STUDENT HANDOUT

AFP MANDATE, MISSION, FUNCTION AND ORGANIZATION

AFP MANDATE:

 The AFP is the protector of the people and state and the Integrity of the National
Territory.
 Defend the territory against all enemies.

Constitutional Mandate – The AFP recognizes the constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines 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, adheres to the principle of supremacy of civilian
authority over the military at all times and vows to uphold and defend the constitution.

AFP FUNCTION:

The AFP is responsible for upholding the sovereignty, supporting the Constitution,
and defending the territory of the Republic of the Philippines against all enemies
foreign and domestic; advancing the national aims, interest and policies; and
planning the organization, maintenance, development, and deployment of its.

AFP MISSION:

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

AFP ORGANIZATION:
Organization and Chain of Command – The AFP is duly created by Law as an
integral part of the Executive Branch of the Government, it is a 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.

The President is the Commander-In-Chief of the AFP. He exercises strategic

direction over the personnel and the resources of the military establishments through
the Secretary of the Department of National Defense, who exercises supervision
and control over the AFP. He supervises the National Defense program of the
country and the maintenance of peace and order.

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.

Philippine Army Mission - To conduct prompt and sustained ground operations to

accomplish the AFP mission.

Philippine Airforce Mission - To organize, train, equip, maintain, develop and

deploy forces for prompt and sustained naval and maritime operations in support of
the Unified Commands in the accomplishment of the AFP mission".

Philippine Navy Mission - To conduct prompt and sustained air operations in

support of the AFP mission.

Reserve Force Mission - Provide the base for expansion of the AFP in the event of
war, invasion or rebellion; to assist in relief and rescue during disaster or calamities;
to assist in socio economic development; and to assist in the operation and
maintenance of essential government or private utilities in the furtherance of the over
all mission.

Terminologies:
Citizen Soldiers: alternately referred to as reservists who are incorporated into the
Reserve Force of the AFP. These includes:
 Graduates of the Reserve Officers’ training Corps (ROTC)
 Graduates of authorized basic military training instructions
 Ex-Serviceman and Retired Officers of the AFP and other Armed Forces
 Recognized WWII guerillas (Honorably discharged)
 Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers under Affiliated Reserve
Category
 Graduates of National Defense College of the Philippines

5 Component of Reserve Force:

1. Army Reserve Command
2. Airforce Reserve Command
3. Naval Reserve Command
4. AFP Reserve Command
5. Affiliated Reserves
Army Reserve Command Mission - To develop, organize, train, equip and
administer Reservist into a capable, responsive and mobilizeable reserve force as
integral component of the total army in the defense of the state and to participate in
socio-economic development effort.

Airforce Reserve Command Mission - To organize, train, equip, develop and

administer the PAF Reserve Force as base for expansion in the event of war,
invasion, rebellion or disaster/calamities and to assist in the socio-economic
development of the country.

Naval Reserve Command Mission - To organize, train, equip and administer naval
reservists in order to provide the Philippine Navy
the base for expansion in the event of war, invasion, rebellion or disaster/calamities
and to assist in the socio-economic development of the country.

AFP Command Command - Was organized as an AFP-wide support and separate

unit on 01 April 1993 pursuant to GO No. 22 GHQ, AFP dated 02 March 1993 and
Republic Act No. 7077, as a base for the rapid expansion of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines in times of emergency.

Affiliated Reserves - Certain private and government entities, corporations,

establishments and organizations at the national, provincial and municipal levels
which provide essential public services such as water, light, transportation and
communications which are necessary in the furtherance of the overall mission.

Categorization of reservists and reserve units: Section 12, Article 5 on Republic

Act 7077.

First Category Reservists - Able bodied reservists aged eighteen

(18) years of age up to thirty-five (35) years of age, inclusive.

Second Category Reservists - Able bodied reservists aged thirty-six

(36) years of age up to fifty-one (51) years of age, inclusive.

Third Category Reservists - All able bodied reservists aged above

fifty (51) years of age.

Classification of reservists and reserve units:

 Ready Reserve - physically-fit and tactically-current reservist personnel that

are always on constant alert and training; ready to mobilize once a
mobilization order has been given.

 Standby Reserve - reservist personnel who do not maintain currency in

specialization qualifications but the base for expansion, support and
augmentation to the Ready Reserve Force as needed.

 Retired Reserve - composed of citizens who are qualified for retirement

either by length of service or age.