June, 2018 - After three years, the UP Manila students who lived their three years as cadet officers in UP Diliman ROTC Unit has started their own corps - again - and re-starting the first training day of the UP Manila ROTC after 15 years no training.
The training did not change much - there is still the high standards of performance, strictness of cadet officers, and high level of professionalism and camaraderie between officers and rank and file.
0530H - The Corps G1 called the formation of the Cadet Officers' Corps in the Headquarters and Formation Area (in front of the former SSWC and now UP Manila Gymnasium). The Corps G1 gave reminders to prepare everything and make final checks for uniform and necessary training and miscellaneous items. In addition, all mobile phones are to be turned to vibration or silent mode. A necessary reminder these days, but not to the Corps of Officers - however, no room for mistakes are to be taken for granted by the Corps G1 who is also the Corps Adjutant.
The Corps G1 shouted ZHUN! The Corps Executive Officer went in. Less than two seconds, he also shouted ZHUN! and the Corps G1 dropped his hand from the salute and went to attention. The Corps Commander joined the formation and returned the salute of the Corps Executive Officer. The Corps Executive Officer went at the back of the formation of the 15 cadet officers, while the Corps G1 walked towards the Corps Commander who walked towards the formation. The Corps G1 gave his salute to the Corps Commander who returned the ceremonial gesture.
The Officer's FIA (Formation, Inspection and Administration) is an informal version of the unit FIA. Instead of the sergeant calling out the formation of the cadets, the cadet officers go to the formation at the designated inspection time (normally, 0530H). The class system persists here. Fourth classmen are expected to be at the area 15 minutes before the time; third classmen, 10 minutes; second classmen, 5 minutes; and the first class, on time.
The Corps Commander has the option of doing the inspection himself (common during special activities, like presentations and parades) or assign the Corps G1 to do it for him (common during regular training day). In either case, the standards and articles are never changed, and they are the same whatever class you are.
Standards mean you do things properly, snappily and professionally. Articles mean the specific items that are being observed, such as the uniform, shiny brass articles, charoled boots, and clean and properly arranged "miscellaneous" items (a misnomer, since miscellaneous items are required during inspection). The beret or the head gear is to be properly worn, measured to the width of the fingers. The marine press should be sharp, almost like a blade. The gloves should be impeccably clean.
The fourth classmen are inspected first (Before even entering the first semester, they have already undergone COCC training so that they would have ready knowledge on leadership and military business when they go on their first training day.). The arrangement of the officers is such that the lower classmen cannot observe the inspection being done on their upperclassmen. Thus, the fourth classmen stand up in front, the second row is the third classmen, then the second classmen, and lastly, the first classmen. The class commanders become squad leaders in this non-square formation.
With the Corps Commander being a communication student, he decided on applying some communication strategies in the training day with his officers. At the start of the first training day, all cadet officers are to wear their unit's respective UP uniforms.
The cadet officers of the Rayadillo Honor Guards wore their uniform in full dress - down to brand new white gloves, polished charoled shoes and untarnished metal articles. The Corps Commander gave the familiar test to the breast plate of the fourth class Rayadillo officer: a breath. Good, thought the Corps Commander. The battalion commander and the company commanders wore the guinnet cap, while the platoon leaders wore the maroon and blue berets, for the Alfa and Bravo Companies respectively.
The Kampilan Battle Group cadet officers wore combat fatigue uniforms, or CFU. With a different kind of material used, it is essentially like a tropical fatigue uniform (TFU) tucked inside the pants, and the lower garment without the six-pockets. The Corps G1 noted how the Corps Commander glided his fingers on the marine press, one of the main attractions of the CFU when properly prepared and worn. While the Rayadillo officers brought their swords, the cadet officers of the Kampilan Battle Group would wear their CFU on rolled sleeves. They all wear the KBG's unit seal on the green beret, a symbol of camaraderie with their men - and women.
Next is the Service Support Unit. The only cadet unit which has its commander no higher than a third classman, all the section or team leaders are fourth class cadet officers. They are wearing either CFU or TFU - depending on the teams they are heading - all on rolled sleeves.
The third classmen came next. The class commander is a Rayadillo cadet officer, Alfa Company Commander (maroon beret). After properly doing the inspection word, the Corps Commander took note of the uniform. He also looked on the shoulder ranks - three brass circles, all shiny.
The Strike Force unit commander, one of the two special operations teams of the UP Manila ROTC, goes with his own uniform: black TFU lower garment (six-pockets), black sweatshirt with "tactical paddings" on the elbows, pistol belt and black combat boots, and black beret with the Strike Force patch.
The commander of the Rescue Operations Team (the real name is Counter-Revolutionary Warfare Development Group, SF's anti-thesis unit), is wearing the Urban Patrol Modification of the CFU (UPM-CFU). It is essentially the black version of the CFU, except it has a unit designation on the person's right breast, the unit's euphimistic name, RESOPS. Since they are doing some exercise today with the Strike Force and not on a "training mode" day (meaning, the cadet officers are training the cadet enlistees), the officers are wearing the UPM-CFU with unrolled sleeves. They are also wearing black padded gloves. Their head gear is the black beret, but it does not contain any patch (The G2, a tactical officer of the unit, advised the Special Operations Company Commander to put this beret on the team due to their dual role - liaison unit, which, in the past, was fulfilled by Civic Welfare Service Company. Its uniform was T-Fatigue, with a black beret for its head gear.).
Service Support Group commander wears a regular CFU, very much.
The second class cadet officers, mostly unit commanders, were inspected next. Like the third classmen, the class commander is from the Rayadillo Honor Guards. He is the battalion commander of that unit, and thus wears a guinnet cap.
The class executive officer is also an executive officer of the Kampilan Battle Group. He is also wearing training-style CFU. As a senior officer of the Kampilan Battle Group, he is also a prominent officer of the Special Operations Company (which is under the Kampilan Battle Group). Since there is no training for Strike Force or Blue Light cadets, he will focus on training of KBG for today.
The Special Operations Company unit commander follows. He is wearing not UPM-CFU, but regular CFU. This is because he will be assisting the KBG cadet officers in training new cadets, and his identity as the commander of the unknown unit is known (Instead, he is officially designated as a CMO Officer, a "coordinating office" between Corps G2 and Corps G7.). In addition, the SOC Commander is under the office of the Corps G2, although for organizational purposes, the unit is under KBG.
First classmen at the last line need just minimal inspection, since their uniform have less things to inspect. They are wearing summer attire, since they will be switching places, between office and field areas, rather frequently.
After the Corps Commander concludes the inspection, the Corps G1 request for permission to leave his presence and call the corps of officers to attention. The Corps Commander will stay at the back. The Corps G1, after calling the attention, will go back to his position at the back of the unit. The Corps Commander will call the Corps Staff for any announcements not given the night before or the Tuesday CQ before that Sunday. The Corps Commander starts almost always with the Corps G1, unless there is a special activity, during which the Corps Commander may call on the project COIC instead.
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