OJT: Conquering the Fear of the Unknown

“The lesson of history is rarely learned by the actors themselves.”

Attributed to James A Garfield (1831 - 1881)
US Statesman.

Fear and Anxiety
As I stepped out of the gates of the Academy after four years of grueling struggle for survival, I had only two major things in many mind: Overwhelming pride for finally making it and terrifying anxiety on what will happen to me after that. Just like any other human being and perhaps just like any graduates before our class I was basically anxious of the unknown. Although I was one of the many who volunteered to the Army, I could not really picture then what the Army was all about; what would I do there and what was in store for me in that branch of service. The pride and joy of graduating was slowly eroded by the sleepless nights caused by fearful anticipation of what seem to be an impending danger …. ..a perceived danger….. the unknown. That was thirteen years ago.

Wrong expectation and Learning the hard way
As our class were deployed to different units, we experienced different situations and operational environment but what was very common to all of us was that we found out that the picture painted before us by our instructors in the Academy was much, much different from the reality; except perhaps for our Navy classmates because our class spent almost one month sailing with the “realistic” Philippine Navy boats during our “southern Cruise’. What affected us most was the service culture and working environment that was not clearly presented to us while we were in PMA, giving us an off-mark expectation. Of course each of us has different way of coping-up with that culture shock. Some of our classmates have adapted considerably well and faster because of their very supportive mentors; Others tried hard to learn by themselves the hard way but the worst of all is that we have classmates who were genuinely frustrated because of wide of the mark expectation. Coping with wrong expectation sometimes kills. Although none of us has killed himself; many suffered the agony of trailing the rough road early on their career.

PMA’s OPC and OJT program
In 1995, as the new blood were infused in the veins of the PMA’s training System, PMA planners conceptualized the On- the- Job Training (OJT) being integrated in the graduating cadets’ Officer Preparatory Course(OPC) which was eventually implemented in 1998 in lieu of the Platoon Leaders’ Course we took during our time. The main objective of the course is to prepare the cadets not only physically and technically but also psychologically to become officers of the AFP. During the OPC, mission essential knowledges and skills were honed and fine-tuned in preparation for their future role. The most significant portion of OPC is the OJT portion where cadets are allowed to visit the lowest units of the AFP and experience doing what a 2LT is expected to do. I was so fortunate to be designated as one of the OICs of the Army OJT that visited the different Battalions (69IB, 24IB, 56IB, 48IB, 71IB) of the 7th infantry Division in the areas of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Aurora Province and Bulacan. I witnessed how the cadets enthusiastically conducted the programmed activities in the Infantry Battalions, Companies and even at the CAA detachments. I was so amazed to note that cadets today are allowed to experience the following activities which I believe, very essential and useful in their0 orientation process before they will be deployed as regular members of the AFP:

• Conducted actual GESCON (Graphical Estimate of the Situation in Counter Insurgency)
• Conducted actual CMO activities (Pulong-pulong, interaction with the civilians….)
• Conducted combat reconnaissance with regular Infantry troops.
• Conducted combat operations with regular Infantry troops.
• Conducted marketing utilizing 30 pesos per person per day with the unit Mess Sergeant.
• Visited CAA detachments and interacted with Cafgu Active Auxiliaries.
• Slept on hammocks with mosquitoes and strange insects around.
• Participated with the unit happy hour with the troops. (Observed troops under the influence of liquor)
• Interviewed rebel returnees.
• Noted the issues and concerns of enlisted personnel.
• Made actual unit reports (DOR, SITREP, Spot Reports, etc.)
• Scrutinized unit files (Investigation Reports, Disposition of Troops, Status of personnel, status of Supplies, Intelligence Reports, Special Reports, Accomplishment Reports, etc)
• Participated in the unit camp defense and guard posting.
  

Concrete connection
The cadets’ mere presence in the company area has given them a very clear picture of what is in store for them after graduation. The experience has given them the correct and realistic expectation that would serve as a concrete connection from cadetship to officership. As I observed the cadets, somehow, I envy them for having this program and the opportunity to be more prepared before going to the field. After the OJT activities I asked one of the cadets,” When you go back to the field after graduation, what will you bring?” He immediately answered, “An appropriate bandoleer, a better hammock and a box of books to fight boredom, sir.” I told him, “Those things are what I really missed when I reported to my first unit during our times”. Indeed, the OJT program has been very successful as far as the set learning objectives are concerned. The activity is so timely because graduation is just around the corner. Likewise it is very relevant because the activities conducted were focused on the very job that they would eventually do in the very near future as new 2nd Lieutenants of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Better equipped and better prepared
After joining the 2006 OJT program which was a very wonderful learning experience not only for the cadets but also for us officers, I couldn’t help myself but compare our class with these graduating cadets. With all humility, I believe that these cadets are better equipped and prepared to be officers compared to our class, not only technically but also psychologically. Their technical preparation is so timely because they fine-tuned their mission essential skills immediately before graduation; while their psychological preparation is more comprehensive and well structured because it was imbedded to their OJT program. I believe that we in our class could have been better 2LTs if the OJT program was conceptualized earlier and applied to us. While I envy this young blood that will soon be added to the long Gray line, I am also very proud to be part of their development process. It is also very refreshing to realize that these young and aggressive soon to be officers will undoubtedly not experience our not so pleasant experience as new 2LTs, which is a very clear indication that the PMA training system is constantly improving through time.

To the “Mandala” class of 2006, Congratulations and more power…!!!!!!