Older AFP recruits seen with K-12

The Philippine Army is studying the possible impact of the K to 12 basic education program on the numbers and ages of future recruits, particularly for the Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC).

Col. Benjamin Hao, Army public affairs office chief, noted that K to 12 would graduate older students, affecting the ages and number of recruits.

“The Philippine Army is also studying the implications of the K to 12 program on the ROTC… we are working on it right now, we believe it will have an effect,” said Hao on Monday.

The Philippine Army requires a recruit to have 72 units of college when they enter the force.

But with the K to 12 program–which adds two years to the basic school curriculum–this may mean that applicants would complete the 72 units two years later or by the age of 20.

The ROTC, although an optional component of the National Service Training Program, remains a major source of manpower for the reserve forces as well as the regular forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Hao said there were 111,733 college students taking up basic ROTC and 2,423 enrolled in advanced ROTC. He said they were considering the possibility of adjusting the requirements.

The Philippine Army takes in 2,500 to 3,000 recruits a year, he added.

“We expect the effects of the K to 12 program to be felt by 2017. So far, we don’t feel that yet in terms of recruitment, we are still able to fill our quota,” Hao said.

“But definitely it will have an effect on recruitment. Whether it will be positive or negative will depend on the study we are conducting right now,” he said.–Julie M. Aurelio