HEADQUARTERS

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA “RAJAH” ROTCU

1304TH CDC, NCRRCDG, ARESCOM Intramuros, Manila

INSTRUCTIONAL PACKAGE
ON

MILITARY CUSTOMS AND

TRADITIONS
 HEADQUARTERS

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA “RAJAH” ROTCU

1304TH CDC, NCRRCDG, ARESCOM Intramuros, Manila

TRADITIONS

 INHERITED PRINCIPLES

 STANDARDS

 PRACTICES

– THAT SERVES AS THE ESTABLISHED GUIDES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL

OR GROUP.

MILITARY TRADITIONS

 TRADITION OF VALOR

- GALLANT DEFENSE OF BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR AGAINST THE

JAPANESE IMPERIAL ARMY

- A TRIBUTE BY GEN. DOUGLAS MACARTHUR WHEN HE

PROCLAIMED: “GIVE ME 20,000 FILIPINO SOLDIERS AND I’LL
CONQUER THE WORLD.”

TRADITION OF DUTY

 AS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT

- DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY

- SELF- SACRIFICE

TRADITION OF HONOR

 PERSONAL DIGNITY

 SELF-WORTH

 SUPREME SACRIFICE TO WIN FREEDOM

TRADITION OF SOLIDARITY

 UNITY

- WORK TOGETHER THROUGH THICK AND THIN

- WORK AS A PART OF THE TEAM

- PARTNER OF THE PEOPLE TO ATTAIN NATIONAL OBJECTIVES.

TRADITION OF LOYALTY

 LOYALTY SHOWN TO

- THE NATION

- THE CONSTITUTION

- THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

- SENIORS

- PEERS

- JUNIORS

CUSTOMS

 ACCEPTED PRACTICES REALIZED THROUGH CONTINUED USAGE

THAT TAKE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF A COMMON LAW.

MILITARY CUSTOMS

 SALUTE

 FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

- HONOR TO THE FLAG

 FLAG RETREAT CEREMONY

- SOUND OF EVENING GUN

 THE THREE VOLLEY OVER GRAVES

- SIGN OF RESPECT AND GESTURES OF FAREWELL TO A DEPARTED

COMRADE-IN-ARMS.

 THE WHITE FLAG OF TRUCE

- SIGNAL OF TEMPORARY CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

  THE WEARING OF DECORATIONS

- DISPLAY OF HONORABLY EARNED DECORATIONS IN THE

PERFORMANCE OF DUTY AS PART OF THEIR UNIFORM

 THE RAISING OF THE RIGHT HAND IN TAKING THE OATH

 COURTESY OF THE POST

– AN OFFICER OF ANY OF THE ARMED SERVICES VISITING AT A

MILITARY POST OR ONE WHO RESIDES IN ITS VICINITY IS OFTEN
EXTENDED THE “COURTESY OF THE POST” BY THE COMMANDING
OFFICER AFTER THE PRESCRIBED OFFICIAL CALL HAS BEEN MADE.
IT INCLUDES THE PRIVILEGE OF ACCOMMODATION AT THE
OFFICER’S MESS IF THE VISIT IS FOR SHORT DURATION AND THE
PRIVILEGE OF MEMBERSHIP, IF THE STAY IN THE VICINITY IS
EXTENDED.

 PRESENTATION OF RECRUITS TO COLORS

- RECRUITS ARE PRESENTED TO THE COLORS FOR THE PURPOSE

OF SIGNIFYING ACCEPTANCE AND WELCOME INTO THE
ORGANIZATION.

 FAREWELL TENDERED TO A DEPARTING OFFICER

- A RECEPTION OR OTHER SUITABLE UNIT FUNCTION, IS USUALLY

GIVEN BY THE UNIT’S OFFICERS AND LADIES IN HONOR OF THE
DEPARTING OFFICER AND HIS FAMILY.

 CEREMONY TENDERED TO A RETIREE

- IN RECOGNITION OF HIS LONG, FAITHFUL AND HONORABLE

SERVICE TO THE AFP.

