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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City

16 September 1987

CIRCULAR
NUMBER 11

BASIC BRANCHES OF SERVICE AND

SPECIALTIES OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

1. PURPOSE. – This Circular prescribes the regulations governing the

appointment, assignment, transfer and detail in basic branches of service and
job/occupational specialties/classification of commissioned officers of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines in active duty and other related matters.

2. STATUTORY BASES. -

a. Section 19, 20, 21, 22 of CA #1, as amended.

b. Section 1 (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) Section 3 (d) and Section 4
(a), (c) and (d) of RA 291, as amended.

c. RA 3935.

d. RA 4828.

e. Executive Order 389, s-1950, as amended.

f. Executive Order 237, s-1957.

3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. – As used in this Circular -

a. Major Service – shall refer to an arm or service in the AFP

organized to carry out missions and/or functions relating to the air, naval or ground
operations.

b. Branch of Service – shall refer to a distinctive arm or service

in the AFP to which an individual generally commissioned into the regular or reserve
force, enlisted or drafted or active military service. Until otherwise provided by law,
the branch of service in the AFP shall be PA, PAF, PC and PN (Marines).

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c. Technical Service – shall refer to the various technical or

specialized corps in the AFP to which an officer or individual may be originally or
subsequently commissioned by reason of educational attainment, status or
profession. Until otherwise decreed by law, the Technical Services in the AFP shall
be the following:

Medical Corps (MC) Corps of Professors (PROF)

Nurse Corps (NC) Dental Service (DS)
Chaplain Service (CHS) Medical Admin Corps (MAC)
Judge Advocate General (JAGS) Veterinary Corps (VC)
Corps of Engineers (CE) Women Auxiliary Corps (WAC)

d. AFP Wide Support Service Corps – shall refer to the various

support of fields of specialty were a commissioned officer may be assigned or
designated by reason of pre-commissioned training, education or to pursue a primary
occupational specialty. Until otherwise decreed by law, the following shall comprise
the various AFP Wide Support Service Corps;

Infantry (INF) Field Artillery (FA)

Armor (CAV) Comm Elec (SC)
Quartermaster Svc (QMS) Ord & Chemical Svc (OS)
Adjutant General Svc (AGS) Finance Service (FS)
Detached Officers List (DOL) Inspector General’s Svc (IGS)

e. Armed Forces Occupational Specialty (AFOS) – shall refer to

the distinctive field, activity or area of concentration in which military personnel is
suited or qualified by reason of training, schooling or experience.

1) Primary Occupational Specialty (PMOS) – shall refer

to the specialty in which an officer possesses the highest level of expertise based on
previous civilian acquired skill or experience and/or subsequent gained from formal
military schooling or training.

2) Secondary Occupational Specialty (SOS) – shall refer

to the specialty representing the individual officer’s or EP’s, second best
qualification to perform duty. The other next qualification of a military personnel, if
any, shall be designated as Tertiary Occupational Specialty (TOS).

f. AFOS in Air Force means the specialty of an officer appointed

in the Air Force as prescribed by pertinent PAF regulations.

g. AFOS in the PN means the navy officer Career Field which

are the following: Line, Supply Duty Officer (SDO), Engineering Duty Officer
(EDO) and Philippine Marines (PM).

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4. APPOINTMENT IN BASIC BRANCH OF SERVICE. -

a. Recommendations for the appointment of persons as

commissioned officers of the AFP shall specify the basic branch of service in which
they are to be appointed.

b. In the recommendation to the President for the appointment

of graduates of service academies as 2nd Lieutenants, a provision therein shall be
included that officers commissioned in the Army or Constabulary who are
subsequently detailed to the Air Force for flying training shall, on the date of
completion of such training or not having completed such training, express in writing
their preference to be with the Air Force, not necessarily in pilot status and be
automatically transferred to the PAF promotion list retroactive as of their date of
commission in the PA or PC.

c. The promotion to the next higher grade of an officer

previously appointed in a basic branch shall not cause the termination of his
appointment in such basic branch. However, if an officer is promoted to Brigadier
General, the basic branch where he belongs shall be dropped. His name shall be
included in the seniority list of general officers of the AFP in the manner provided by
law.

Example: Brigadier General, AFP

5. ASSIGNMENT OF JOB/OCCUPATIONAL
SPECIALTY/ CLASSIFICATION. -

a. The occupational specialties in the Army and Constabulary,

grouped according to specialization and utilization are as follows:

1) Combatant – Infantry, Cavalry, Field Artillery,

ARMOR.

