THE AFP ORGANIZATION

Lesson Objectives:
Upon completion of this topic, the student will
a. State the mission of the AFP and its branch of service.
b. Enumerate the three (3) branches of service of the AFP.
c. List the two (2) components of the AFP
d. Illustrate the AFP organization.

INTRODUCTION:
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recognizes the Constitution of the Republic as the legitimate expression
of the people’s will. It is mandated to serve and protect the people and secure the sovereignty of the state and the integrity of
its national territory from internal and external threats. The AFP pledges allegiance to the Filipino people, adheres to the
principle of supremacy of civilian authority over the military at all times and vows to uphold and defend the Constitution.

A. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AFP:

The AFP identifies itself with the Filipino people’s historical struggles for freedom and justice and their vigilance
against any attempt to violate the country’s integrity and sovereignty. In retrospect, it recognizes the role of our forefathers as
freedom fighters and honors them for their democratic and nationalistic aspirations.

The AFP, as the embodiment of the cherished martial values and traditions of the Filipino people, traces its roots to
certain historical events foremost of which is the Battle of Mactan on 27 April 1521 where Lapu-Lapu, the acknowledged father
of the AFP, first demonstrated our love for freedom; the Dagohoy, Revolt in 1744, the Muslim resistance and other similar
uprisings against Spanish colonialism manifesting our fight against foreign domination; the founding of the Katipunan on 07
July 1892 by Andres Bonifacio, considered as the father of the Philippine Army, who proclaimed Filipinos solidarity; the Tejeros
Convention on 22 March 1897 which proclaimed officially our desire for complete independence and thereafter gave birth to
the Philippine Army. Subsequently, the Philippine Navy was created on 20 May 1898.
On 12 June 1898, the Philippine Independence was declared at Kawit, Cavite, and for the first time, the Philippine Flag
was unfurled by General Emilio Aguinaldo and our National Hymn was played. The Filipino-American hostilities between 1898
and 1899 further demonstrated the Filipino soldier’s best in terms of honor, valor, loyalty, duty and solidarity despite the
overwhelming superiority of the enemy forces. To hasten the Philippine campaign on peace and order, the Philippine Military
Academy was organized on 25 October 1898.
On 21 December 1935, the National Defense Act was enacted officially to create the AFP. The Defense of Bataan and
Corregidor from the outbreak of World War II until 09 April and 06 May 1942 respectively against the Japanese invasion forces,
the active Philippine guerilla movement and the successful Anti-Huk campaign also best amplified the Filipino soldiers and love
of country.
The Philippine Air Force was later established on 01 July 1947. Moreover, it is also noteworthy that the AFP had
participated in international peace keeping efforts as its commitment to the United Nations such as the Philippine Expeditionary
Force to Korea (PEFTOK) in the early 50’s, the Philippine Air Force Contingent in Congo, Africa in the early 60’s and the
Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG) in South Vietnam in the late 60’s. After the EDSA event, the AFP has vigorously
pursued a national reconciliation effort for peace and progress.

B. MISSION OF THE AFP

“To protect the people and secure the sovereignty of the state and the integrity of the national territory”.

C. CHAIN OF COMMAND (Commander-In-Chief, DND & AFP)

By virtue of the national Defense Act enacted officially on 21 December 1935, the Armed Forces of the Philippines was
created. The President is the Commander-In-Chief of the AFP. He/ She exercises strategic direction over the personnel and
the resources of the military establishments through the Secretary of the Department of National Defense, who also represents
his/ her in the executive function and in the supervision of the Defense Program of the country.

The Chief of Staff, AFP executes the command functions of the President in relation to strategy, tactics and
operations. He is also the immediate adviser of the Secretary of National Defense Program as prescribed by the Secretary of
National Defense. The Chief of Staff has command and control over all the elements of the AFP.

D. ORGANIZATION AND CAPABILITIES OF THE AFP:

The AFP is duly created by law as an integral part of the Executive Branch of the Government. It is well-organized and
disciplined body composed of a citizen armed force necessary for the defense and security of the state. It is headed by the
President as the Commander-In-Chief who exercises control, supervision and authority through a Chain of Command headed
by the Chief of Staff.

The organizational structure of the AFP provides for centralized direction and control of GHQ to ensure unity of efforts,
and the operations of the Major Services and other separate units are decentralized to achieve maximum operational
efficiency.
 As provided for in the National Defense Act, as amended, the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be composed of
the Regular Force and Reserve Force components.

The Regular Force is the permanent military organization which is maintained in time of peace and war. In time of peace,
the authorized active commissioned officer and enlisted personnel strength of the Regular Force is determined every year by
the Annual General and Special Appropriation Act. This strength however, does not only included those officers and EP who
are permanently commissioned or serving under voluntary enlistment in the Regular Force, but also those reserve officers and
enlisted reservists assigned for duty with the different services of the Regular Force.

