516th NROTC Unit first semester SY: 2020-2021

NS – 11

SUBJECT : 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.
e. Explain R. A. 7077 and its four (4) major entities.

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 to 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
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May 1942 respectively against the Japanese invasion forces, the active Philippine guerilla
movement and successful Anti-Huk campaign also best amplified the Filipino soldiers and love
of country.

The Philippine Air Force was later established on 09 July 1947. Moreover, it is also
noteworthy that the AFP had particular 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 the 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.

1. 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. The strength however, does not only include those officers and
enlisted personnel 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.

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 2. 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 such as 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
citizens who have completed the prescribed training instruction as provided by the National
Defense Act and who are assigned as reservists to the organization of the Reserve Force.

THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF

SEC OF NAT’L 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) – which conducts ground combat operations;

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

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

F. MAJOR SERVICES RESCOMs 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 General of Army Douglas McArthur was commissioned by 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 provides 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
AFPRESCOM from the personnel and facilities of the defunct Metropolitan Citizen Military
Training Command of MCMTC on 01 April 1993.

1. AFPRESCOM – was organized as an AFP-wide support and separate until 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,
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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 –is 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 – as a major service of the Philippine Navy is 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 center throughout the country, namely;

a. Naval Reserve Center Northern Luzon – Poro Point, Sn Fernando City, La Union
(All NROTCU in the north up to Batanes Island.)
b. Naval Reserve Center National Capital Region – Intramuros, Metro Manila, Cavite
c. Naval Reserve Center Southern Luzon – Legaspi City (Bats, Mindoro, Romblon
and entire Bicol Region)
d. Naval Reserve Center West – Palawan
e. Naval Reserve Center Eastern Visayas – Cebu City (entire Visayas, Leyte, Samar)
f. Naval Reserve Center Western Mindanao – Zamboanga City (Mindanao Areas)
g. Naval Reserve Center Eastern Mindanao – Davao City (entire Davao up to Gen
Santos City)
h. Naval Reserve Center Western Visayas – Ilo-ilo

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

HEADQUARTERS NAVAL RESERVE COMMAND ORGANIZATION

PERSONAL STAFF:
F/LT – FLAG LIEUTENANT
NRIG – INSPECTOR GENERAL
NRPIO – PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
CMCPO – COMMAND MASTER CHIEF

CENTRAL STAFF:
NR1 – AC OF NS FOR PERSONNEL
NR2 - AC OF NS FOR INTELLIGENCE
NR3 - AC OF NS FOR OPERATION
NR4 - AC OF NS FOR LOGISTIC
NR5 - AC OF NS FOR PLANS & PROGRAM
NR6 - AC OF NS FOR COMMUNICATION & WEAPONS
NR7 - AC OF NS FOR RESERVE/RETIREES AFFAIRS

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SPECIAL & TECHNICAL STAFF:
NR-RMO – RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OFFICE
NR-FMO – FISCAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE
NR-ADJ – ADJUTANT
NR-SSO – SPECIAL SERVICE OFFICER
NRMED-O – MEDICAL OFFICER
NRPM – PROVOST MARSHALL
NR-SAO – SUPPLY ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER
NRASO – ACCOUNTING SERVICE OFFICE

4. Air Force Reserve Command – is actively involved in the administration and

utilization of the reservist responding and acting quickly to rescue calls whenever and wherever
disasters occur.

**END**

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