H E A D Q U A R T E R S

WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS

RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

AFP Customs and Traditions

I. Definition of Terms:

Traditions

 are inherited principles, standards and practices that serve as the established guides
for an individual or group. Traditions are accumulated experiences and deeds passed on
from generation to generation both in memory and reality.

Customs

 are accepted practices realized through continued usage that take the force and
effect of a common law.

Significant Military Customs

and Traditions

1. Valor

– an act of a marked degree of courage and bravery in the presence of

danger or in the face of the enemy.

2. Honor

- an act of respect gained by men and women of the AFP from the civilian
populace through good deeds and good examples.

3. Duty

- an act of responsibility and self-sacrifice a soldier who has dedicated

his life to public service.

4. Loyalty

- an act of willing obedience to the governing laws of the

country, the constitution and lawful superiors.

5. Solidarity
 H E A D Q U A R T E R S
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

- an act of unity and teamwork shown by every member of the AFP which
serves as an ally in the accomplishment of the mission.

3 Main Core Values

Honor

Duty

Responsibility

Military Customs

1. National Colors and Anthems

- the Philippine Flag and the National Anthem symbolize all democratic
ideals that our national heroes in gaining our independence from foreign rule.

National Flag

- we should always respect the national flag by saluting it whenever it

passes during parades and other ceremonies where it is raised or lowered.

a. When aboard a vehicle and a flag ceremony begins, halt, dismount or when ceremony is
almost over, you may just halt and sit erect.

b. When the Philippine Flag is tattered or worn down, do not display it anymore. Replace
them immediately.

NOTE:

The best way to dispose a tattered flag is to burry.

 H E A D Q U A R T E R S
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

1.National Anthem

- the same measure of respect and reverence is shown to National Anthem:

a. When it is being played, face the source of the music or the band playing it and
salute.

b. When with the group, not in formation, you may salute individually during
the play of the National Anthem.

2. Military Seniority

- officers by virtue of their being commissioned are seniors to the enlisted

personnel. In the same manner, high ranking commissioned officers to low ranking NCO’s.
Hence, befitting their rank and position in the military organization.

3. Rank Has Its Privilege (RHIP)

- whenever a choice is to be made, such as selection of billets or quarters or

electing means of transportation, the option of selection follow rank, with senior given the
privilege to select first.

Pointers to remember when addressing or dealing with an officer:

a. Salute – render salute in a dignified manner.

b. Word of Address – always say Sir!

c. Position of Honor – when walking, sitting or riding a vehicle with a officer or any
senior, always walk or sit on his left side.

d. Commander’s Wish – when a commander says “I desire” or “I wish”, this

expression should be taken and carried out with all authority and forces of
direct orders.
 H E A D Q U A R T E R S
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

4. NCO’s Ranks and Positions

- NCO’s attain their ranks and position by virtue of their competence and
qualifications. Thus, to be promoted and be designated as Head NCO or chief
of a unit is always considered as an achievement.

Points to remember when addressing or dealing with a senior NCO:

a. Pfc and Pvt may normally be addressed as Private to come it is more flattering.

b. First names may be addressed to juniors or contemporaries only and never to

seniors.

c. Generally accepted way of working up in a formal military nicknames it to be

used the first two syllables of the soldiers name.

5. Military Weddings
a. Background Investigation

Officers and enlisted personnel are required by the AFP to request permission to marry
from their commanding officer by submitting a properly accomplished Personal Action Form
(PAF) and by requesting perspective birds.

The background investigation is not intended to find out if a soldier had made the right
personal choice, but rather to determine if his future wife/husband will not be potential risk
for the AFP.

B. Draw Swords Ceremony

A traditional military church wedding. The bride and the groom (an officer or NCO) may
wish to have this ceremony. A military sword detail of at least four pairs of officers or NCO’s
shall be organized among the friends.

6. Visitations

1. Hospital Visit

2. Field Visit
 H E A D Q U A R T E R S
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

3. Funeral Visitation

Funeral Visitation

The Commanding Officer sends his personal letter of condolence to the bereaved family
of his men.

Military civil guards shall be posted beside the casket and a standardized Philippine Flag
shall be dropped over it.

TAPS (funeral bugle call)

During this solemn ceremony, all military personnel present come to attention and
salute. After the shots, the “TAPS” is sounded. The national flag dropped over the most
senior officer or NCO and given to immediate family member of the deceased.

7. Military Ceremonies and Socials

a. Parades

Military parades and review are held in military camps to honor senior commanders,
government officials and dignitaries.