The Reserve Force is the military organization that will come up physical existence only upon mobilization as may be
called upon by the Commander-In-Chief due to state of national emergency suchas war or widespread disorder. Units of the
Reserve Force are “paper” organizations which come to being to augment the Regular Force confronting the threat to the
Nation. The Reserve Force organization includes the commissioned Reserved Officers and all citizen who have completed the
prescribed trainee instruction as provided by the National Defense Act and who are assigned as reservists to the organization
of the Reserve Force.

THE AFP ORGANIZATION

THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF

SEC OF NATL DEFENSE

CHIEF OF STAFF, AFP

PHIL ARMY PHIL AIR FORCE PHIL NAVY

E. MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDS:

For operational efficiency and effectiveness, the AFP is presently composed of three (3) Major Service Commands
namely:

 Philippine Army (PA) - conducts ground combat operations;

 Philippine Air Force (PAF) - secures the Philippine air space; and
 Philippine Navy (PN) - secures the Philippine territorial waters

Each service command considers the other services as brothers-in-arms and members of one big family. All AFP services
maintain harmonious and mutually supportive relationship with each other and in other government agencies.

F. MAJOR SERVICES RESCOMs AND AFPRESCOM

Prior to the enactment of the AFP Reservist Act (Republic Act Number 7077) on 27 June 1991, reserve force
development was already an existing phenomenon in the AFP as far back as 1939 when the then General of the Army,
Douglas McArthur was commissioned to the Commonwealth of the Philippines to organize its citizen army. The surfacing of a
new organization that would coordinate and integrate the efforts of the pioneering citizen’s army forces was met with resistance
for decades.

The AFP Reservist Act or RA Nr. 7077 provided for the reorganization of the AFP Reserve Force into four (4) major
components, namely: the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, and the AFP-Wide technical and Affiliated
Reserve Command within one year after its enactment. The urgency of this mandate pushed General Headquarters, AFP to
activate the AFP Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM) from the personnel and facilities of the defunct Metropolitan Citizen
Military Training Command (MCMTC) on 01 April 1993.
1. AFPRESCOM - organized as an AFP-wide support and separate unit on 01 April 1993 pursuant to General Order No. 22
GHQ, AFP dated 02 March 1993 and Republic Act No. 7077, otherwise known as the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Reservist Act. AFPRESCOM is mandated to provide direction for the development, administration, organization, training,
maintenance and utilization of the Citizen Armed Forces as a base for the rapid expansion of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines in times of emergency. In the performance of its functions, the Command is organized into two (2) major
operational units, namely; the Affiliated Reserve Group (ARG) and the Technical Service Reserve Group (TSRG) which are
tasked to train and develop affiliated reservists and technical service reservists, respectively. The training of these reservists is
directly under the supervision and control of the Reservists Training Center (RTC).

2. Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM) - premised on a dedication to service, faced with the challenge of being in a
constant state of readiness and responsiveness if it is to back up the regular army. Its enduring values of professionalism,
integrity and responsibility to the nation through selfless service must be kept alive to meet the demands of the time.

3. Naval Reserve Command (NAVRESCOM) - tasked to oversee and administer all naval reservists in our country, in order
to provide the navy not only a base for expansion in the event of war, invasion, rebellion, or disaster and calamity relief but also
to assist in socio-economic development of the country. NAVRESCOM has managed to activate eight (8) Naval Reserve
centers throughout the country namely;

a. Naval Reserve Center Northern Luzon (NRCNL) - situated at Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union and covers
all areas north of NRNCR to Batanes Island.
b. Naval Reserve Center National Capital Region (NRCNCR) - situated at Intramuros, Manila and covers all areas of
National Capital Region.
c. Naval Reserve Center Southern Luzon (NRCSL) - situated at Rawis, Legaspi City and covers areas from
Batangas, Mindoro, Romblon and entire Bicol Region
d. Naval Reserve Center West (NRCW) - Puerto Princesa, Palawan
e. Naval Reserve Center Eastern Visayas (NRCEV) - situated at Cebu City and covers the entire Visayas, Leyte.
Samar.
f. Naval Reserve Center Western Visayas (NRCWV) - situated at Iloilo and covers the whole western Visayas to
include Panay and Negros.
g. Naval Reserve Center Western Mindanao (NRCWM) - situated at Zamboanga City and covers areas from
Cotabato, Zamboanga, Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-tawi.
h. Naval Reserve Center Eastern Mindanao (NRCEM) - situated at Davao City and covers entire Davao to Gen
Santos City.

These Centers served as its operating units in far flung areas to ensure that its task of reaching that vast naval
reserve manpower be carried with ease and achieve desired goals.

4. Air Force Reserve Command (AFRESCOM) - is actively involved in the administration and utilization of the air
reservist responding and acting quickly to rescue calls whenever and wherever disaster occurs.