The Philippines Reserve Officers' Training Corps aims to provide military education and training for students to mobilize them for national defense preparedness. This study aimed to assess the rigor of the Philippine Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and defense and security preparedness among ROTC graduates in selected universities in the Philippines, and determined the significant difference in the perceived level of preparedness on the rigor of the Philippine RTOC among Military Science courses graduates in selected universities such as: physical organization of cadets, combat training of individual soldiers, regional annual administrative and tactical inspection, drill and ceremonies, infantry, rescue, field artillery, and; civil operation activities as assessed by the three groups of respondents. Moreover, the study also determined the significant difference in the perceived level of preparedness on defense and security such as: internal security operations, territorial defense, disaster response, international defense, security engagements, international humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping operations, and support to national development as assessed by the two (2) groups of respondents. This study utilized a descriptive correlational research design. The study covered 200 respondents; composed of 100 Military Science 42 Graduates, and 100 Military Science 43 graduates conducted during the School Year 2022 – 2023.  Generally, the respondents were Highly Prepared for the rigor of the Reserved Officers Training Corps. On the other hand, the respondents were Highly Prepared on defense and security as embedded in the Reserved Officers Training Corps. Further studies may be conducted using empirical evidence to further the implementation of ROTC mandates, supplementation to an early career in AFP, and the impact of ROTC on both high school and college graduates in the Philippines.

The increasing rate of gun-related deaths in the Philippines is one of the challenging variables in the management of arms and ammunition for effective safekeeping operations. This study describes the perceptions of the students towards management or arms and ammunition, and the relationship between the profile variates of the two-groups of respondents and the level of awareness on management of arms and ammunition. This descriptive correlational research determined the perceptions of 200 students towards management or arms and ammunition, and the relationship between the profile variates of the two-groups of respondents and the level of awareness on management of arms and ammunition. A researcher-developed questionnaire was utilized. During the conduct of the study, strict ethical principles including confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement were considered. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage distribution, mean, rank, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Accordingly, Carrying of Firearms Outside of Residence or Place of Business has the highest mean score of 3.39, interpreted as Highly Aware, Abandoned Firearms and Ammunition, and Death or Disability of the Licensee with a mean score of 1.95, interpreted as Slightly Aware (SA). The year level , number of trainings attended , gun ownership , family monthly gross income  show significant relationships to the criminology student respondents level of awareness on effective strategies in weapons and ammunition management. Further, the number of trainings attended , gun ownership , and family monthly gross income  show significant relationship to the non-criminology student respondents level of awareness on management of arms and ammunition. The majority of the respondents concur that the importance of having the permit to carry firearms outside of residence or place of business issued by the Chief, PNP, or by his/her duly authorized representative to the licensed citizen allowing him/her to carry the firearm outside the residence or place of business, as such, display of firearms is prohibited. Furthermore, the year level, number of training attended, gun ownership, and family monthly gross income has a direct positive effect on the criminology student respondents level of awareness on effective strategies in weapons and ammunition management, while the number of training attended, gun ownership, and family monthly gross income has a direct positive effect on the non-criminology student respondents level of awareness on management of arms and ammunition. Therefore, school administrators should provide and recalibrate complete gun safety training to ensure those gun owners are educated on the responsible practices for handling and using firearms, storing them securely at home, as well as carrying guns in public. Further studies may be conducted on policy analysis, enforcement, and analytical methods are applied to curb firearms-related violence.