THE BAR OF EXPECTATION IS TOO HIGH FOR PMA
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cadet Corps, this is a long post, but please allow me to raise a few points.
First of all, let me say that I do not count myself among the graduates of the Bright Beacon of the land. My only claim lies in being issued a cadet serial number, and the privilege of being incorporated into the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Phil...ippines.
However, it doesn't stop me from cherishing the brief stay that I had as a possible officer in the making that was aborted by circumstance, the corresponding will to become one and quite possibly, destiny.
In light of the recent events involving a cadet's questionable response to the possible infraction of rules, which led to the current state of affairs, once again - raising blood pressure levels among graduates, former cadets and the communities surrounding the Cadet Corps throughout generations - we find ourselves being lumped together with hypocritical wrongdoers claiming a moral high ground, citing the Honor Code.
I would also bring to your minds a few points to consider in responding to these assertions - wrongfully made at all of us who once were men and women of the Dress Gray cloth.
First of all, let's look at statistics.
Out of the possible candidates that vie for a rank to be filled in the Cadet Corps are at least ten to fifteen thousand people nationwide with a grade point average of 88 plus to qualify to take the exam. Less than half pass, and out of that, even less are given the chance to be physically examined for admission into the CCAFP.
That's quite an achievement in itself.
On admission, a large number, statistically do not go beyond beast barracks, plebe year, and even upperclass years for various reasons.
I don't have statistics for the ratio of original entrants and turned back graduates that were commissioned into the various services, but I imagine the numbers are quite significant.
Granting, all of them made it with all of those challenges, and observing the honor code all throughout, the assumption should be that they will remain trustworthy, ethical and morally responsible for observing the rules and the Code throughout the years in formation in Loakan, and therefore, in their respective careers.
But the reality is - a lot do not, in varying degrees.
I do not wish to say that the Academy was deficient in providing them the training to become the officers that they are expected to be, but neither is a mother who raised five children, and one of them turned out to have criminal tendencies.
They, like us, had more or less similar circumstances in upbringing - but beyond that, each individual had a choice on what decisions to make - from the thoughts that they harbored, to the actions they took, the habits that were ingrained, the character that they gained and hence, the destinies that awaited them because of that.
We all have those choices - to do what is right, or to lapse into the convenient and possibly unethical and wrong.
And these choices appear daily, before the time that each individual entered the portals of Fort Del Pilar, and after leaving the Fort to go where life takes each everyone of us.
These cumulative choices are what make each and everyone of us - individually and collectively. But there are no assurances of accountability beyond the Cadet Corps, which is why a code is insufficient beyond the Academy.
Second - PMA has had to make do with available raw material. Let's just say for the sake of the discussion, around twenty percent entered with comparatively "pure" consciences, untouched by the vagaries of life. There's a greater number of 80 per cent that had to be "straightened'. When they graduated or left, who continues with the maintenance of the "straightening"?
More importantly, what about the rest of the country? Which institution is to provide the "straightening" or ethical strengthening?
And curiously, as we are being pilloried for having Honor Code observing public servants in uniform, are there also numbers on the graduates of the various institutions that went on to public service that have fallen very short of public expectations of government servants?
And furthermore, what other government agency requires that their public servants take the risk of losing their lives in the service of the people? The only other profession that I know of that are now at risk are either lawyers or radio news anchors. But not on a day to day basis.
The bar of expectation for the sons and daughters of the Academy is, to my view, a bit too high. The Academy has done (and continues to do) an excellent job. by comparison, in training for that brief period of the lives of the qualified few that went on to risk their lives in service.
But in the years that follow, to insist on the very same standards for them without a means to check them properly is virtually impossible. More so, for the rest, who had virtually no means of rigid ethical disciplines in place.
PMA is responsible for training. To expect transformation of the individual by her is not fair, as it is not her job anymore.
But is it possible for transformation to occur?
Allow me to cite an ancient text which could spell a difference - this may become familiar with the rest of the moviegoing world because of a forthcoming movie starring Russel Crowe - In Genesis 6:9:" These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. "
With a constant consciousness of being watched by a Creator God at all times, it becomes nearly impossible to continue with wrongdoing. Happily, this is a venue for the transformation to become a reality, if only we all respond properly.
But this should not be limited to the sons and daughters of the Academy, but to an entire nation as well - IF we are to transform as a nation.
If for this, I must thank Cadet Cudia for bringing this to the fore - so we can reflect on our actions, rethink our directions, and perhaps, we will all be transformed in the process.
As this is Sunday, I end with a "Happy Sunday" to all of you. And please, have an extra share of sweet.