2) Technical – Corps of Engineers, Ordnance and

Chemical Service, Signal Corps.

b. Officers appointed in the Army or Constabulary basic branch

shall, upon their initial appointment therein, be assigned or detailed in a primary
occupational specialty according to their professional qualifications and the needs of
the particular service in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commander
of the Major Service in implementation of this Circular. Assignment or detail to an
occupational specialty shall be made by the Commanding General, Philippine Army
and the Chief of Constabulary.

c. Officers appointed in the Air Force or Navy basic branch shall

be assigned AFOS according to their professional qualifications and the needs of the

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particular Major Services Armed Forces Occupational Specialty. Assignments shall

be made by the Commanding General, Philippine Air Force and Flag Officer in
Command, Philippine Navy.

d. Commanders of Major Service shall continue to assign or

detail AFOS to respective officers detailed with GHQ or agencies outside the
defense establishments: provided that those detailed outside the defense
establishment not involving the performance or military duties or assignments shall,
after such detail of more than one (1) year, be required to re qualify in his current
main specialty or to be qualified in a new specialty under regulations which the
Commanders of Major Service shall prescribe to meet the peculiar needs of the
Service concerned.

6. TRANSFER. -

a. In Basic Branch:

1) Transfer to or from following basic branches is not

permitted: Army, Constabulary, Judge Advocate General’s Service, Chaplain
Service, Dental Service, Medical Corps, Medical Administrative Corps, Veterinary
Corps, Nurse Corps, Women’s Auxiliary Corps, and Corps of Professors.

2) Transfer from the Army and the Constabulary to the

Air Force and Navy shall be limited to those possessing Technical qualifications
instead of professional qualifications.

3) Transfer from the Army and the Constabulary to the

Air Force and the Navy basic branches is permitted but not vice versa. Transfer to
the Air Force and the Navy basic branches shall be limited to those possessing the
professional qualifications required for those basic branches as certified to by and on
recommendation of the Commander of the Major Service concerned. Such transfer
shall be subject to the approval of the President, and the order of transfer shall
clearly indicated that it is by direction of the President.

4) An officer in the grade of Captain (O-3) or above who

has completed ten (10) years or more of active commissioned service or who entered
into a service contract on account of schooling attended while in his present basic
branch shall be permitted but shall be limited to those possessing the necessary
qualification required for basic branches as recommended by Commander of the
Major Service concerned.

5) Where the qualifications of an officer appointed in a

basic branch clearly indicated the advisability of his appointment to another basic
branch, but transfers between the said basic branches is not permitted, the officer
concerned may resign his appointment in present basic branch and apply for

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appointment in the other basic branch. The new appointment shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 4 (c) of RA 291.

a. In Armed Forces Occupational Specialty. -

1) An officer assigned or detailed in an occupational

specialty or its equivalent in the PAF and PN may, upon his application, and upon
approval by the Commander of the Major Service concerned, be reassigned another
occupational/job specialty/qualification according to his professional qualifications
in these regulations.

2) Officer in the grade of Captain (O-3) who has

completed ten (10) years or more of active commissioned service and has completed
the advance or career course for his present occupational specialty, or may MATP
course abroad, or any civilian schooling detail under Section 22 (k) of the National
Defense Act on account of his present Specialty or Career Field shall not be
permitted to transfer to another specialty.

3) Changes in assignment or detail from one

Occupational Specialty to another shall not be oftener than every three (3) years.
The Commander authorizing the change will satisfy himself that the officer
concerned qualified under one of the following categories.

a) Possession of Professional and/or Technical

qualifications specifically required under existing regulations for the Occupational
Specialty.

b) Successful completion of an officer course of at

least twelve (12) weeks duration, or of two (2) or more related course the total
duration of which is at least twelve (12) weeks, for the Occupational Specialty.

c) Completion of three-year demonstrating

superior performance of duties in an assignment inherent to the Occupational
Specialty.

4) Completion of three-year tour of duty as Commander

of troops (unit not lower than Infantry Battalion) or with the GHQ General Staff,
General Staff with Troops, in a capacity as Chief of Staff or Assistant Chief, may
qualify an officer for transfer from his present occupational specialty to another
which he may be qualified by reason of such or assignment.

