AFP CORE VALUES 1.
The AFP Core of Values a.
Honor
The members of the AFP believe in honor as the most important virtue that a soldier must posses. It is in fact considered as more precious than life itself. itself. Without honor, a man is nothing but a beast. Honor means clean clean consciousness, personal dignity, good reputation, unquestionable character. Honor means truthfulness, sincerity, honesty, credibility. Honor means integrity integrity,, a modest but decent life. A honorable soldier does not lie, cheat, steal, violate moral and ethical codes not tolerate the violations of the code of honor is the sacred part of the character of a soldier, violation of which should bring shame. 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 lead us and those who serve serve with us. 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 in the heat of battle where danger or death is imminent. imminent. It is the courage to stand for what is right and the perseverance to make it difficult for others to do wrong. d.
Duty
Despite difficulty and danger, we perform our tasks as order or implied. Discipline and obedience, 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.
e.
Solidarity
Solidarity is the value that binds us with the rest of our comrades-inarms. It is the value that makes us one strong and united organization.
2.
Military Culture, Customs and Traditions and Core Philosophies a.
The AFP Organization
The AFP Organization proves that the AFP should be organized in such manner that it can function effectively to accomplish its mission with minimum cost and maximum result. The AFP Organization must also promote the active participation of the people in the defense of the state and in civil assistance projects during disaster and calamities and national emergencies. This is to avoid creation and manning of new units that merely duplicates the function of another unit or office, if only to give positions to the favored general officers or senior field grade officers who have no significant assignments or if only to generate funds which will be divested for personal use of the proponents at the expense of the government. The creation of CAFGU Active auxiliary, the bantay-bayan and the civilian volunteer organization, not to mention the development of our reserve units in all the 13 regions of the country are some organizational reforms embodied in the AFP Organization. b.
Supremacy of Civilian Authority
Supremacy of civilian authority emphasizes the legal and moral obligation of the soldier as an ordinary citizen of the republic to obey the laws, carryout directives and subscribe to regulations enacted and issued by the legislative judicial and executive branches of the civil government. c.
Chain of Command
Chain of Command deals on the generally accepted principles that a military action being executed should pass the approval or consent of the Commander at each level or echelon of command from lowest to highest without bypassing any approving authority or taking the action upon one’s self as his prerogative.
d.
Military Leadership
Military leadership summarizes the significant role of a military leader or Commander to influence his men to carry out its mission, perform assigned tasks or fulfill its obligations and functions. e.
People’s Support
People’s support is a statement of the acknowledgement by the AFP of the vital importance of people’s support to achieve peace and order. To get people’s support, the members of the AFP should exercise prudence and justice
when dealing with the civilians. The soldiers should respect and protect the rights of the people, their beliefs, and ways of life and living conditions. f.
National Development
The AFP must be a catalyst of change, reform and development. It must actively participate in endeavors that will contribute to national progress. g.
Partisan Politics
The members of the AFP shall not engage in partisan politics. Its involvement shall be limited only to the exercises of his right to vote the candidate of his choices and to assist in ensuring a clean and honest election. h.
Democracy
The AFP adheres to the principles of democracy. It believes that the Philippine Government is the embodiment of the Filipino people’s will and was established to protect their inherent rights and to fulfill their aspirations as a nation. i.
National Interest
The AFP realizes that the protection of national interest is for the common good of the people. In accomplishing the mission given to AFP it shall keep in mind that a national interest is of paramount concern and must be enhanced and protected.
j.
Peace
The AFP believes that program and development can only be attained if there is stability, peace and order. k.
War
The AFP believes that war or the use of force against the enemy of the state shall be resorted to only when all the peaceful means shall have failed and no other option is left to resolve the conflict.
l.
Use of Armed Force
When implementing government policies pertaining to security, the AFP must act with restraint as far as use of force is concerned. When the use of arms is necessary, it must have the authority of the duly established government.
m.
Social Justice
The members of the AFP shall be instrument in the promotion of social justice. It shall subscribe to the generally accepted principle that all men area created equal and every citizen must be given the same rights and opportunities in life and equal protection from the government. n.
Human Rights
The members of the AFP shall respect the inherent rights of an individual as a “human being”. In the performance of its mission, the troops must see to it that the lives and properties on non-combatants and innocent civilians are well protected.
o.
