Bansil, Francisca Kate G.

A332

Leadership & Discipline in the AFP Perspective: Reflection Paper

As a law-abiding citizen of the Philippines, it is important to learn how to be a good
follower. The webinar allowed me to learn on how to become a good follower and how to
become a discipline citizen. The speaker for the first part of the webinar is 2Lt. Diosdado Dela
Fuente PAF. His discussion mainly tackles followership. He mentioned the qualities of followers
like knowing what you are expected to do, taking initiatives and keeping the leader informed,
supporting the leader’s effort to generate positive change, challenging the leader’s flawed plans
and strategies. He also shared a quotation by Sam Rayburn which states that, “You cannot be a
leader and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too.” On the second
part of the discussion which was led by Maj.  Arvin C.  Gundran PAF, who is an alumnus of
Holy Angel University. The AFP Core Values: Honor, Integrity, Courage, Patriotism, Respect,
Service, and Duty were mentioned. He also shared the Performance of Duties: Mission
Accomplishments, Dedication to Duty, Quality of Performance Output, and Timeliness of Work.
Lastly, he also wanted us to remember SMEAC: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration
and Logistics, and Command and Signal.
The discussion of both of the speakers is very relevant. As a child, a student, a Filipino
citizen, learning how to become a good follower and learning how to be disciplined is a must in
order to maintain peace and order in the society that we belong. As a student who aspires to be in
a corporate world, followership is indeed important, and through this webinar, I was able to
understand that a follower should not just blindly follow, a follower must learn how to stand up
and inform the leader when something is not right. Moreover, for a plan to successfully succeed,
followers must hold their leaders accountable to set a strong vision and follow achievable
objectives. This webinar also allowed me to become more responsible with my duties as a child,
student, and as a citizen of the Philippines. Living the AFP core values will allow me to fulfill
my duties excellently. As a follower in our house, in the school, and in the society, we must
follow willingly and effectively and we must also learn how to accomplish the duties given to us,
in this way we can learn and prepare on how to become a good leader.
Since there is an upcoming election, the information that they have shared to us will
greatly help us in selecting the right leader whom we will elect and follow. Through this
webinar, we are becoming more responsible and excellent follower who knows how to
distinguish a good leader from a bad leader. Just like the quotation that 2Lt. Diosdado Dela
Fuente PAF have shared, a leader must learn how to follow in order for his/her followers to
follow him. This quotation proves that the leader that our country need is a leader who does not
just know how to abide but whole heartedly abide the laws that a regular citizen is bound to
abide. The leader that we need is leader that can excellently listen and communicate with his/her
constituents. The leader that we need is excellent and does the job right. And when we have
elected the right leader for the job, the followers will willingly follow and will not be afraid to
call-out wrong actions or decisions that the leader is about to make.