YOUR GUIDE TO BASIC ROTC

BASIC ROTC PROGRAM

The basic ROTC shall be a one (1) year or two (2) semester program which consist of at least one hundred Twenty (120) training hours credited for six (6) units.

As part of the ROTC Program likewise, students shall have the option to join extra-curricular activities such as Rifle and Pistol Team, Silent Drill Platoon, Drum and Buggle Corps, etc using the thirty (30) optional training hours per semester.

Qualified AFP Reservist may be utilized as ROTC Tactical Officers and Instructor placing them on Active Duty Training (ADT). The AFP Regular Component, however, may as guest instructors.

In lieu of the regular two (2) semester program for any of the NSTP component, a one ROTC Summer (30) days program may also be conducted.

Only graduates of the Basic ROTC Program shall be qualified to enroll in the Advance ROTC Course.

Each student enrolled in Basic ROTC shall provide for their own uniform. The prescribed uniform for the basic ROTC student shall be fatigue uniform with combat boots and bull cap. The cut/model of said uniform is patterned after the Battle Dress Attire (BDA).

The ROTC Unit Commandant shall be required to submit Program of Expenditures (POE) of his unit per year broken down by semester to the school concerned for inclusion in the annual budget. Said POE shall be presented by the ROTC Commandant before a panel composed of representatives of the school concerned, if required.

Expenditures shall be subjected to periodic audit to be conducted by the school. All ROTC Units Commandants are required to submit a report of utilization of the ROTC Fee to their respective Unit Commanders at the end of every semester.

Records of enrollment and final rating of the ROTC Program shall be reflected accordingly in all scholastic records of the students.

ROTC component graduates shall be incorporated into the AFP Reserve Force. AS such, they shall be given ranks, serial numbers and assigned to their Reserve Unit Mobilization Centers.

Enrollment Procedure

Students who shall enroll in the ROTC Program shall be required to secure a certificate from a licensed physician that they are physically fit for training. They shall likewise be required to secure parental consent for students below eighteen (18) years old.

Enrollment fee per semester shall be collected from each student exclusively for the maintenance for office and training expenses and to be managed by the school. One (1) semester of ROTC training shall be equivalent to three (3) units.

Clustering and cross enrollment shall be allowed for the convenience of the students taking into account logistics, branch of service and geographical considerations. It will be managed by the school that has the preponderance of the students.

The minimum number of enrollees in ROTC program is 350 male and female students. Schools with lower than 350 enrollees may coordinate with the nearest ROTC activated units for the accommodation of the cross enrollees.

Conduct of Course

ROTC training shall be conducted once a week, four (4) hours per week for 15 consecutive weekends for two (2) semesters.

The first semester ROTC shall be called Military Science (MS) 1, while the second semester shall be Military Science (MS) 2 wherein the former is a prerequisite of the latter.

The POI for the ROTC component includes lectures, field works and practical exercises focusing on the organization of the AFP, basic military principles and theories, customs and traditions in the military service, human rights, disaster relief operations, basic survival, anti-/counter terrorism, defensive techniques, team building, weapons familiarization, drills and ceremonies, among others.

The ammunition requirements for weapons training of ROTC Units in the government schools shall be supported by the AFP while private schools shall include the ammunition requirements in the program of expenditures.

Declination of Function

The ROTC Commandants is a Department Head or member of the faculty of the school. As such, the school may extend to him the normal privileges and sanctions due to a faculty member of the Department Head. He shall be subjected to evaluation of his performance by the school authority in the same frequency as other Department Heads. Upon relief, his performance shall also be evaluated.

ROTC Commandants shall submit final grades to the school Registrar in the form prescribed by the school not later that fifteen (15) days after the end of the semester. Further, the school Registrar and the Commandant shall be the designated signatories to the ROTC Completion Certificates.

Major ROTC related cases shall be investigated by Major Service Command Provost Marshall or Inspector General.

Responsibility

The Secretary of National Defense through the Chief of Staff, AFP shall create monitoring/inspection teams which shall conduct inspections and/or monitoring the ROTC program of implementation.

Major Service Commanders are responsible to the Chief of Staff, AFP for the strict implementation of the ROTC Program.

Major Service tens shall submit initial reports on the progress of the implementation to this Hqs (Attn: DCSRRA, J10) NLT 15 days after the Opening of the Course, subsequent reports will be on-the-need basis.

The ROTC Commandant and ROTCU personnel are in the front line in the development of the AFP Reserve Force, hence their actions reflect in whole on the AFP. Therefore, they should conduct themselves professionally in order to maintain the goodwill, credibility and honor that have been painstakingly gained in other fields of endeavor including the battle front.

Course Description

ROTC is a two (2) semester program. A module common for all the branches of service shall be offered during the first semester while the peculiar module shall be given during the second semester.

Students shall be given education on the basic knowledge of the military profession through lectures and practical exercises.

Course Objectives

To indoctrinate, train and provide the ROTC Cadets/Cadettes with the basic knowledge on military subjects and practical exercises that will enable them to acquire skills in order to Survive, Shoot and Signal.

Desired Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the ROTC Cadet/Cadettes should be able to:

1. Explain the legal basis of the NSTP, duties and responsibilities as a reservist, his/her expected role as citizen of the Republic of the Philippines, the threats to national security and the provision of human rights as embodied in the constitution.

