Want to Join the Philippine Army? Here's What You Need

Not a lot of people look forward to joining the army. Other than the fact that people from the army's lifestyles are dangerous, some people have the mindset that being in the army is nothing but being critical. However, most people fail to think that having a profession in this field has its own nobilities; more so, it actually pays well.

In this article, we will list down everything you need to know in joining the army. From the requirements to what qualities a specific person needs to have. In starting, there are three (3) types of entry-level ranks or candidates. Namely:

1. The Officer Candidate Course (OCC)
2. Officer Preparatory Course (OPC)
3. Enlisted Personnel

They all have their differences and whatnot; we are here to dictate what you need if you have or feel any interest to push and take any of these levels. Ever dreamt of going to the army? Here's your ticket!

Read: CSC Releases the Schedule of Computerized Career Service Exams for the 1st Half of 2019

If you are interested in undergoing the Officer Candidate Course (OCC), you need to achieve the following:

• Natural-born Filipino;
• Must be a holder of a baccalaureate degree;
• The applicant must be between twenty-one (21) to twenty-nine (29) years old upon the admission. NOTE: There is no age waiver in the application.
• Must be single (never been married and never sired or borne a child);
• Have good moral character;
• Physically, mentally, and psychologically fit for active military service (P1 Profile);
• Must have a height of at least 152.4cm (5'0 ft.) for both men and women; must not be more than 193.04cm or (6'4);
• The applicant must pass other pre-entry written examinations conducted by the Philippine Army (PA) (The Special Written Exam (SWEI) and the Army Qualifying Exam (AQE);
• Must also pass the Physical Medical Examination (PME) and the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) which is given by the Philippine Army through the PAOSC; and
• The applicant must attain a raw score of seventy-one (71) or higher for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test (AFPSAT).

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Aside from the Officer Candidate Course, applicants who are interested in undergoing the Officer Preparatory Course (OPC), the applicant needs to have or to meet the following requirements:

• The applicant must not be older than thirty-one (31) years old on the date called to Active Duty (CAD);
• Must be a holder of any baccalaureate degree;
• Must be a natural-born Filipino;
• Should be commissioned in the Reserve Force as at least a second (2nd) lieutenant;
• Should be physically fit;
• Must also be mentally and psychologically fit for the active military service (P1 profile);
• The height of the applicant must not be shorter than 152.4cm or (5'0) for both men and women but it should not be more than 193.04cm or (6'4);
• Applicant must be of good moral character;
• Should pass other written examinations (pre-entry) given by the Philippine Army (PA) (the Army Qualifying Exam (AQE) and the Physical Fitness Test (PFT));
• Must also pass both the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and the Physical Medical Examination (PME); and
• Must attain a raw score of at least seventy-one (71) or higher in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test (AFPSAT).

As you can see, the two requirements for both of the courses are technically the same. The difference and as we can see, the only difference is the age. However, that doesn't mean that the operations and the functions of the learners completing the course is the same.

Read: Philippine National Police (PNP) Modified Base Pay Schedule 2019

Documentary requirements

As for the requirements that the applicants need to submit:

1. At least one (1) 2x2 I.D. pictures; it's better to bring two (2) copies just in case;
2. The original copy of the Transcript of Records (ToR)
3. Original copy of the college diploma
4. Original copy of the PSA-certified birth certificate
5. One (1) valid Identification Card (I.D.)

Just like any other school application, there are also documentary requirements, of course that aspiring learners in the industry need to submit.

Read: A Guide to Using the PNP ORAS

Enlisted Personnel

For people who want to directly be part of the AFP, you should apply and take the candidate soldiers path straightforwardly. Candidate soldiers, however, have the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be a natural Filipino
• Applicants must at least have seventy-two (72) units in college; if the applicant is a high school, he or she must possess talents or skills that are technical and that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) needs;
• The age must be at least eighteen (18) to twenty-three (23) years old before the date of the appointment as a candidate soldier;
• Height requirement must at least be 60 inches in height (5'0) and it has no waiver;
• Applicant needs to be single without a child;
• Must be of good moral character;
• Should have an AFPSAT score of at least forty-five (45);
• Should be physically fit for military training;
• Also, must be psychologically and mentally fit for necessary training; and
• Must have passed all pre-qualifying PME and PFT examinations conducted by the Philippine Army (PA).

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In accordance to the required documentation aspiring candidate soldiers need, they should be able to submit the following documents when applying:

1. At least one (1) 2x2 I.D. pictures; it's better to bring two (2) copies just in case;
2. The original copy of the Transcript of Records (ToR)
3. Original copy of the college diploma
4. Original copy of the PSA-certified birth certificate
5. One (1) valid Identification Card (I.D.)

Are you interested in being part of the Philippine Army? Do you look forward in being part of their institution? If you are, what are you waiting for? If you know that you have these qualifications met, gather the documentation they need from applicants and start your journey in being part of the army!

How much is the salary of people who are under the Philippine Army?

In a previous article, we were able to fully detail how much a certain person in the army industry earns on a monthly basis. In this context, however, a candidate solider's updated monthly base pay is currently at P18, 587.

Yes, I know that you're thinking - it's not enough. However, that doesn't include allowances and other extra pays yet. However, when the rank progresses, the salary tranche and range progresses too. If you want to know how much the salaries of people in the uniformed and civilian field is, we have a specific post dedicated to that.

Read here for the full table of the modified base pay of military and uniformed personnel (MUP).

What do you think? Has it ever crossed your mind to be part of the group who continuously work to protect our country? If yes, then here are the details you are looking for!