Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP is the military of the Philippines established by the Commonwealth Act No. 1 or National Defense Act of December 21, 1935. It is the principal body of defense for the nation, under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President of the Philippines. Organized under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur by invitation of Commonwealth President Manuel Luis Quezon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is loosely based on the structure of the military of the United States.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines consists of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Navy is comprised of two commands: the Philippine Fleet and the Marine Corps. The Coast Guard exists under naval command. The National Defense College of the Philippines and Philippine Military Academy are the principal defense training institutions.

Due to its close relationship with the United States military establishment, the Armed Forces of the Philippines was considered the strongest national defense program in Asia — especially in the 1950s and 1960s. The expulsion of United States military presence from its structures, cuts in funding by the Congress of the Philippines and the nature of Philippine politics has been cited as sources of decline of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in recent years.

The average age of its manpower is 18 years old; males aged 15 through 49 are eligible for recruitment and active duty. The 1998 fiscal year expenditures for the Armed Forces of the Philippines totaled USD $995 million; a total of 1.5% of the gross domestic product.

See also

• Military history of the Philippines
• Philippine Constabulary

External links

• www.afp.mil.ph - Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Philippines Defense Forces Forum

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