(former) Cadet Alfonso V. Alvarez C-4460, of the Matikas Class of 1983
(words from a former Cadet, about the PMA Honor Code)
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cadet Corps, this is a long post, but please allow me to raise a few points.
First of all, let me say that I do not count myself among the graduates of the Bright Beacon of the land. My only claim lies in being issued a cadet serial number, and the privilege of being incorporated into the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Phil...ippines.
However, it doesn't stop me from cherishing the brief stay that I had as a possible officer in the making that was aborted by circumstance, the corresponding will to become one and quite possibly, destiny.
In light of the recent events involving a cadet's questionable response to the possible infraction of rules, which led to the current state of affairs, once again - raising blood pressure levels among graduates, former cadets and the communities surrounding the Cadet Corps throughout generations - we find ourselves being lumped together with hypocritical wrongdoers claiming a moral high ground, citing the Honor Code.
I would also bring to your minds a few points to consider in responding to these assertions - wrongfully made at all of us who once were men and women of the Dress Gray cloth.
First of all, let's look at statistics.
Out of the possible candidates that vie for a rank to be filled in the Cadet Corps are at least ten to fifteen thousand people nationwide with a grade point average of 88 plus to qualify to take the exam. Less than half pass, and out of that, even less are given the chance to be physically examined for admission into the CCAFP.
That's quite an achievement in itself.
On admission, a large number, statistically do not go beyond beast barracks, plebe year, and even upperclass years for various reasons.
I don't have statistics for the ratio of original entrants and turned back graduates that were commissioned into the various services, but I imagine the numbers are quite significant.
Granting, all of them made it with all of those challenges, and observing the honor code all throughout, the assumption should be that they will remain trustworthy, ethical and morally responsible for observing the rules and the Code throughout the years in formation in Loakan, and therefore, in their respective careers.
But the reality is - a lot do not, in varying degrees.
I do not wish to say that the Academy was deficient in providing them the training to become the officers that they are expected to be, but neither is a mother who raised five children, and one of them turned out to have criminal tendencies.
They, like us, had more or less similar circumstances in upbringing - but beyond that, each individual had a choice on what decisions to make - from the thoughts that they harbored, to the actions they took, the habits that were ingrained, the character that they gained and hence, the destinies that awaited them because of that.
We all have those choices - to do what is right, or to lapse into the convenient and possibly unethical and wrong.
And these choices appear daily, before the time that each individual entered the portals of Fort Del Pilar, and after leaving the Fort to go where life takes each everyone of us.
These cumulative choices are what make each and everyone of us - individually and collectively. But there are no assurances of accountability beyond the Cadet Corps, which is why a code is insufficient beyond the Academy.
Second - PMA has had to make do with available raw material. Let's just say for the sake of the discussion, around twenty percent entered with comparatively "pure" consciences, untouched by the vagaries of life. There's a greater number of 80 per cent that had to be "straightened'. When they graduated or left, who continues with the maintenance of the "straightening"?
More importantly, what about the rest of the country? Which institution is to provide the "straightening" or ethical strengthening?
And curiously, as we are being pilloried for having Honor Code observing public servants in uniform, are there also numbers on the graduates of the various institutions that went on to public service that have fallen very short of public expectations of government servants?
And furthermore, what other government agency requires that their public servants take the risk of losing their lives in the service of the people? The only other profession that I know of that are now at risk are either lawyers or radio news anchors. But not on a day to day basis.
The bar of expectation for the sons and daughters of the Academy is, to my view, a bit too high. The Academy has done (and continues to do) an excellent job. by comparison, in training for that brief period of the lives of the qualified few that went on to risk their lives in service.
But in the years that follow, to insist on the very same standards for them without a means to check them properly is virtually impossible. More so, for the rest, who had virtually no means of rigid ethical disciplines in place.
PMA is responsible for training. To expect transformation of the individual by her is not fair, as it is not her job anymore.
But is it possible for transformation to occur?
Allow me to cite an ancient text which could spell a difference - this may become familiar with the rest of the moviegoing world because of a forthcoming movie starring Russel Crowe - In Genesis 6:9:" These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. "
With a constant consciousness of being watched by a Creator God at all times, it becomes nearly impossible to continue with wrongdoing. Happily, this is a venue for the transformation to become a reality, if only we all respond properly.
But this should not be limited to the sons and daughters of the Academy, but to an entire nation as well - IF we are to transform as a nation.
If for this, I must thank Cadet Cudia for bringing this to the fore - so we can reflect on our actions, rethink our directions, and perhaps, we will all be transformed in the process.
As this is Sunday, I end with a "Happy Sunday" to all of you. And please, have an extra share of sweet.
(former) Cadet Alfonso V. Alvarez C-4460, of the Matikas Class of 1983
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