2. Discuss the organizational set-up and Chain of Command in the AFP.

3. Enumerate the general description of the basic individual weapons and perform the field stripping to include care and maintenance and its operation.

4. Learn the fundamentals of basic soldiery, explain and perform the various formations and immediate actions during movement techniques in combat.

5. Learn the fundamentals of firing, types of firing positions and triangulation.

6. Identify the different military radio communications and familiarize himself with prowords and counter signs.

7. Learn the military customs and traditions, code of conduct of the profession and values of public servants as citizens of the Republic of the Philippines.

8. Learn the different pillars of CMO, its roles and significance including its roles in disaster and response and basic evacuation procedures. Learn the fundamentals and techniques on basic self-defense and basic life support.

9. Be able to identify the measures to protect and improve on health.

10. Learn the basic survival techniques in jungles and at sea.

11. Be able to relate history with the present by the visit to military camps/bases. Museums and other historical sites.

HOW TO BE A RESERVE ARMY

History

The creation of the ARMY RESERVE COMMAND was inspired by the first ever recorded and very successful defense of the its first Filipino Reservist against foreign invasion on March 16, 1521, when Rajah Lapu-lapu and his troops defeated the far more superior Spanish Armada led by Fernando Magallanes during the historic battle on Mactan Island. Their Heroic exploits and rare display of patriotism instigated a continuous anti-Spanish/American campaign until the conditional American-Filipino truce was signed into accord. This events inspired the institutionalization of the present Philippine National Defense Act of 1935, which obligated all its citizens regardless of sex, religion, and social structure to protect and preserve the independence and sovereignty of the current Republic. The Philippines was then further divided into ten (10) military districts and each organizing one (1) Reserve Division.

On July 26, 1941, all organized military forces and allies of the US Commonwealth Government were ordered into service with US by then President Franklin Roosevelt under the direct supervision of the USAFFE commanded by then General Douglas Mc Arthur. To this into effect, then Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L Quezon issued proclamation number 740 on 1 August 1941 transferring the control Philippine Army and the Philippine Constabulary to the U.S. Army. All ten (10) Reserve Division composed of professionals, businessmen, ROTC graduates, the school of reserve commission and former cadre trainees and volunteers were then mobilized and subsequently rushed into the service of the USAFFE. Their valor and exceptional resiliency had shown when they fought valiantly against the Japanese Imperial Army until the day of the Philippine Islands were liberated.

The 1986 People's Power Revolution further led to the deactivation of then current Army Reserve Command. Its functions were absorbed by the newly activated Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for CMO, PA thus, the Reserve Affairs Unit (RAU). On the other hand, the erstwhile Regional Community Defense Unit (RCDU) tasked for Reserve Force Development in the regions were transferred to control of the newly instituted Infantry Divisions.

Through the mandatory ROTC Program, the build up of the reservist force continued to grow with an average annual output of 45,000 Officers and Enlisted Men from 1985-1990 however, the only organized Philippine Army Reserve units (PAARU) with a total of sixty (60) registered PAARUs nationwide.

By the end of 1990, the Philippine Army Reserve Component's strength was registered at 528,000 fully trained and quickly mobilizable units but with no definite reserve structure to speak of and the provincial Community Defense Center were organizing one (1) Reserve Infantry Battalion albeit in papers only.

The further enactment of RA 7077 otherwise known as the Citizen Armed Forces or AFP Reservist Act on 27 June 1991 provided for the further development and build up of the current Reserve Force. Under this act, the Citizen Armed Forces is mandated as follows:

Furthermore, RA 7077 was enacted to support the much recent RA 7898 known as the AFP Modernization Act, which aims to develop an efficient, credible and professional Armed Forces.

On July 1992, the Reserve Command, Philippine Army was again put into action and became a major Philippine Army unit tasked to implement the plans and programs for Reservists and Retirees Affairs. It was divided to 14 Regional Community Defense Groups which will undertake the organization and maintenance of one standby Reserve Infantry Division and 73 Community Defense Centers which ordered to organize a Battlion size Reservist Units on every region of the country.

On 1 October 1999, the unit was again renamed ARMY RESERVE COMMAND pursuant to General Order Nr 1300 Headquarters Philippine Army dated 24 September 1999.

MISSION

Their mission is to develop, organize, train, equip, and administer army reservists into capable, responsive and mobilizeable reserve force as an integral component of the army in the defense of the state and to participate in socio-economic development efforts.

They are also tasked in augmenting the regular force whenever needed.

TRAINING

Training is one of the primary tasks that is handled by ARESCOM. One of its primary training unit is the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and the Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT).

The Army Reserve Command also through its ROTC Program prepare future officers in the army serving in the reserve force. Under the Officer Preparatory Course, college graduates are trained to take roles as officers in Philippine Army.

TYPES OF RESERVISTS

There are currently two (2) types of reservists in the component of the AFP Reserve Force; the Ready Reserve and the Standby Reserve. Ready Reservists are personnel that are always on constant alert and on a call whenever the mobilization order has been given, while Standby Reservists are the personnel that support and augment the Ready Reserve Force when only needed.

Tree Planting of a Soldier