ARMY personnel who handle Reserve Officers Training Corps programs in higher educational institutions serve as model instructors to cadets, Philippine Army Commander Maj. Gen. Fernando V. Felipe said in a forum that gathered Mindanao-based reserve unit commanders at Camp Riego de Dios, Tanza, Cavite on August 16, 2022.

Felipe said that the ROTC instructors underwent Instructors Development Training and a series of seminars and workshops to broaden and hone their skills.

Around 400 colleges and universities nationwide offer ROTC programs and the number is expected to increase with the proposed revival of mandatory ROTC that has gained traction with the initiative of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The ROTC program, Felipe said, will help instill discipline, patriotism and sense of duty to the country in Filipino youth. It will also help develop a responsive and capable reserve force that can be mobilized during emergencies and calamities.

Around 20 reserve unit commanders and reserve elected officials from Mindanao attended the forum that apprised them of the key strategic plans of the Army Reserve Command.