7. ASSIGNMENT OR DETAIL FOR DUTY. -

a. Officers in the Army or Constabulary now vested with office

in the several commissioned officer grades under appointment in the several
branches, arms and services, excluding those appointed in the Air Force, Navy,

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Judge Advocate General’s Service, Chaplain Service, Medical Corps, Dental

Service, Nurse Corps, Veterinary Corps, Women’s Auxiliary Corps and the Corps of
Professors are deemed to hold such commissions without specifications of branch of
service in PA or PC.

b. Officers appointed in the following basic branches may be

assigned or detailed for duty to any Major Service (including GHQ and Separate
Units) according to their professional qualifications and the needs of the service:
Judge Advocate General’s Service, Chaplain Service, Dental Service, Medical
Corps, Medical Administrative Corps, Veterinary Corps, Nurse Corps and Women’s
Auxiliary Corps. Except in war or national emergency, officers appointed in the
Corps of Professors as basic branch shall not be assigned or detailed with any Major
Service, Command or Separate Unit except the Philippine Military Academy.

c. Officers appointed in the basic branches which are Major

Service (PAF, PA, PC and PN) may be assigned or detailed for duty in another
Major Service or Separate Unit under either of the following circumstances as may
be authorized by the Chief of Staff, AFP in appropriate orders therefor:

1) To attend or instruct in a prescribed course of

instruction or training in a Major Service School.

2) To fill Table of Organization or Distribution positions

in the Major Service which specifically call for officers in such basic branch or from
such Major Service or Unit.

3) To comply with legal requirements arising from

administrative proceedings or courts-martial.

d. An officer so assigned or detailed under the preceding

paragraphs (b or c) does not lose or vacate the basic branch to which he is appointed.

e. Assignment or detail under paragraphs c (2) above shall not

normally exceed three (3) years, under paragraph c (1) and c (2) shall be after
termination of the course of instruction or training in the service school and after
completion of requirements in the administrative proceeding or court-martial,
respectively.

8. USE OF BASIC BRANCHES AND JOB/OCCUPATIONAL

CLASSIFICATION SPECIALTY. -

a. All orders, publications and communications shall contain the

officer’s basic branch only, except for officers appointed in the basic branches, who
are detailed for duty to other Major Services and as hereunder defined or prescribed.

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Example:

a) Non-GSC Eligible Officers: A major with Philippine

Army as basic branch of service will use the title Major PA; if with Philippine
Constabulary as his basic branch of service, Major PC; if detailed to another Major
Service, Major PA (PAF) or LCDR PN (PA) or Major PAF (GHQ)

b) GSC-Eligible Officers:

1 A Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel, PA
commanding a troop, or designated as Chief of Special Staff and those placed on
duty with other staff offices will use the title: Colonel, PA (GSC). Under the same
circumstances, a PC officer shall use the same title: Colonel, PC (GSC). However,
if designated in a general staff position in any level of command he shall use the
title: Colonel, GSC (PA).

2 Lieutenant Colonel, JAGS (PC) if assigned or

detailed PC.

3 Lieutenant Colonel, DS (PN) if a dental officer

assigned or detailed PN.

4 Captain, NC (PAF) if nurse corps officers

assigned or detailed PAF.

5 If officers in this category are GSC eligible

they will append the GSC after the above titles as follows:

Colonel, NC (PA) GSC

Lieutenant Colonel, JAGS (PC) GSC.

b. TAG, GHQ shall publish at least once a year Promotion List

of PA, PC, PAF and PN and all other applicable promotion lists, indicating therein
the current primary occupational specialty of each officer.

c. Each Major Service, PA, PC, PAF and PN shall publish not
later than the beginning of each fiscal year an updated listing of their officers,
job/occupational classification/specialty in the order their names appear in respective
promotion lists governed by the following policies:

1) Classification or Specialty shall include both civilian

and military field or activity in which individual excels or is specialized.

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2) An officer shall have one primary occupational

specialty.

3) The assignment or detail to occupational specialties

(Primary or Secondary) shall be determined by appropriate Boards to be created
within each Major Service for the purpose. Upon approval by the Major Service
Commander, such assignment or detail to occupational specialties shall be covered
by appropriate orders of the Major Service headquarters.

4) Specialties or qualifications not falling within the

branches of service shall nevertheless included among occupational specialties. For
example, Intelligence Specialist, Counter-Intelligence Master in Political Science,
LLB, LLN. etc.,

5) Coding of Occupational Specialties shall be resorted to

only after a reasonable time when the use of such specialties is clearly understood or
applied effectively for the purpose intended.

a) The Coding of Specialties should be restricted

to the least numerals possible to facilitate reference and identification.

b) AFP Computer System Command shall, at least

once a year, compile and publish such codes and their corresponding equivalents in
clear text for the entire AFP, categorized by Major Service or promotion list
applicable.

6) Occupational Specialties of officers shall be eliminated

upon inclusion in the GSC Eligibility List.

9. RESCISSION. – Circular Nr 10 dated 22 January 1969 is hereby

rescinded effective 10 September 1987.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY NATIONAL DEFENSE:

OFFICIAL: FIDEL V RAMOS

General, AFP
Chief of Staff
(Sgd)
JULIAN M MAALA
Colonel, PC (GSC)
The Adjutant General

DISTRIBUTION:
“A”

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