What's the difference between the Sunday Soldiers and the Rainbow Rangers?

[Adroth]

What's the difference between the Sunday Soldiers and the Rainbow Rangers?

[saver111]

Rainbow Rangers is the organization itself. Cadets are called Trainees and were not allowed to be called Rangers especially by  the SRs. Our officers were called cadres and were allowed to use the yellow name patches with their reserve NCO ranks. Only some of the higher level cadres are priviledge to be called Rangers since some have taken up Ranger courses and are Reservist/P2LTs taking up MS-51, 52, 53 still attached with the Division while waiting for their CAD.

The Sunday Soldiers is a unit of the RR were graduates ends up as cadres. They were the counter-part of the COCC and MOCC on regular CMT/ROTC. During parades, they were the ones issued the M-16s while their lady counterparts, the Rangerettes were issued the M1 carbines. They were even onboard M-35s. These were the guys sporting the Rainbow Badges with musang and Sunday Soldier inscription on top, the one Amber1 is using as avatar on the other forum. They also sport the yellow name patches.

I remember senior trainees sporting a similar rainbow patch minus the musang but instead RAINBOW RANGER on top and DIVISION below was inscripted. Maybe due to the Ranger issue, this was discontinued. (Man, as a trainee, I love to get that patch!). During our time, Brigades created their own and our 3rd Brigade ended up with a patch with Swastika in it (of all symbols!)

I hope Amber1, junglefighter and former cadres could correct me and give more details.

[Amber1]

" It was the fifteenth of September, 1968 when a group of ROTC cadets met on a Sunday to start a strange undertaking-a concept of ROTC training novel at the time-an extension of Quezon's dream of a citizen army. A citizen army-formidable in battle as well as in peace, committed to life, not only of its members but of the nation with its people and its tradition. No one could have guessed then that the first group whose number was counted by the fingers of two men shall swell to embrace ten thousand and, beyond these, the swell of people who believe in its principles.
The Rainbow is living true to its promise. Just as the Rainbow embraces all the colors, the Rainbow has embraced people of all walks of life." by Rgr Angeles MA Anahaw IX Journal
What I know is that the first group used the name Sunday Soldier.
Rainbow, was probably because of its integration, having volunteers
from different school institutions under different major services of the AFP.
Saver however, was talking about the Sunday Soldier Regular SSR,
this unit of the Rainbow is composed of aspirants, would be Cadre of the Rainbow, who did not took their Basic ROTC with the Rainbow (all MS 31). This unit is our Strike Force, ready mobilizable, sometimes tasked to serve as security unit, honor guard duty etc, as maybe needed. Their POI is mainly composed advanced subjects (same as regular MS 31) giving more emphasis being a future Ranger Cadre. Hope I shed some Light.

[Adroth]

Thanks a lot Amber and Saver. 

[saver111]

talking about the Sunday Soldier Regular SSR,
this unit of the Rainbow is composed of aspirants, would be Cadre of the Rainbow, who did not took their Basic ROTC with the Rainbow (all MS 31). This unit is our Strike Force, ready mobilizable, sometimes tasked to serve as security unit, honor guard duty etc, as maybe needed. Their POI is mainly composed advanced subjects (same as regular MS 31) giving more emphasis being a future Ranger Cadre. Hope I shed some Light.

Thank you Sir Amber1 for the clarification. So that was it. During my MS 31 on the first CMT day of the semester (a Saturday), the RR Cadres did their rounds of recruitment in our Corps. Have been talking with one of them telling I was former RR, a very nice guy. We exchange pleasantries up to the point of telling some things that is best kept by myself. I inquired about the COMMEL training they were offering if they would be accepting a Cadet Officer from another school. Seeing the possible potential of the idea he said I better report at the RR Hqs that Sunday.

I did reported early morning in my BDU. Inquring about the Commel Unit, I was pointed from different places where it could be found. I ended  in one Cadre and inquired what MS I was. Of course I answered MS31 and he pointed me in the direction of a specific unit. I reported and was made to join the formation. The next thing I knew, I was in the company of the SSR. We were being indoctrinated for the whole morning and later found out we still have things to do in the afternoon. That was a big problem for me since it was also my first training day for my Advance CMT course in our group.
I saw the cadre that I talked back at our school and found out that he was the Division Commader. I explained my situation that I really just wanted to take the COMMEL Training and told him of the conflict with schedule. He did understand and I too felt sorry I wasn't able to do COMMEL which I was planning to introduce in our Corps. But I did encouraged one of my 3rd Class officer (MS 21)to join since he has no conflict in schedule (Sunday training). The next thing I knew, he became the mascot of the Rangerettes.

