ROTC MS 1:

MILITARY CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT MODULE

CORE VALUES

OBJECTIVES: 

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Know the core values of the Armed Forces of the Philippines;
2. Identify the characteristic of the different core values of the AFP;
3. Explain the different core values;
4. Recognize your general duty or responsibility towards the society; and
5. Apply the core values in your everyday life.

DEFINITION OF TERMS 

Chain of Command – the flow of authority from the commander-in-chief down to the chief of
staff (AFP) and to the lowest rank in hierarchy to effect control, supervision and authority of
command as mandated by the constitution.

Civilian Authority – the power and authority of the elected president to exercise command
and control over all armed forces as commander-in-chief.

Code of Ethics – is a systematic and collection or digest of all the morale ethical and legal
principles and where the members of an institution, freely and publicly live themselves to
achieve their common role, duty or purpose in society.

Constitutional Mandate – refers to the power and role specified by the constitution for AFP.

Customs – are accepted practice realized through continued usage that take the forces and
effect to a command law.

Nationality Territory – geographical area belonging to the jurisdiction of the Republic of the
Philippines.

Preamble – the introduction that states the reason and intent of the code.

Professionalism – expert application of knowledge and skills based on the scientific body of
principles and knowledge governed by the Code Ethics for accomplishment of the AFP
mission. It is the expert application of specialized skills based on an organized body of
knowledge and is in accordance with laws and Code of Ethics with the highest degree of
excellence in the accomplishment of a mission.

Public Trust and Respect – confidence and credibility.

Sovereignty – power of autonomy and independence of a state.

Tradition – are inherited principles, standards, and practices that serve as the established
guides for individuals or group. It is also accumulated experiences and deeds passed on
from generation to generation, both in memory and reality.

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Value – is the quality of a person, subject or action which an individual consistently
considers and/or professes in words and reflects in his life style in the fulfillment of a
response to an inner image/dream aspiration.

PREAMBLE

We the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, imploring enlightenment

from Almighty God, in order to achieve and maintain a professional organization, worthy of
public trust and respect, faithful to its constitutional mandate as the protector of the people,
the sovereignty of the state, the democratic institutions, and the integrity of the national
territory, freely and collectively commit ourselves as our way of life to abide by and adhere to
the provision of this Code of Ethics which we hereby, do ordain and promulgate.

VISION OF PHILIPPINE ARMY 

By 2028, a world-class Army that is a source of national pride.

MISSION OF PHILIPPINE ARMY 

To conduct prompt and sustained ground operations to accomplish the AFP mission.

The mission of the Philippine Army is to “organize, train, equip, deploy and sustain ground
forces in the conduct of support to operations to “win the peace” in order to help
the Filipino nation create an environment conducive for sustainable development and a just
and lasting peace”. 

CAPABILITIES

1. Organize, train and equip army forces for the conduct of prompt and sustain
combat operation on land.
2. Develop doctrines, procedures, tactics, organization & equipment peculiar to the
army.
3. Develop in coordination with other major services, doctrines, procedures, tactics
and equipment of interest to the army for joint operations.
4. Provide an organization capable of furnishing adequate, timely, and reliable
intelligence for the army.
5. Organize, train, and equip all army reserve units.

AFP CORE VALUES 

a. Honor

The members of the AFP believe in honor as the most important virtue that a soldier
must possess. It is in fact considered as more precious than life itself. Without honor, a
man is nothing but a beast. Honor means clean, consciousness, personal dignity, good
reputation, unquestionable character.Honor means truthfulness, sincerity,honesty,
credibility. Honor means integrity, a modest but decent life. Anhonorable soldier does not
lie, cheat, steal, violate moral and ethical codes,does not tolerate the violations of the
Code of Honor- which is the sacred part of the character of a soldier, violation of which
should bring shame.

An individual soldier with honor does the following:

 Develop and maintain a keen sense of ethical conduct.

 Adhere to the public code of professional Philippine Army values.

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  Identify with the ideals embodied in the Philippine Army values.

b. Loyalty

The members of the AFP believe in unflinching loyalty. Thus we shall promote the
national interest and security as a paramount concern. We shall support and defend the
constitution. We shall be obedient to the duly constituted government.We shall obey the
order of those legally appointed over us. We shall support those who lead us and those
who serve with us.

An individual soldier of loyalty displays the following:

 Put obligations in correct order:

- the Constitution,
- the Philippine Army,
- the unit and finally,
- self.
 Show faithfulness to the unit and comrades by finishing all tasks with them.
 Carry out tough orders without expressing personal criticism.
 Defend soldiers against unfair treatment.

c. Valor

We believe in valor as the power and strength, courage, and ability to overcome fear
which enables the soldiers to carry out their mission and to accomplish what is
seemingly impossible. It is more than bravery or ability to endure pain. Valor is calmness
and presence of mind in the heat of battle where danger or death is imminent. It is the
courage to stand for what is right and the perseverance to make it difficult for others to
do wrong.

