Significance and Role of Military History in the Armed Forces

of the Philippines

Studying military history is a very important that not just the members of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines should do but also the rest of the Filipino people. This will create awareness to each
individual on how conflicts were dealt in the past and make them understand it so that by
understanding it, we can prevent the creation of new conflicts which then may lead to another armed
struggle. This basic understanding of this principle can help human civilization maintain its equilibrium
position.

Military history, as a course offered to the second-class cadets of the Philippine Military Academy is
one of the most useful courses the Academy had to offer. It is a vey useful tool in achieving the
Academy`s mission in molding young men and women to a very competent leaders of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines. With this course, the cadets will be able to widen their understanding on the
things they will encounter in the future as a military leader. This will aid the cadets in their decision
making given any circumstances their job may bring them. As this course studies the warfare of
different places in the globe since the start of human civilization, this will provide the cadets some
lessons learned that will help them not to commit the same mistake in the past or develop past
strategies for it to be more efficient and effective. History serves as lesson for every leader to reflect
upon and serve as his guide when taking up any decision. Studying military history will serve as an
instrument for every leader to develop his fighting capabilities which include deciding between difficult
options including how to plan his strategy.

Knowing military history makes an individual become more responsible of his actions knowing the
risks of what he is going to do. This will lead a certain leader not to make a hasty and rushed decision
which can endanger himself and his men. Deeply understanding the history of military can build up
the confidence of a leader. Whatever situation he may face into, he is capable of solving it knowing
that most of this were done in the past and already have an idea on how to find a solution for it. Just
as what Clausewitz suggested that a future leader was meant to be educated, to take him into the
right path, but this does not necessarily mean that we have to spoon-feed him for the rest of his life.
How military leader deeply understands history reflects on how capable of a leader he is. One can not
achieve something without looking back on where he came from. Just like our modernized strategies
nowadays, these will not become this advance without the wisdom given by those strategists in the
past. Military history is more effective if it will be studied by its width, depth and context.

As we can observe, military tactics and strategies developed over time. This just show that even
military is dynamic which means to say that you may have the best military power in a period of time
but you can be the worst in some other time. Military supremacy is temporary even if we recall all the
great battles in the past. Most of the military warfare in the past is mainly because of the greed to
expand territories, show how a certain state is more powerful than another state and because of
obsession to power. As we study military history, we will be able to know the progress of the military
warfare starting from the use of chariots, to the invention of artillery, the use of gunpowder during
battle, the introduction of rifles, the use of flame throwers and the engagement of using nuclear
weapons in the battles. Since the start of time, people already learned what it takes to survive. Military
powers define how strong your country is. The more powerful your country is, the less chance of it to
be oppressed by other countries. Which is why, military conquest is a must during ancient times to
show the world how powerful your country is. The world had experienced a lot of wars and it would
probably have a lot of wars in the future.

Take for example the Battle of Cannae, even if you have the advantage in number, it is not a
guarantee for you to win the war without proper strategy and use of your man power. Romans are
used to fight the enemies in a frontal manner solely depending on its number while the Carthage army
led by Hannibal was so much aware of this that he made Cannae as his advantage position to fight
the Roman soldiers. He made use of different important considerations when it comes to battle just
like making use of the terrain and weather. He made his army face north opposing the direction of the
wind to allow 100% visibility so that the dust would not cover their eyes. Hannibal`s army is also in
advantage position since they had taken high grounds for better fighting position and mobility.
Meanwhile, the Roman army is so confident that they could win with sole number without minding the
disadvantage that they are into. They still charge through Hannibal`s army without noticing that they
fall into Hannibal`s trap which made them being surrounded by the Carthage.

So, what is this to us? These battles serve as our lesson in order for us not to commit the same
mistake again. These events could give us ideas on how to deal with the situations that we will
encounter in the future as we serve as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This battle is
more than a victory for the Carthage, this pave the way for better military strategies and tactics. The
battle after these events became more serious and organized. The planning got more important and
there were already a lot of considerations that are being thought of. Based on these events,
commanders were able to understand what things that worked well and what things that does not
work at all. By having this experience in the past in mind, we will be able to learn a thing or two
whether if this battle is successful or a pure failure.

Military warfare, even if we planned for it or not is inevitable. People even during ancient times did not
want to have one but still got engaged to it. Some of the highest political leaders is a product of wars
or what we called as war leaders. They did not intend to be in a war but the circumstance did not
allow them. This shows how important studying military history is not just to the members of the
Armed Forces but to all citizen may it be in military or civilians.

Civilization nowadays after knowing how terrible the war is resort to diplomatic ways in solving
conflicts which is a good thing for us not to spend a lot of lives for this bloody conflict. Military history
serves also as an educational tool for political leaders if things goes out of hand and when diplomacy
fails to work in solving conflicts. Deeply understanding the military warfare prepare us to be a more
responsible individual upon thinking up the things of what we are about to do. This will also help the
leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be more critical and wiser in their decision making
especially when dealing with these kinds of conflicts. This will also broaden the perspective of every
individual after understanding the pros and cons of every conflict. The value of knowing military
history is with great importance that a leader must not underrate. A lot of political leaders even they
lack of experience got to command the biggest armed forces in the world which means that even if we
do not planned to be caught up in a military conflict, we still got to study it because even if we want it
or not, there is a big possibility that we will engage into it and it is better for us to prepare when such
time comes.

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