I think Sunday Soldier was chosen since the ROTC/CMT training at UP were held on Sundays. To have distinctions to what is called Weekend Warriors for those taking WADT.

[Jonin6]

The difference between the Sunday Soldier Regular and the Rainbow Ranger was os one of status. The Sunday Soldiert Regular, were Reservists, all ROTC alumni on WADT(Weekend Active Duty Training) and the Rainbow were Cadets both Basic and Advanced getting their ROTC /CMT Requirements met.

These fused the twin problems of Reservist Development and ROTC Development into one program, where the Basic Cadets formed the backbone of the Ready Reserve Unit. The Rainbow Ranger Cadet Advanced formed the Basic NCO Leadership at Team and Section Level abd the Platoon and Company Levels and Battalion to Brigades and Division Level formed the Sunday Soldier Regulars who had graduated formed the Senior Cadre of the Unit.

Although they were two different units, they were basically taking the samne course, the Ranger Course, however, the College students were with other college students and the professionals or alumni were with their peers.

[hawkhunter]

kelan na discontinue ang mga rainbow rangers?

[Jonin6]

The  Rainbow Ranger Program was officially deactivated in 1983 when Gen Vallejo retired. There were demands that the loyalty of the Division be transferred to certain individuals, however, the Rainbow's Loyalty was for the Country, not for certain indivdiuals only. Thus, the program was deactivated. However, the last class graduated in 1986.

  However, the General left us our Mission, Vision and Values stated thus:

"Our Task: To unite the Nation; Never to Divide. To make our Country bloom like a beautiful flower for all the world to see..."

And so, the task continues as our credo on HUMILITY States:"We live by the creed of Humility, the simplicity that must characterize the true Sons of the Country. Ours is to strive humbly,but with vigor and determination to bring about the forces that make our Nation great, without thought of glory and reward."

[Adroth]

Thank your for the info sir Jonin

[rainbow83]

during its birth in '68, the "modified" scout ranger course for the UPROTC cadet officers were taken on Sundays since their regular ROTC trainings were conducted on Saturdays...hence the term Sunday Soldiers...at that time Ranger training was only allowed to UPROTC cadet officers and volunteer cadets...that's why most of the early brods from '68 to '70 were UPROTC/Vanguards...

when it became known to other ROTC units, there was a clamor to include non-UPROTC cadet officers/cadet volunteers and started to accept them in school year '70-'71...thus it became the "Rainbow" Ranger Project...it was named "Rainbow" since the program then covers different ROTC units from Greater Manila area...then Training Director Maj.Vallejo was also inspired by Gen.MacArthur's Rainbow Division composed of different National Guard units which served in France during the 1st World War...

during the ritual of filial piety of class '71, there were two set of graduates--one from the UPROTC group and the other one from the non-UPROTC group...this went on until class '72...from class '73 onwards till class '85/'86. there was only one Ritual held for every Rainbow graduating class...

the distinction continued with so-called full-blooded Rainbow graduates who joined the program from MS11 till MS42...MS11/12 & MS21/22 for the basic course as trainees (wearing white/black namecloths) and MS31/32 & MS41/42 for the advanced course as cadres (wearing fatigue/gold yellow namecloths)...

those who took up basic course in their mother ROTC units but joined the Rainbow program for their advanced ROTC course were tagged as SSR (Sunday Soldier Regular)...before they were assimilated with the full-blooded Rainbow cadres, the SSRs have to undergo a sort of crash-course in basic Rainbow Ranger training during the MS31/32 period but reintegrated with the full-blooded during the MS41/42 period...

only those who have undergone the Ritual of Filial Piety for the advanced Rainbow graduates were given the title Ranger if and when they volunteer for their WADT (Weekend Active Duty Training) which is the MS51/52, MS61/62 and so on...WADT Rangers wore the fatigue/black namecloths and were allowed to wear the musang or home defense patch...

[saver111]

Welcome to the forum rainbow83 and thanks for the updates.