Your valor will allow you to do the following:

 Control your fear in physical and moral context.

 Take responsibility for your actions, mistakes and decisions.
 Confront problems and do what you believe is right.
 Report successes and failure with equal candor.

d. Duty

Despite difficulty and danger, we perform our tasks as order or implied. Disciplined and
obedient, we believe that duty is a personal act of responsibility, which we show by doing
all our assigned tasks to the best of our ability.

Expressing the value of duty means, at a minimum, doing the following:

 Carrying out the requirements of the position to the best of your ability.
 Fulfil legal, civic and moral obligations.
 Sacrifice personal time in pursuit of excellence.

e. Solidarity

Solidarity is the value that binds us with the rest of our comrades-in-arms. It is the value
that makes us one strong and united organization.Solidarity ties the Army to oneness
with the yearnings of the rest of the country in the way of a Filipino proud with his nation.

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THE PROFESSION OF ARMS

The most basic task of the profession of arms is the armed defense of the society, its
territory, population, and vital interests. In its most elemental sense, the profession of
arms is all about fighting and all about war.... Soldiers serve the Nation; they fight and die for
each other.

MILITARY PROFESSIONALISM

General Statement – The members of the AFP are public servants who are oath-bound to
fulfillthe lofty mandate of the constitution. The peculiarity of military service, which requires
the right to bear arms, calls for a corresponding assurance of professionalism from every
military man.

Military professionalismis the heart and soul of the whole AFP code of ethics. It
emphasizes that being public servants, we in the AFP area are expected to perform our
duties and responsibilities with utmost competence and efficiency. Our right to bear arms as
one of the peculiarities of the military service calls for the assurance to the people that their
safety, protection and welfare shall be our paramount concern.

The people expects the AFP to perform its tasks as mandated by the constitution with the
highest degree of excellence by applying expertly the basic and specialized skills of soldiery
while adhering strictly with the code of ethics and all laws and statutes of the land.

STANDARD OF MILITARY PROFESSIONALISM

Standard of Military Professionalism – every member of the AFP shall observe the
following as guidelines in the discharge of their official duties.

1. Standard of Loyalty – All military personnel shall be loyal and true to the Republic of
the Philippines Constitution, the AFP and to the people at all times. They shall obey
the authorities and abide by laws, legal orders, good morals, good customs, and
promote order and public safety.

2. Standard of Competence – All military personnel must possess the knowledge,

skill, physical attributes, and character traits necessary for the adequate performance
of duty and accomplishment of mission.

3. Standard of Ethics – The military community is a part of a larger society – the

Filipino society. Hence, every soldier must observe and conform to the accepted
principles of right conduct being observed in the society of which he is part.

4. Standard of Morals – Man is a rational being. Man is also a moral being who is
given the capacity to determine what is right and do it; and what is wrong and avoid
it.

UNPROFESSIONAL ACTS

Unprofessional Acts – Behavior that fall short of the professional standard set forth in this
code are considered unprofessional acts.

1. Act of Disloyalty – acts or omissions betraying one’s faith, duty, and commitment to
God, country, people, Constitutional government, AFP chain of command, unit and
office of its mission. Some disloyal acts are cowardice in the face of the enemy,

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 desertion or abandonment of post, AWOL, insubordination, disrespect to superior,
and bypassing the chain of command.

2. Acts of Incompetence – Refers to the lack of the required knowledge, skills, special
attributes, and character traits necessary for the adequate performance of the duty
and accomplishment of mission.

3. Unethical Acts – Refers to all acts of omissions which deviate from established and
accepted ethical and moral standards of behavior and performance as set forth in
this code. Some unethical acts are arrogant words, allowing any wrong doing or
irregularity in the military service, fornication-adultery, concubinage, homosexuality,
engaging in vices including but not limited to executive gambling, excessive drinking
of liquor, use of prohibited drugs.

4. Corrupt Acts – All acts or omissions described and characterized as crimes against
public interest, public moral, property, chastity, civil status of persons, and honor
under the pertinent provision of the Revised Penal Code and those specifically
mentioned in Republic Acts Nos. 3019 and 6713 and other special penal laws,
including the Article of War.

PLEDGE OF LOYALTY

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER…
I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES;

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER…
I WILL FIGHT ALL FORCES THAT WOULD DESTROY
THE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE
FILIPINO PEOPLE;

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER…
I WILL OBEY ALL LAWS, LEGAL ORDERS, AND
DECREES OF MY LAWFUL SUPERIOR
AT ALLTIMES;

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER…
I WILL FIGHT AND DIE IN THE TRUE FILIPINO
TRADITION OF VALOR, HONOR,
DUTY AND LOYALTY.

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