Commodore Carlos L Agustin AFP (Ret)President, National Defense College of the Philippines

11th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defense Universities/Colleges/Institutions Meeting

9-11 October 2007 Canberra, Australia

TRANSFORMING PHILIPPINE DEFENSE AND MILITARY

EDUCATION TO COPE WITH FUTURE CHALLENGES

I. Introduction: The Strategic Environment and the Role of the Armed Forces

II. Responding to Challenges Through Professional Defense and Military Education

III. Conclusion: The Way Forward in Defense Education

I. INTRODUCTION: THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT AND THE ROLE OF

THE ARMED FORCES

Additional roles apart from territorial defense

The 21st Century ushered in a more complex and uncertain strategic environment

Threats involve challenges from internal and external sources of instability

• Internal security operations

• Counter-terrorism

• Disaster response

• Support to national development

• International humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping operations

• Others

• Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA)

• Southern Philippines: Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF), MNLF splinter groups

• Terrorism: Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Rajah Sulayman Movement (RSM) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 1stSem06

CPP/NPA Personnel Strength, Firearms, Affected Barangays, and Guerilla Fronts (1978-1st Sem of 2006)

Strength Firearms Affected Brgys Guerilla FrontsSource: J2

Delivery basic services in rebel-infested areas

Kalayaang Barangay (Freedom Villages) Program

Performance of certain critical government functions Army Literacy Patrol System (ALPS)Military assistance for transport and security in certain areas.

Support to national infrastructure development Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Transformation of conflict-affected areas to peace and development zones

Other servicesConflict Resolution and Peace Building

• Disaster Emergency Assistance Rescue and Relief Training (DEART)

• Assistance to disaster affected areas

• Search and rescue operations

• Transport of relief supplies

• Provide personnel and logistics to secure or evacuate an area

PovertyUnderdevelopmentLack of Education

Lack of Basic Services

LEFT HAND

RIGHT HAND

LEFT HAND RIG

HT

HAND

MINUSTAH

Haiti

Troops: 157

UNMIL

Liberia

Troops: 170

Military Observers: 3

UNMIS

Sudan

Military Observers 13

UNOCI

Cote d’Ivoire

Troops: 3

Military Observers: 2

UNMIT

Timor-Leste

Military Observers: 3

TOTAL AFP PERSONNEL DEPLOYED: 351

II. RESPONDING TO CHALLENGES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEFENSE

AND MILITARY EDUCATION

“The possession of an extensive body of knowledge is central to the

professionalization of a military corps.” – Samuel Huntington

Philippine Military Academy (PMA)

National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP)

Air Education andTraining Command

(AETC)

Training and Doctrine Command

(TRADOC)

Naval Education and Training Command

(NETC)

Command and General Staff College (CGSC)

Policy and curriculum review: AFP Education and Training Board

Review various education and training programs of the AFP (CGSC and other AFP and services schools)

Identify courses and programs to address military needs and requirements

Conduct of regular program and curriculum reviews DND Special Committee on Education and Training

Review various education and training programs of the DND-AFP

Identify courses and programs to address defense needs and requirements

Conduct of regular program and curriculum reviews

Ongoing Philippine Defense review (PDR)

• “National Security is the concern of all sectors of society, not just the military”

• Whole-of-government approach

• Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) subjects:

National Security Policy StudiesHuman Rights Development and Economics

First conducted in 2003: Four-week finishing course for generals and flag officers

Objectives: Expose course participants to dynamics

of national security and develop strategy formulation

Enhance and develop power factors and dimensions in pursuit of national development

Next CAPSTONE Course on November 2007

Other Approaches to Professional Education and Training

AFP Education and Benefits Systems Office which, provides scholarships for AFP personnel to pursue higher education

Currently considering better integration of civilian professional education in planning, support and implementation of military operations and strategy.

Promotes greater understanding of the government’s holistic approach

Considers human rights and CMO education as priorities

• To address the need for greater human rights awareness within the AFP

• To integrate human rights education and training in all career and specialized courses for military personnel

• As a requirement for promotion within the AFP

• Ensure uniform training for Filipino peacekeepers and military observers

• Instruct personnel on roles, duties and responsibilities of UN peacekeepers

• Provide briefing on local culture and geo-politics in areas of deployment

Functions: (Established 2002)

United States IMET Joint Exercises: Balikatan, Piston Exercises, CARAT Joint Training: Light Reaction Battalion (LRB)

Australia Educational exchanges and scholarships Joint Exercises:

CARACHA, LUMBAS

Other scholarships, training programs and military exercises with allied countries (UK, China, Japan, ROK, EU)

• Strengthen linkage between education and training to the Defense mission

• Institute comprehensive and system-wide reforms

• Create “a strong, capable and responsive” Philippine Defense establishment based on the findings of the Joint Defense Assessment (JDA)

• Address current and future threats

• Foster a secure environment conducive to national development

1. Multi-year Defense Planning System

2. Improvement of Intelligence, Operations and Training Capacity

3. Improved Logistics Capacity

4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

5. Improvement of Personnel Management Systems

6. Multi-year Capability Upgrade

7. Optimized Defense Budget and Improved Management Controls

8. Centrally Managed Defense Acquisition

9. Development of Strategic Communication

10. Information Management Development

“Develop, integrate and institutionalize a comprehensive Professional Development

System capable of sustaining organizational excellence and mission performance through significant improvements of

essential education and training capabilities and character building mechanisms required

for a professional defense force”

• Standardization of training, education and leadership courses

• Review and improvement of existing career systems

• Development of training cycles relative to career fields from recruitment to retirement

• Development of institutional certain critical areas

Critical areas where Institutional and individual competencies needed :

• Strategic communication

• Project management

• Change management

• Information management

• Defense resource management

• Acquisition

• Strategic planning

• Multi-year budgeting

• Create a clear career path for defense civilian personnel

• Attract, recruit and train new personnel

• Establish a pool of researchers, specialists, analysts, strategic thinkers and policy makers

• Develop, implement and sustain individual programs geared towards national security and development

III. THE WAY FORWARD IN DEFENSE EDUCATION

• Harness the power of Technology

• Active collaboration among defense educational institutions

• Robust Defense-academe/industry partnership

“The officer of today must be far more highly trained…than the officer of the past.”

-British Sec of War Lord RB Haldane (1856-1928

)

Thank you and

Mabuhay!

www.ndcp.edu.ph