Anti-terror course for ROTC cadets?

Would you like your college-age son or daughter to be an "anti-terrorism marshal?"

The Philippine Army has proposed to include an anti-terrorism component in the Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC).

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling said the proposed inclusion of this module in the ROTC program will help maximize the government’s anti-terrorism drive by utilizing ROTC cadets as "anti-terrorism marshals."

However, unlike soldiers who actively fight terrorist groups, Camiling said these cadet marshals will only be trained in skills related to disaster preparedness and how to handle emergency situations, particularly those triggered by terrorist activities.

Under the proposed module, students taking up ROTC will be made to learn skills such as bomb detection and emergency situation management.

Camiling said the proposed plan is now being discussed with the Department of Education.

ROTC is now an optional course offered to college students, unlike in the past when taking — and passing — the ROTC program was a prerequisite to graduate from college.