Why ROTC should be abolished
Position paper submitted to the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education
Second Page

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1. The abolition of ROTC program is an end to its irrelevance in the educational system. It is a necessary and urgent reform that must be implemented to make education susceptible to the needs of the society.

We share the views of our school administrators that say, "the program has steadily deteriorated through the years and reaffirmed the fact that we look at it as a waste of time and money. The truth of the matter lies on
the fact that we would rather devote for study and rest the long hours of those weekends that we are made to take up the program for four semesters"

2. The ROTC program has failed in promoting patriotism and instilling nationalist consciousness among the youth but rather it subliminally inculcated a sub-culture of fear, violence and hatred among the students. The ROTC program so to speak, promotes a distorted sense of leadership. Cadets are not molded in becoming active stakeholders of the society but on the contrary, cadets are exposed to the bankruptcy of power, privilege and
greed.

3. The ROTC program has its foundation rooted in severe corruption. The program becomes nothing but a huge moneymaking industry thriving at the expense of the students. It is a major source of corruption and malpractice
done by unscrupulous groups and protectors of this venal program.

Take the case of allegations in complied by the Commission on Higher Education that stipulates allegations that the ROTC fees collected in some Higher Educational Institutions are utilized improperly. The supposed 70% of the collection are not exclusively used for the operation of the Program.

Likewise, reports from various learning institutions and even complaints lodged at the ROTC branch of Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Retired and Reservist Affairs, covers collection of unauthorized fees, bribery and extortion. Nonetheless, it is no longer a secret that granting of grades to cadets in exchange for financial consideration is rampant in the program.

4. The ROTC is a bastion of human rights violation. The students are being tormented from direct physical mistreatment to psychological abuses. Two years of fulfilling the ROTC requirement drilling and marching on
scorching heat under the command of some platoon leaders whose idea of military science is not molding cadets to be fine soldiers but rather breeding abuse and bullying is indeed tormenting. It robs us dignity and cultivates inferiority among the supposed private cadets. It reinforces a deteriorating psyche and values dilemma crucial in building one's self-concept and esteem.

5. The ROTC is added unnecessary burden to the students and our parents. As if the rising cost of the investment on education and other fees are not enough, the students are being made to pay more by obliging cadets to buy
ticket, T-shirts and merienda from ROTC commandant.

The cost of ROTC uniform pegged at two thousand or more is equivalent to more or less to matriculation fee for 9 units in an average college. Weekly allowance within the range of Ph P 70.00 to Ph P 150.00 that covers transportation and meals in half-day is equivalent to half-day salary of our parents.

6. The ROTC program widens gender discrimination and sexism. It directly ostracizes gay students because of its excessive machismo and non-gender sensitive character.

7. Even as an academic exercise, the ROTC program is a futile exercise for it doesn't produce effective methodologies and approaches in training cadet. Even minimal understanding of the wisdom in building a reserved army on the young minds seems to be a failure.

We believe that we cannot afford a bastion of reservists unable to hold guns nor familiarize themselves with real ammunitions. Nonetheless, we cannot afford to enlist reservist that doesn't have a basic grasp of strategies and tactics nor understanding of the rules of engagement and even slight appreciation of Sun Tzu's Art of War.

We cannot allow the youth to serve as pawn in real time battle attributed to the lack of knowledge, skills and attitudes required in carrying out military duties and responsibilities.

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