “Advance graduate” to an officer rank (second lieutenant) in the AFP Reserve Force. Hence, they are called “reservists.”
The National Service Training Program (NSTP), which is now in effect in all colleges and universities nationwide, made ROTC one of the alternative courses required for college graduation. Under this present setup, very few opt to take ROTC. In effect the manpower component of the AFP Reserve Force has greatly diminished.
However, there are now organizations that have affiliated themselves with the AFP Reservists program and have willingly undergone military orientation training courses to be part of the AFP Reserve Force. Those who completed the courses are given appropriate military ranks and insignias as officers and enlisted personnel. It would be much better if they had undergone ROTC.
ROTC can still be revived even if it is an optional course under the NSTP. As they say, it is a matter of sweetening the pot to attract more men and women to take the course. Perhaps, the proper AFP authorities can pick up from this.
ROMEO C. PRADO,
retired colonel, PAF,
romeocprado@yahoo.com