Enemies of the State The AFP shall consider the following as enemies of the s tate:
1) Those who shall violate the sovereignty of the Philippines such as foreign aggression whose intention is to occupy and control the national territory or part thereof. 2) Those who resort to violence as a means to achieve their ends such as CPP/NPA/Guerillas. 3) Those who shall not accept the supremacy of civilian authority over the military, such as the coup plotters and participants. 4) Those who shall dismember the country or any part thereof, such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and other secessionist groups. 5) Those who shall engage in organized crimes, such as gambling syndicates, drug pushers, gun runners, hired killers. 6) Those who shall organize the populace for the purpose of alienating their allegiance from the state such as the national democratic front and the sectoral organizations under its umbrella.
p.
Professionalism
Military professionalism is the heart and soul of the whole AFP code of ethics. It emphasizes that being public servants, we in the AFP area 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. q.
Standards 1)
Standard of Loyalty
All military personnel shall be loyal and true to the Republic of the Philippines, the constitution, the AFP and to the people. We are loyal to the republic when we serve its interest and protect its territorial integrity against the enemy, even if it shall cost our lives. 2)
Standard of Competence
All military must be competent in the performance of his duties. By competence means the ability or capability to do what is expected him to do and to do it well.
3)
Standard of Ethics
Every soldier must conform to the accepted principles of right conduct, being observed in the society which he is a part, from being a soldier, he is also a citizen of the community, because the military community is only a part of a larger society – the “Filipino society” 4)
Standard of Morals The soldier must be aware that he has the capacity to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. To be moral is to do the right things and to avoid the wrong ones. r.
Unprofessional Acts
These behaviors that fall short of the professional standards as enumerated in the AFP code of ethics are considered unprofessional acts. 1)
Acts of Disloyalty
We are disloyal when we do something or refuse to do something that constitute betrayal of our country and people, non-support to our duly constituted government and disregard to the AFP chain of Command. Some disloyal acts are cowardice in the face of the enemy, desertion or abandonment of post, AWOL, insubordination, disrespect to superior, bypassing the chain of command. 2)
Acts of Incompetence We are incompetent when we lack the required knowledge, skills, physical attributes and character traits necessary for the adequate performance of duty and accomplishment of mission.
3)
Unethical Acts
Unethical acts are deviations from the established and accepted ethical and moral standards of behavior and performance laid down in the AFP code of ethics. Some of these unethical acts are using government time for outside employment, sideline, position or authority, unwarranted assertion or rank, tolerating irregularities in the military service, etc. 4)
Corrupt Acts
Corrupt acts are crimes against public interest, public morals, property, chastity, civil status of person and honor. We are corrupt when we are dishonest, unjust and commit moral acts.
MILITARY COURTESY & DISCIPLINE Military discipline is necessary to ensure orderly and effective group action. This is commonly known as teamwork. Teamwork is particularly important in military operations where its presence or lack of it may spell the difference between victory and defeat. With discipline, everybody learn the sense of obligation to himself and to his group, to his superiors and to the entire organization where he belongs. He also realizes that he is a member of a team, organized, trained and equipped for the purpose of engaging and defeating the enemies of the state. Really, all aspects of military life are affected by discipline. We hear of “fire discipline", water discipline, "supply discipline", etc. 1.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
a. MILITARY DISCIPLINE - is the state of order and obedience among personnel in a military organization. It is characterized by the men's prompt and willing responsiveness to orders and unhesitating compliance to regulations. b. MILITARY COURTESY - are the acts of politeness, civility and respect that personnel in the military organization accord to one other. Just like in the civilian world, military courtesy serves to smooth the personal relationship among men in the profession of arms. As a soldier, you must be thoroughly familiar with the different forms of military courtesy. Learn to practice them wholeheartedly and insist that your fellow soldiers do the same. c. CUSTOMS OF THE SERVICE – it is the body of unwritten or common law of the armies, navies and air forces. d. MORALE – the term may be defined as the mental state and spirit of an individual or unit. e. EFFICIENCY – it is the ability to accomplish successfully an assigned task in the shortest possible time with the least confusion. Efficiency requires interest, resourcefulness, and proficiency. It develops pride, and the satisfaction of a job well done. 2.
