Join the AFP Reservist (AFPRESCOM now!

Qualifications for BSCMT/SBCMT

• Filipino citizen with good moral character
• Physically and mentally fit for military training
• At least a high school graduate
• Non-ROTC graduate
• At least five (5) feet in height
• Eighteen (18) years old but not more than thirty five (35) years old as they will compose the 1st Category Reserve.
• Certified resident of a clustered locality where candidates are sourced.

Requirements to undergo SPECIAL BASIC CITIZEN MILITARY TRAINING (SBCMT)

• Applicants must submit the required the documents tabbed in a Morocco Folder (Size A4):
• Birth Certificate issued by NSO
• High School or college credentials
• Police Clearance
• Latest whole body post card size picture

Applicants must submit and report to the nearest Community Defense Center (CDC) located at their areas.

List of Community Defense Center (CDC) in the Philippines.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command 
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City


Army Reserve Command Camp 
Tanza Cavite- National Capital Region 

Regional Community Defense Group 
( Fort Andrés Bornifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila)

1st Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Lt Tito B Abat, Manaoag, Pangasinan)

2nd Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz Annex, Soyung, Echague, Isabela)

3rd Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Gen Servillano T Aquino, San Miguel, Tarlac City)

4th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Gen Macario Sakay, Los Baños, Laguna)

5th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Gen Simeón A Ola, Legazpi City, Albay)

6th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Gen Adriano Hernández, Dingle, Iloilo City)

7th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Lapu-lapu, Cebu City)

8th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Downes, Ormoc, Leyte)

9th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Kuta Dao, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur)

10th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City)

11th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp San Gabriel, Mintal Tugbok District, Davao City)

12th Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Siongco, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao)

National Capital Region Regional Community Defense Group 
(Fort Andres Bonifacio, Metro Manila)

15th [CARAGA] Regional Community Defense Group 
(Camp Bancasi, Butuan City)

Philippines' President Duterte approves US$5.6 billion military upgrade

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a five-year plan to spend 300 billion pesos (US$15 billion) to modernise the outdated military, defence officials said on Wednesday (Jun 20).

A previous 15-year upgrade plan failed to take off in the mid-1990s, leaving the Philippines with outdated hardware, including warships from World War I and helicopters used by the United States in the Vietnam War.

"We have the go signal now to buy brand-new equipment, like fighters, drones, light tanks, radar, an additional frigate and a submarine to boost our defence capability," said a defence official, who declined to be named because he is not authorised to speak to media.

The previous administration of Benigno Aquino spent about US$1.7 billion on the military during its 2010-2016 term in office, mostly on secondhand ships and planes.

Duterte approved the US$5.6 billion modernisation plan at a meeting with top defence and military officials last month.

A senior general said Duterte had approved 33 modernisation projects, with a focus on domestic security and protecting the vast maritime borders of the archipelago nation.

"We're putting a premium on unmanned aerial vehicles, long-range patrol aircraft, offshore patrol ships and an electric-diesel submarine," he told Reuters.

The military is bent on preventing another Islamic State-inspired insurgency after rebels seized Marawi, the country's only Islamic city, for five months last year.

The Philippines also faces a challenge in South China Sea, a strategic waterway most of which is claimed by China, which has built military outposts there.

Besides the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have rival claims on the area, through which US$3 trillion worth of sea-borne goods pass every year.

Manila had planned to acquire four submarines after 2023, but the plan could be accelerated to boost the navy's regional capabilities, said Arsenio Andolong, a defence department spokesman.

"We want to get submarines as soon as possible," he said.

Duterte had set aside US$1 billion for new helicopters and light tanks, but no purchases have been made yet.

The Philippines has received donated military hardware from Australia, China, Japan, Russia and the United States, mostly to assist in disaster response and fighting militants and pirates.

(Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty and Darren Schuettler)

Sources: Reuters/ and Channel News Asia 

Philippine Navy Gets First Spike-ER Israel Missiles

SPIKE - NLOS Israel's Rafael Missile System used by Brazilian Navy

The Philippine Navy finally received its first ever Spike-ER short range surface-to-surface missiles for its multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) after a few delays, the Department of National Defense said Wednesday.

“They are now undergoing Integration Phase under the guidance of the proponent, Rafael of Israel,” Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

The Navy also received Typhoon MLS-ER launchers and Mini Typhoon 12.77mm remote controlled weapon systems from Israel.

A senior official from the Navy said the missile system arrived in the Philippines about two weeks ago.

The new MPAC 3 armed with MLS-ER launchers and Mini Typhoon 12.77mm 

The new acquisition is seen to give “punch” in the Navy’s operations.

“Whether it’s a small ship of a big ship ang target mo, you have a punch already,” he said.

“This will be a deterrent because this time you have a credible armament, deterrent that can strike a punch,” the officer added.

These additional assets signify a new milestone as these will be the first assets of the Navy that will have a missile-firing capability, he said.

Spike -ER Missile fired using Israel's Rafael MLS-ER launchers 

“It makes the Navy more credible. It makes the Armed Forces credible. It means we are more credible now in patrolling our AOR (area of responsibility),” he also said.

The Spike ER missiles will be installed on the three Mark III models of MPAC activated by the Navy last May. The MPACs are worth ₱270 million and was constructed by Filipino shipbuilder Propmech Corporation and Taiwanese shipbuilder Lung Teh Shipbuilding Corporation.

Read more from Inquirer

88 Meters Korean Anti-Submarine Warship Offered to the Philippines for ₱5,000 Pesos Each a real deal?

Korean Pohang-Class Anti-Submarine Warship “Chungju PCC-762” Offered to Philippine Navy for $100 USD

88 Meters Korean Anti-Submarine Warship Cheaper than a Smart Phone: Philippines to buy three for ₱5,000 Pesos Each a real deal?

Korean Pohang-Class Anti-Submarine “Chungju PCC-762” which launched on 30th June 1984, commissioned on 1987 and was decommissioned on 27th December 2016 after 29 years of service in protecting Korean waters has been offered to the Philippine Navy by the Korean Government.

South Korea will transfer an ageing Pohang-class anti-submarine warship to the Philippines this year in return for just $US100 (₱ 5,000.00), boosting its capability to patrol vast maritime borders.
The 88.3 meters corvette type warship has a 1,200 tones displacement, speed of 32 knots (59 km/h), and capacity of 95 crews.

It could be fitted with armaments such as 2 x MM-38 Exocet, 1 OTO melara 76 mm/62 compact cannon, 2 x Emerlec 30 mm cannons, 4 x harpoon missiles, 2 x Nobong 40mm/70 twin cannons, 3 x Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes with 6 chung sang Eoes and 12 x mark 9 depth charges.

South Korea, next to USA for being the largest source of Philippine military hardware, from fighter jets, and patrol ships to armored vehicles and army trucks.

USA has provided almost the same armament to the Philippines in 2013 but unlike the Pohang Anti-submarine warship which cost the Philippines only $100 USD, the Hamilton Class cutters from the USA cost the Philippine government a hefty $10 Million US Dollars.

Philippines received ten FA-50 light fighters from Seoul and two more will be delivered next month to complete the 12 aircraft, 18 billion peso deal.

The Philippines has expressed interest to acquire six more similar planes.

"We are hoping to receive the vessel within the year," defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said of the warship.

"The transfer will be in the form of a donation. We will pay a token $US100, but the corvette will still undergo refurbishment."

He said he has no idea how much the Philippines would need to spend to repair and restore the warship.

Andolong said the Philippines may acquire up to three such warships, which Seoul is replacing with newer and faster vessels.

"This may be an old ship but it will definitely enhance our capability to patrol our waters and perform counter-terrorism measures," he added.

South Korea has donated a lot of military hardware to the Philippines and has expressed gratitude for Manila's role in the 1950-53 Korean War.