 TRUMPET OR BUGLE CALLS

- THE SOUNDS OF THESE CALLS REJUVENATE EVERY SYSTEM OF A

SOLDIERS BODY TO CONTINUE PERFORMING THE THINGS AS
SIGNALED BY EACH CALL.

 COURTESY CALLS

- THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT COURTESY

CALLS IN THE MILITARY:

AN OFFICER WHO HAS BEEN DETAILED OUTSIDE OF AND IS

REJOINING HIS MAJOR SERVICE OR HAS BEEN REASSIGNED TO
UNITS OUTSIDE HIS MAJOR SERVICE CUSTOMARILY CALL ON HIS
MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDER.
 UPON ARRIVAL OR DEPARTURE, OFFICERS FROM OVERSEAS
MISSION OR FOREIGN SCHOOLING PAY A CALL TO THEIR
RESPECTIVE MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDER.

OFFICERS ASSUMING FOREIGN POST OR COMING BACK

FROM SUCH ASSIGNMENT CALL ON THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE
SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE.

OFFICERS ASSUMING COMMAND POSITIONS OR SIMILAR KEY

POSITIONS CALL ON THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMANDERS, INCLUDING
MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDER. THEY DO THE SAME PRIOR TO A
TRANSFER OR RELIEF FROM DUTY.

NEWLY PROMOTED OFFICERS CUSTOMARILY CALL ON THEIR

MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDERS. USUALLY DONE IN GROUPS OF
THE SAME RANK.

SENIOR OFFICERS WHO ARE THE SUBJECT OF ALL THESE

CALLS MAY BE EXTREMELY BUSY TO ATTEND OR RECEIVE CALLERS.
IT IS ALWAYS A SIGN OF COURTESY AND GOODWILL TO HAVE
MANIFESTED AN INTENTION TO PAY SUCH A CALL.

 CALL OF NEWLY PROMOTED GENERALS/ FLAG OFFICERS

- OFFICERS PROMOTED TO STAR RANKS CALL ON THE MAJOR

SERVICE COMMANDERS, CHIEF OF STAFF, AFP AND THE
SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AFTER TAKING OATH OF
OFFICE BEFORE THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

- CALLS ON THE MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDERS ARE USUALLY

ACCOMPANIED BY SOME ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE HONORS.

 NEW YEARS CALL ON THE COMMANDING OFFICER

– OFFICERS MAKE A FORMAL CALL UPON THEIR CO DURING THE

NEW YEAR’S DAY.

 HAPPY HOUR

- A SPECIAL FORM OF UNIT OFFICER COMRADESHIP WHICH HAS

BEEN DEVELOPING AND SPREADING IN RECENT YEARS.

- OFFICERS GATHER AT THEIR LOCAL CLUB FOR A BEER AND

CONVERSATION. USUALLY HELD ON FRIDAYS.

 MILITARY WEDDINGS

- THESE CUSTOMS ARE GENERALLY THE SAME FOR ALL FAITHS.

THEY VARY ONLY A CHAPLAINS OF ONE DIFFERENT CHURCHES
INCORPORATE OTHER PROCEDURES TO ADD COLOR AND TONE.
 PATRONAGE OF THE OFFICER’S CLUB AND EP’S CLUB HOUSE

– ENABLES OFFICERS AND EPS TO SPEND THEIR OFF DUTY SOCIAL

AND RECREATIONAL LIFE IN SAID CENTERS.

 CEREMONIES AT HOLIDAY DINNERS

- PRACTICE DURING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S DAY, IN WHICH

THE CO VISITS TROOPS DURING MEAL TIME OR PRIOR TO THE
SERVING OF THE MEAL.

 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT

- CHILDREN OF THE ORG. ARE GIVEN GIFTS AND ENTERTAINED.

 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 FOLLOWS RANK, WITH THE SENIOR
GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO SELECT FIRST.