THE SALUTE
The salute is the most important and the most common form of all the military courtesies. It is a time honored tradition of the profession of arms, practiced in all military organizations in the world. The manner an individual executes the salute is an indication of his attitude towards his duties as a military man and existing state of morale and discipline in his unit. A sloppishly and grudgingly rendered salute or a childish pretense not to notice anyone to whom a salute is due, shows neglect or ignorance of the individual duties, his lack of confidence and ability to perform them, his lack of pride in his team and possession of a stubborn and defiant character making him unsuited to cooperate with others in a common effort. When you salute or return a salute smartly, clearly mark yourself as a soldier who has pride in yourself and your organization.
a.
Who and What are Entitled to Salute
1) Commissioned Officers (both male and female) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 2) Commissioned Officers (both male and female) of the Armed Forces of Allied Nations. 3) Civilian high officials or foreign dignities during military honors rendered for them. 4) Colors and standard not cased. b.
When to Salute 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
c.
Reporting to an officer. Meeting an officer When the national color passes by When the national anthem is being played. (Out door only) Raising and lowering of flag. After conversing with an officer.
When not to Salute
1) When troops are at work 2) Indoors, except when reporting to an officer. 3) When carrying articles with both hands, and being so occupied to make saluting impracticable. 4) When attending to a vehicle. 5) When meeting a prisoner 6) When in ranks Military personnel in uniform are always required to salute all persons who are entitled to such courtesy whenever they meet and recognized them. Saluting, however, is not necessary when riding public conveyances such as trains and busses or when inside public places such as theaters and restaurants or during situations when a salute is manifestly in appropriate or impractical. 3.
General Rules for Saluting Following are the rules to observe when saluting:
a. Saluting distance is the distance of recognition. Usually it does not exceed 30 paces. The salute is rendered and the hand is held in position until the officers saluted has passed or after the salute is returned b. A salute must always be returned by the officer entitled to it, unless he is in the formation of other officers. In which case, only the most senior or the marcher returns it. c. The salute must never be rendered in a casual or perfunctory manner, nor with pipe, cigar or cigarette held in the mouth or in the right hand. It is only rendered at a halt or a walk. If running, a soldier comes to a walk before saluting. When mounted on a horse, he brings the horse to a walk and salute.
d. When several are in a group, not in formation, all rise and salute. When in formation, only the commander or the most senior salutes. e. The salute is made whether a headgear is worn or not. f. A soldier salutes an officer if he meets and recognizes him inside a military camp even though they are both in civilian clothes or when either one of them is in uniform. When both or each of them are in civilian clothes and they meet outside of camp, a courteous "Good Morning , Sir" or other greeting will do. g. The salute is rendered only once if the officer remains in the immediate vicinity and conversation takes place, the junior must again salute the officer when he leaves or dismiss him. h. Unlike Navy personnel, soldiers never salute with the left hand . When a soldiers hold something on his right hand, he transfer it to the left and salute. When it is impractical to burden both hands, he simply greets the officer as he meets him. i. The salute is always executed while looking at the person being saluted. It is always best to accompany such courteous gesture with "Good Morning, Sir" or some appropriate greetings. j. Enlisted Personnel salute other enlisted personnel only in formation when rendering reports. k. Whenever a soldier is in doubt, as to whether a salute is appropriate or not-HE SALUTES
4.
Services and Last Courtesies
Funeral services are accorded to all military personnel who died in the performance of their duties. Deceased military personnel are entitled to the following: a. b. c. d.
Vigil guards during the wake. Gun salute during interment. Pallbearers are provided to carry the casket during the interment. Taps is being played while the casket is being lowered to the grave.
As courtesy to the deceased military personnel, while the casket is being carried from the house to the caisson, military personnel stand at attention, uncover and hold the headdress over their left breast. During inclement weather, they execute hand salute. The honor is also accorded to the remains as it passes by the mourners. Military men not in formation attending military funerals follow the mourners according to seniority. As the casket is being lowered from the caisson to the grave during the sounding of the volley, taps and funeral services, the headdress is removed and placed over the left breast. During inclement weather, military personnel remain uncover and execute the hand salute. This position is maintained until the casket reaches the grave or when it is beyond saluting distance. Active pallbearers remain covered while they are carrying the casket.
