Kwentong UTILITY Cadet, lapag n’yo para sa isang movement to end this.
We say we want world-class officers, pero bakit minsan ang training culture parang ang goal lang ay gumawa ng taong tahimik, takot magkamali, at sunod lang nang sunod?
That mindset is outdated and dangerous.
Modern maritime safety studies already show that accidents are often caused not by lack of technical skill, but by fear culture, poor communication, authority pressure, and silence inside the team. Even the International Maritime Organization now pushes leadership, teamwork, communication, and behavioral competence because technical skills alone are no longer enough onboard.
You cannot train cadets to “just obey” for years then expect them to suddenly become confident leaders and decision-makers at sea.
Discipline is important. But discipline without critical thinking creates passive officers. And passive officers are dangerous in high-risk environments.p
A competent officer is not just marunong sumunod. A competent officer knows when to speak, intervene, lead, and protect safety even under pressure.