S. G.
F. T. O.
survival guide
for
today's officers
FALL IN!
So you've just become an officer. How does it feel getting
those shiny brass or silver dots on your collar or shoulder? You've already hurdled the rigorous
training that was given by your Upper-class and Training staff. We congratulate
you for that. But
this is not the end of your challenge. In fact, this is just the beginning.
You already know your leadership traits (Alertness,
Bearing, Courage etc...), leadership responsibilities (know your job, know your
men, know yourself and seek self improvement, be technically and tactically
proficient etc...). But we have more to share for you.
This knowledge can't be
found in your Field Manuals, but has been gathered from the experience
generations of Officers who came before you had. We
have decided to put this guide for you Officers to share to you what we've
learned will work for you and your performance will be better than ours.
Here is a list of tips for Officers to successfully
implement the goals of ROTC and CAT.
1. Have a good academic standing - this will
give you more credibility as a leader. People are more likely to respect you and
your unit. Making it to the Dean's List or Top Ten is like having a General's
Star on your shoulders. Respect will be automatic.
2. Behave well in class - an Officer should be a
model student. Being a class clown or doing foolishness is very un-military and
disgraceful to your rank, uniform and unit. So just keep a low profile in class but
actively participate in Discussions and Recitations.
3. Stay away from trouble - as much as
possible, officers will avoid doing anything to get themselves into trouble like
going to places of ill repute, acting like a "gangster" or a
"hooligan" towards other people. Remember, your rank and unit is with
you. Trouble for one means trouble for all. Keep a low profile outside the Field
or Training ground and keep to your books and studies. Only when under extreme provocation like when there is a
threat of bodily harm to you or a fellow officer / officer candidate, can you bang somebody's head
against the wall.
4. Be kind to people - remember that as members
of a Military Organization, you have the moral obligation to serve and protect
people especially the weak and the desolate. Always be ready to help those
in need even in simple things such as helping people pushing a car to start,
carrying heavy things for a lady, picking up fallen things, people needing your
advice/sympathy or a listening ear. An officer ideally has a "will of
steel, and a heart of gold".
5. Be neat - keep yourself and your things
clean and neat.
6. Establish and maintain good rapport with school
staff and Administration - always deal with school staff and it's
Administrators in a respectful way. From the Janitors to the Teachers, Deans,
Principals etc...Simply greet them with a sincere and audible "good
morning" or "how are you" when you meet them. Actively support school projects and programs.
You'll be surprised on how easy it is to get their all-out support for your unit and
it's activities when you deal with them kindly rather than antagonizing them.
7. Listen to complaints and take action - listen
to the complaints you hear from cadets / midshipmen and take action. For
example, if they tell you that there is too much idle time in ROTC or CAT, then
minimize the "standing around under the sun" time by scheduling P. T.,
Drills, Civil Military Operations and the like. They will appreciate and enjoy
doing PT or CMO better than standing at parade rest for one hour doing nothing.
Use your (and THEIR) time creatively.
8. Find and learn new methods - If the way
you're teaching drills is not getting the results you expect, try to learn
methods the other units use. For example, if you're a CAT officer, you can
observe a training day in Fort Bonifacio of an ROTC unit's Elite Battalions like
UP's Rayadillo (Army Parade Ground), La Salle's Escort and Honor Battalion (Bonifacio
Naval Station), UST's Model Co. (UST Field) to mention a few.
9. Eliminate Hazing - modern Military
Organizations don't do hazing and still come up with well-trained and tough
individuals. Substitute Hazing with rigorous calisthenics and PT. Make the cadet
do 70 push ups instead of hitting him or her. It will have the same results.
Remember that there is a law penalizing this practice. It can mean a lot of
trouble for you and your fellow officers even if it's only you who did it. Keep your organization
professional. You are training to defend life, not eliminate it.
10. Reprimand a fellow officer in private, praise
him or her in public - it will ensure a harmonious chain of command and make
your subordinate leaders genuinely respect you. Don't flaunt your power by
punishing or arguing with your officer in front of his men or the public. It is
a sign of being a greenhorn on your part.
11. Have everything planned before the
training starts - it was a terrible sight to see officers of a unit
discussing the operations of the day when the training day has already started,
making the cadets stand idly while they discuss. This should be done BEFORE the
training starts, like in the weekly meeting or early in the morning, not during
the training time itself.
12. Keep your training venue clean - this is the
sign of discipline your unit has. Candy wrappers, cigarettes and other trash
left by a unit after training on or off campus (alay-lakad, bivouacs etc...) speaks
ill of the discipline it has. Which means the programs are not achieving it's
goals. So be sure to instill in them the value of cleanliness of environment and
discipline them to follow this principle.
13. Maintain your integrity - always be honest
in your everyday affairs. Remember, you joined the Corps of Officers not for
money but for service. Proud are the units and officers I know of who can
honestly claim they always reject bribes.
14. Leadership is not necessarily
synonymous with popularity - being a leader does not mean you have to be
popular. The ultimate test of leadership is making the Officer perform a task
that is for the good of the mission, but would make him or her unpopular with
the crowd. When CAT or ROTC and your popularity among your classmates,
schoolmates or friends conflict, your being an Officer and the Unit goals must
be where you will side. Remember what you've trained for. You're in a Military
Organization. Yearning for popularity is for showbiz people and the "KSP".
16. Accept your upper-class as they
are - looking for ideal upperclassmen will just lead to your
frustration. One of the common complaints is about the system superior officers
implement and the lousiness of the people who supposedly lead you. Accept your
upperclassmen as they are. Then, when the time comes you are in their position,
then that's the time for you to make things better. Remember that the surest way
for the bad things to get worse is if good guys do nothing. But do it at the
right time. Rebellious attitudes lead to nothing. If you can talk to them in
private in a nice way and very respectfully about the things you need to change,
then they will admire your courage for that and eye you for key positions in the
Corps. Never ever talk about the Corp's problems to non-officers.
17. Keep God in your presence - remember the
field manual states RELIGION as one factor for morale. And a cross above a flag
means "GOD ABOVE ALL?" . Make sure to say a prayer before and after
training or activities.
For your contributions, email the
webmaster
annamvelasquez@yahoo.com , manuelgend@yahoo.com or ccdbm2000@yahoo.com
Background Music: "The Gallant
7" Dedicated to the
HUNTERS ROTC Guerillas
Philippines, World War II.
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