Parades and reviews may be held both in the morning.

b. Military Honors

c. Unit Anniversaries

d. Happy Hours – This is a special form of unit comradeship. Usually held on Fridays, the
growing customs calls for a light hearted jesting about the events of the week or airing a
minor gripe and blowing of little steam. It may also be a time to slip in a judicious request
for a pass or event to inquire about taking a leave.

The following are some of the additional significant customs in the AFP:

1. Salute - men of arms have use some form of military salute as an exchange of
 H E A D Q U A R T E R S
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

greeting since the earliest times.

2. Flag Raising Ceremony - the Filipino soldiers honors the flag by raising it with
the troops singing the National Anthem and to the accompaniment of the band before the
start of the official days’ work to pledge that all his efforts for the day is dedicated to
his country and people.
3. The Retreat Ceremony - the sounds of the evening gun during a combined
ceremonial parade and retreat ceremony constitute one of the inspiring custom of the
service. Military personnel in camps of garrison pause for a moment either to salute to the
nations flag or sing the national anthem.

4. The Three Valleys over Graves -is is a sign of respect and gesture farewell tendered
to a departed comrade-in-arms.
5. The White Flag of Truce - a worldwide custom used to signal the temporary cessation
of hostilities between warring parties.

6. The Wearing of Decorations - military personnel who honorably earned decorations

in the performance of duty, displays them as part of the uniform during appropriate
occasions.
7. The Raising of the Right Hand in Taking Oath

8. Courtesy of the Post - an officer of any of the armed service visiting at a military post
or one who resides in its vicinity is often extended by "courtesy of the post" by the
commanding officer after the prescribed official call has been made. This may include the
privilege of accommodation at the Officer's Club and Officer's Mess if the visit is of short
duration and the privilege of membership, if the stay in the vicinity is extended.

9. Presentation of Recruit to Colors – recruits are presented to the color for purpose of
signifying acceptance and welcome to the organization.

10. Farewell Tendered to a Departing Officer – usually given to the departing officer
and his family prior to change of assignment. A “happy hour” or a simple get-together takes
place.

11. Ceremony Tendered to a Retiree – tendered to a military retiree in recognition of

his long, faithful and honourable service to the AFP.

12. Trumpet or Bugle Calls – add more distinction to the regimented life of military
personnel. As the day-to-day activities bore, the sounds of these calls rejuvenate every
system of his body to continue performing the things as signalled by each call
 H E A D Q U A R T E R S
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

13. Courtesy Call – there are some significant courtesy calls in the military. One of which
is upon arrival or departure, officers from overseas missions or foreign schooling pay a call
to their respective Major Service Commanders. It is also appropriate for officers assuming
foreign pots or coming back from such assignments to call on the Chief-of-Staff and the
Secretary of National Defense. They do the same prior to a transfer or relief from duty.

14. Call of Newly Promoted Generals/Flag Officers – officers promoted to a star ranks
call on the Major Service Commander, Chief-of-Staff, AFP and the Secretary of the National
Defense after taking their oath of office before the Commander in Chief.

15. Calls on the Major Service Commanders - are usually accompanied by some form of
arrival and departure honors.

16. New Year’s Call on the Commanding Officer – It has been an invariable custom
throughout the AFP that officers make a formal call upon their Commander during the New
Year’s Day.

19. Patronage of the Officer’s Club and EP’s Club Houses – This custom enable officers
and EP to spend their off-duty social and recreational life in said centers.

20. Ceremonies at Holiday Dinners – this is the practice on Christmas and New Year’s
Day, in which Commanding Officers visit troops during meal time or prior to the serving of
the meal. The method varies rather widely.

21. Christmas Holiday Entertainment – this is another practice on Christmas in which

children of the organization are given gifts and entertained. The Chaplain, Special Service
Officer or Ladies Club with the Band present jointly organizes this.

22. Visiting the Sick – a military personnel who is sick in the hospital is visited by
available officers and enlisted personnel of the unit in such number as may be permitted by
 H E A D Q U A R T E R S
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY – POTOTAN CAMPUS
RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS UNIT
604th (ILO) CDC, 6RCDG, ARESCOM
Pototan, Iloilo

the doctor or surgeon in charge. An officer or soldier of his unit visits him in order that his
needs are attended to.

23. Survivor Assistance to Bereaved Family – when any member of a unit dies, an
officer is immediately designated by the Commanding Officer to render every possible
assistance to the bereaved family. A similar courtesy may be tendered, if desired, in the
case of a death of a member of any personnel’s family.

Conclusion
The AFP is an organization full of positive customs and traditions which every soldier
should internalize and practice for him/her to contribute to the AFP’s overall mission as the
defender of and protector of the people and the state.