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TRANSFORMING PHILIPPINE DEFENSE AND MILITARY EDUCATION TO COPE WITH FUTURE CHALLENGES. Commodore Carlos L Agustin AFP (Ret) President, National Defense College of the Philippines.
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TRANSFORMING PHILIPPINE DEFENSE AND MILITARY EDUCATION TO COPE WITH FUTURE CHALLENGES 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
Outline of Presentation • Introduction: The Strategic Environment and the Role of the Armed Forces • Responding to Challenges Through Professional Defense and Military Education • The Way Forward in Defense Education • Conclusion
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
Operations Other Than War • Internal security operations • Counter-terrorism • Disaster response • Support to national development • International humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping operations • Others
Threats to Internal Security • 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)
Strength Firearms Affected Brgys CPP/NPA Personnel Strength, Firearms, Affected Barangays, and Guerilla Fronts (1978-1st Sem of 2006) Source: J2 Guerilla Fronts
Support to National Development • 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 RehabilitationTransformation of conflict-affected areas to peace and development zones • Other services Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
Disaster Management • 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
Whole of Government Approach LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND Insurgency Secessionism Terrorism Poverty Underdevelopment Lack of Education Lack of Basic Services MILITARY DEVELOPMENT LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND
AFP in Peacekeeping MINUSTAH Haiti Troops: 157 UNMIT Timor-Leste Military Observers: 3 UNMIL Liberia Troops: 170 Military Observers: 3 UNMIS Sudan Military Observers 13 UNOCI Cote d’Ivoire Troops: 3 Military Observers: 2 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
Professional Military Education in the Philippines National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) Strategic Command and General Staff College (CGSC) Operational Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) Tactical Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
Professional Military Education in the Philippines 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 Reform (PDR)
National Defense College of the Philippines • “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 Studies • Human Rights • Development and Economics
CAPSTONE Course • 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. • Promotesgreater understanding of the government’s holistic approach • Considers human rights and CMO education as priorities
Human Rights in Defense Education • 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
Peacekeeping Operations Training Center Functions: (Established 2002) • 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
Foreign Education & Training Opportunities • 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)
The Philippine Defense Reform Program • 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
PDR’s 10 Priority Programs • Multi-year Defense Planning System • Improvement of Intelligence, Operations and Training Capacity • Improved Logistics Capacity • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM • Improvement of Personnel Management Systems • Multi-year Capability Upgrade • Optimized Defense Budget and Improved Management Controls • Centrally Managed Defense Acquisition • Development of Strategic Communication • Information Management Development
Priority Program 4: Professional 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”
Priority Program 4: Professional Development • 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 • Institutional development of certain critical areas
Priority Program 4: Professional Development • Critical areas where Institutional and individual competencies are needed : • Defense resource management • Acquisition • Strategic planning • Multi-year budgeting • Strategic communication • Project management • Change management • Information management
Professional Civilian Defense Service Corps • 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 Haldane1856-1928
Thank you and Mabuhay! www.ndcp.edu.ph