Cadets of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in Leyte have cited the role of military training in developing their skills and leadership potential.

Jasfer Delloro, 19, a second-year Criminology student at the Burauen Community College in Burauen, Leyte said the training for ROTC cadet officers helped them improve their personality and practice safety.

“Those who are frightened to experience ROTC are just afraid of punishments or accidents. They’re not aware that safety is a top priority in the training. It also helped us develop our personality,” said Delloro in a phone interview on Monday.

Part of their training focuses on military discipline, nationalism, patriotism, humanitarian, and disaster risk reduction and management, and ROTC management. Also included in their training are history and tourism appreciation, and environmental protection and conservation.

Delloro is one of the 600 ROTC cadets who completed the 28-day training on August 1 facilitated by the 8th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) of the Army Reserve Command. The RCDG held the training at the former camp of Republic of Korea Force Araw in Palo, Leyte.

Graduates are tasked to train ROTC cadets on their respective campuses.

John Anthony Rubenecia, 21, a senior criminology student of Leyte Colleges said that although there are struggles during the training, it is entirely helpful in preparing the youth to become future leaders and good citizens, especially for those who wanted to pursue a career in the military service.

“Since we were physically challenged, we also get tired sometimes and feel fatigue, but it is part of the training. The training that we have here will be beneficial to us, especially to our bodies. A cadet officer is not only trained physically, but mentally and emotionally as well,” Rubenecia added.

The two said there was no hazing during the training and they were not hurt. They just have to overcome physical activities as part of the military training.

During the 28-day training, the cadets were also supervised by personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection who were present in every activity.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has been pushing for the revival of the ROTC among senior high schools, declaring it as one of the priority measures of his administration during his first State of the Nation Address on July 25.

Following the July 27 magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked Northern Luzon, the Chief Executive said the return of the mandatory ROTC would help bolster the country’s capability in dealing with disasters. (PNA)