ROTC scholars eyed to boost military pool

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro recently ordered the Armed Forces to study the possibility of providing scholarships to college students who could be commissioned as active military officers through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Teodoro made the directive because of the dwindling number of reserve officers as a result of making ROTC an optional course for male college students.

He said the proposed ROTC scholarship program will increase enrollment in the military course and provide more commissioned military officers.

Teodoro said only qualified college graduates can be commissioned as regular officers while those who will not meet the requirements could still serve as reserve officers.

“I have recently requested the Armed Forces to study the possibility of providing ROTC scholarships and directly commissioning as regular officers those who are qualified after the scholarships from our college students,” he said.

He said the ROTC scholars will have to sign a contract with the Armed Forces to serve in the military either as officers or enlisted men and women after graduation.

Reserve officers and enlisted men could be mobilized during emergency situations such as disaster and calamities.

Teodoro said there is need to make ROTC a mandatory course in college because since it was made optional, the pool of reserve officers has decreased since 2001.

The ROTC program was made optional through Republic Act 9163  or An Act establishing the National Service Training Program for the tertiary students, amending for the purpose Republic Act 7077 and Presidential Decree 1706.

ROTC had become unpopular among students due to the corruption and irregularities that have discredited the program.

University of Sto. Tomas ROTC cadet Mark Wilson Chua was killed after the student reportedly threatened to expose the anomalies involving ROTC officers.

Chua was allegedly abducted and killed by his ROTC instructors. His decomposing body was found floating underneath Jones Bridge in Manila.

“We also would like our mainstream youth to contribute to nation-building, more specifically through the strengthening of our reserve force through the ROTC program,” said Teodoro.

He said that unfortunately, the ROTC program has been made optional and the pool from which the Armed Forces taps its reserve manpower has been greatly degraded, causing serious ramifications on ensuring our national stability and security.

Teodoro said the defense department and the AFP are initiating a dialogue with the stakeholders of the program to enlighten them about the need to make the ROTC program mandatory again.

“In this regard, we would like to invite an enlightened discussion with stakeholders on the merits of the re-imposition of the ROTC program. There is a strong need to strengthen our reserve force as we cannot afford a large standing army,” he said.

He added that the National Defense Act or the Commonwealth Act No. 1 requires a large number of reserve force, who are called to active service in times of war and national emergency, because the military cannot afford to have a big number of soldiers.

He said the National Defense Act has envisioned a lean force but with a large reserve force that can be tapped in case of war and national emergencies.

“But now a mandatory poll of reservists has been marginalized,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is now in search for young and patriotic Filipino men and women who want to pursue a career in the military.

PAF is now offering college graduates, aged 21 to 24, a chance to become officers who, after a 15-month training, will hold the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

The PAF announced Saturday that it is now opening its doors to applicants for this year’s Regular Officer Procurement Program (ROPP).

Those qualified and interested are advised to show up at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 1 in Baguio City, TOG 5 in Legaspi City, Albay, 2nd Tactical Operations Wing (TOW) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, and the 3rd TOW office in Zamboanga.

Application processing, qualifying examination, and checking schedules have been set from Oct. 4 to 12 also in the same venues.

The PAF said it is in search of officer course candidates with specific qualifications that include having a baccalaureate degree from any government-recognized institution.

Male applicants will also have to be at least 5’4 in height while females have to be at least 5’2. They should also be physically and mentally fit to join the military.

The PAF also stressed that applicants should be single, of good moral character, have no legal obligation to support a child or children, and should have never been dismissed from any training institution due to any moral violation.

Those who will pass the minimum requirements and the qualifying test will undergo a 15-month training in Lipa City, Batangas as members of PAFROPP class 2009.  – With Michael Punongbayan