Senior Buddy System will prevent hazing in PMA or any Military or Police Academy.

The PMA can possibly avoid or minimize Hazing thru the system called “Senior Buddy” so how does a Senior Buddy works? In my previous schooling the Army NCO Course in Ft Magsaysay, Palayan city wherein I was a member of Class 82-7, they have something called like “Senior Buddy” wherein we as Juniors unknowingly have Buddy in our Senior class, I don’t how they select or choose our buddies but in my case being the youngest in the class happen to be assigned in the youngest Senior Cadet as my Senior Buddy, but this is unknown to us Juniors until our Seniors are about to Graduate and we to become a Senior soon when the Class 83-8 is about to report, unfortunately the last batch of the Academy as it was soon replaced with probably improved course.

So what is the role of Senior Buddy in the life of a Plebe or 4^th class cadet In the PMA, he actually acts as Guardian Angel or savior or Guidance counselor combined without the plebe knowing it, so it works this way, the incoming 4^th class cadet, or Plebe must have an assigned Senior Buddy among their upperclassmen 3^rd Class Cadets, the role of a Senior Buddy is to make sure that his assigned Junior Buddy can learn as much as he can, receive the maximum rigors of training required of a 4^th classmen or as Cadet without being subjected to an abuse or Hazing.

 So how can a Senior Buddy rescue his/her Junior Buddy if he sees that he/she is being subjected to abuse and or Hazing, he may do it in this manner during times of abuses and or hazing, he may pretend to participate in the abuse by saying “What is your Fault again Mr. You?” then he may say to his Junior Buddy to report to me immediately or whatever way that he can to save his Junior from abuse or Hazing, there must be an added code of conduct for 3^rd class Cadet and up to save their Junior Buddy from possible abuses and or Hazing during his/her stay in the Academy.

So what will happen if the abusers or attackers are from 2^nd class Cadets or 1^st classmen, my suggestion is the Senior Buddy system should extend all the way thru the 1^st class Cadets meaning a 4^th class cadet must have a Senior buddy from all levels in 3^rd class, 2^nd class and 1^st class, meaning if you are a 1^st class Cadet you have 3 Junior Buddy under your watch 2 for the 2^nd Class cadet and so on, this way if the abuser or attacker are 1^st classmen his Senior Buddy from that Class should do his part to prevent the abuse without the Plebe knowing he was being saved.

I am suggesting this because in a premiere institution like the PMA wherein only the best are expected to Graduate and lead in the AFP, the training is really tough, from the entrance exam wherein hundreds of thousands are hoping to join the prestigious core of cadets only about few thousand pass the mark, which is further reduced during Physical Exam, Medical Exam, and many more screening process even when you did make the cut and were able to join the Academy as 4^th classmen the elimination process is still ongoing thru rigorous training, mental training and tough Academic schedule, here even the so called Goat during graduation may end up as Valedictorian or Cum Laude in any prestigious civilian Universities, so the product of PMA is surely a cut among the rest, they were Men separated from the Boys, That is why they are 2^nd Lieutenants upon their Graduation and being leader and saluted to by seasoned NCO’s old enough to be their Grandfather.

But still I do not believe that a death of a Cadet is necessary to eliminate him/her if they think he or she is not fit enough to lead or join the ranks of the AFP hence the role of the proposed Senior Buddy is to advise his Junior Buddy to quit as an alternative, if he thinks that he/she may be a liability of the AFP in the future, otherwise he/she is duty bound to protect his Junior Buddy at all cost not obvious to his/her Junior Buddy, as he or they will be the first person liable in case of something untoward happen to their Junior Buddy, they can determine the level of abuse Base on Command Responsibility, if the victim is a 4^th class Cadet the 3^rd class Buddy will be liable assuming the perpetrators are all 3^rd classmen, but if there was upperclassmen involved like in the 2^nd or 1^st class Cadets like in the case of Cadet Dormitorio all of the buddy will be liable for neglect of duty or any appropriate punishment that the Academy and or the AFP will see fit.

My Salute and support to the Premiere Institution that I once dreamed to join!

Note: All Pictures are from PMA uploaded Pictures.