KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Some 182 cadets from different schools in South Cotabato gathered Friday at the 1204 Community Defense Center headquarters in Koronadal City to comprise the first batch of participants for this year’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Summer Camp Training (RSCT).

Col. Florencio Politud Jr., 12 RCDG commander said the cadets will undergo a 14-day introductory training to qualify and prepare them to become "Advance ROTC cadets."

“It's an opportunity for the cadets to develop the leadership skills they'll need as an officer,” Col. Politud said

“This will also instill patriotism as they will be future leaders not only of the Armed Forces of the Philippines but the nation as well,” he added.

As they progress in their training, the cadets will join classes on military history and the AFP organization, military character development, military leadership, basic armor operations, legal bases, first aid, and disaster response.

The Philippine Army is strengthening the ROTC program and beefing up ROTC units in preparation for the opening of academic year 2022-2023.