ROTC and this generation are not a pleasant mix. And if ROTC is forced upon this generation of young people the result will be insanity. And the question only is who will go crazy first, the commandants and officers or this generation.
First, let us take time of ROTC. In my time, it began early like 6 in the morning. In today’s generation, that is practically the time they go to bed. So how will groggy and sleep deprived youngsters be able to march the whole day.
Then of course there is the salute. All cadets (male and female, baka magalit sa akin) will have to salute their officers. I can just imagine it.
Officer: Pugay kamay!
Cadet: What?
O: Salute!
C: Why, tell me why I should salute?
O: Do not ask why, yours is not to ask why, yours is just to follow orders.
C: Orders? Are you ordering me? Who are you to order me?
O: I am your officer, your leader.
C: Leader? Define leadership.
O: Just salute!
C: No. I refuse to.
O: You will address me properly, you must say SIR.
C: Eww that is sexist. Why not just Yes, Officer Person.
0: Saluuuuuute!
C: You do not have to shout, I am not deaf, Officer Person!
O: In ROTC you must learn to follow orders, to follow your superiors.
C: Superior? When we were in high school I was in the honors class and you were not. Who is superior now?
O: Grades have nothing to do with ROTC but discipline, nationalism and sacrifice.
C: What is nationalism? Who is a patriot? Spell nationalism!
O: Enough! Just salute!
C: Okay you do not have to be mad. I will salute but you have to do something for me. And if you do that, I promise I will salute.
O: what?
C: Pwede selfie?
Next cadet:
O: Salute!
C: Yes officer person! But do you know the origin of the salute? In ancient times....
And then we can go to marching! And that will be an entirely different conversation. Perhaps the best way to teach marching should not be in the field. Better if they all sit in the audio visual room and play YouTube videos on how to march. Besides, if you bring them to the field some of their parents might complain that their children might have heatstroke and the commandants can end up being sued or lambasted over Facebook or Instagram or Twitter.
And more than that, you cannot march properly if your cellphone is with you and the order must be that no cellphones in the field. I can hear the screams already, the rants and the cursing! No phone for three hours? Oh the horror! The digital horror!