 VISITING THE SICK

- A MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO IS SICK IN THE HOSPITAL IS VISITED

BY AVAILABLE OFFICERS AND EPS OF THE UNIT IF PERMITTED BY
THE DOCTOR IN ORDER THAT HIS NEEDS ARE ATTENDED.

 SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE TO BEREAVED FAMILY

– WHEN ANY MEMBER OF A UNIT DIES, AN OFFICER IS IMMEDIATELY

DESIGNATED BY THE CO TO RENDER ANY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE
TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY.

 “I WISH” AND “I DESIRE” STATEMENT

– THIS WISH OR DESIRE HAS ALL THE FORCE OF DIRECT ORDER.

 PLACE OF HONOR

- THE PLACE OF HONOR IS ON THE RIGHT.

- ACCORDINGLY, WHEN A JUNIOR WALKS, RIDES, OR SITS WITH A

SENIOR HE TAKES POSITION ABREAST AND TO THE LEFT OF THE
SENIOR.

 USE OF THE WORD “SIR” OR “MA’AM”

 - IT IS USED IN MILITARY CONVERSATION BY THE JUNIOR OFFICER
IN ADDRESSING THE SENIOR, AND BY ALL SOLDIERS IN
ADDRESSING OFFICERS.

- IT PRECEDES A REPORT, A QUERY, AND FOLLOWS THE ANSWER

OF A QUESTION.

AN OFFICER SHOWS BREEDING AND IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED A

GENTLEMAN IN HIS CONDUCT AND IN ALL HIS DEALINGS. HE KNOWS THAT:

 BEING LATE FOR ANY ENGAGEMENT IS THE HEIGHT OF BAD

MANNERS.

 HE IS EXPECTED TO BEHAVE AND CONDUCT HIMSELF WITH

DIGNITY AND RESTRAINT.

 IT IS BAD TASTE TO ADDRESS A WOMAN BY HER FIRST NAME OR

NICKNAME UNLESS SHE HAS INDICATED OTHERWISE.

 IF AN OFFICER INVITES A FRIEND TO HIS CLUB HE SHOULD BE

OUT OF SIGH ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.

 AN OFFICER STANDS WHEN INTRODUCED TO A WOMAN,

CLERGYMAN, OR AN OLD MAN.

 IT IS NOT POLITE TO COMPLIMENT A PERSON IN A COMPANY

BECAUSE THE OTHERS MIGHT FEEL SLIGHTED.

THE OFFICER’S CODE

 OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

- AN OFFICER’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT, WHETHER WRITTEN OR

UNWRITTEN WITHOUT RESERVATION, MAKING FALSE OFFICIAL
STATEMENT IS NOT ONLY CONTRARY TO MILITARY ETHICS BUT IS
ALSO PUNISHABLE UNDER THE ARTICLES OF WAR.

 RESPONSIBILITIES

- IT IS AN OFFICER’S DUTY TO PREPARE HIMSELF

PROFESSIONALLY FOR HIGHER RESPONSIBILITIES.

- THE RANK OF AN OFFICER CARRIES WITH IT COMMENSURATE

RESPONSIBILITIES.

- WHEN HE ACCEPTS COMMISSION, IT IS HIS DUTY TO

PREPARE HIMSELF FOR HIGHER RESPONSIBILITIES.

 TACT AND FORESIGHT

 - AN OFFICER MUST NOT ONLY DISCREET IN THE EXERCISE OF
HIS DUTIES BUT MUST BE PREPARED TO PERFORM HIS TASK
SKILLFULLY UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

 PERSONAL APPEARANCE

- AN OFFICER AT ALL TIMES APPEARS NEAT AND CLEAN.

- NOTHING DESTROYS THE RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE OF

SUBORDINATES THAN THE SHABBINESS OF THEIR SUPERIORS.

 WELFARE OF ENLISTED MEN

- THE WELFARE OF THE ENLISTED MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES

SHOULD BE THE PARAMOUNT CONCERN OF AN OFFICER.