IMPACT OF BATTALION FORMATION ON THE ATTITUDE AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF MARITIME STUDENTS WITH COMPLETED ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS (CAR) OF MSEUF

The maritime industry plays a significant role in the global economy and requires a highly skilled workforce. As such, maritime education and training are essential in producing competent and skilled professionals in this field. However, education alone is not enough to produce well-rounded individuals who possess not only the necessary knowledge but also the right attitude and character. Battalion formation is a training program commonly used in the Philippine maritime education system to develop the discipline, competency, and leadership skills of students. This study aimed to investigate the impact of battalion formation on the attitude and character development of CAR maritime students of Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF). The study also assessed the impact of battalion formation in terms of discipline, competency, and leadership. A total of Fifty (50) CAR maritime students participated in the study, and the data were collected through a survey questionnaire and an interview with the Office of Battalion Training (OBT). The results showed that battalion formation has a positive impact on the attitude and character development of CAR maritime students, as well as on their discipline, competency, and leadership skills. The overall mean scores for discipline, competency, and leadership were all above 3.0, indicating that the respondents strongly believe that battalion formation is effective in developing these important skills. The effectiveness of battalion formation on the attitude and character of CAR maritime students was also supported by the results of the survey.