•Should ROCT be mandatory??

It requires 3–5 months of intense military training and is simply meant to make all men combat ready in
the times of war or aggression. If you want to know why the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is well-
known despite Singapore’s tiny landmass, this is the reason why.

As a Filipino myself, I don’t see why the Philippines should not have ROTC or rather, a much more
intense version of the ROTC that could be similar to NS in Singapore. I find that this is the reason why
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is a joke in ASEAN. All of our neighbours (well most of them),
are more militarily advanced, even Vietnam!

The Marawi Crisis proved the need for a stronger military. Maybe you know or don’t but foreign powers
had to come in to provide military advisors… just to regain one city? I will completely understand the
rationale if the whole of Mindanao fell but this is one city we’re talking about…

The South China Sea (SCS) dispute is another threat. Why are we getting bullied around by China? It’s
because we have a weak and almost useless military. We have 100 million Filipinos… and only half a
million in the military? Before you argue about Vietnam, both China and Vietnam are already at odds
since the Vietnam War. The Philippines has no issues with China yet we’re treated the same.

We have also proved to be American stoodges. Ever since independence and Duterte’s term, we have
been defended by the US. Why? Why can’t we build our own strong army and defend our own country?
Why do we owe others a living?

And that brings me back to the ROTC. Compared to other countries that has such measures, the
Philippines has it easy, just once a week on a weekend for 2 years while other countries like Singapore
has it for 2 years straight in the camp. The Philippines has potential to build a formidable army and
sadly, the ROTC isn’t sufficient. In fact, we have to make it better and compulsory, especially since the
Maute Group has shown that we have greater need to build an army that can protect our country and
loved ones! Who knows, when could another terrorist assail our coasts?

And if you think marches and drills are basic, then you have failed to grasp the need for such. They are
not meant to be difficult, they are meant to instil discipline into a cadet, or a soldier if you wish.
So in summary, yes, I think the ROTC should be made mandatory again and better than its current form.
I really think the government should consider conscription instead. It can atleast help the poor get a
stable job and really, being a soldier does not need education, only survival skills and common sense.

And that’s why ROCT is very important in our country so we can protect our country to other countries
that will occupy or destroy our country…