A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.
An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country. How OCS is run differs between countries and services. Typically, officer candidates have already attained post-secondary education, and sometimes a bachelor's degree, and undergo a short duration of training which focuses primarily on military skills and leadership. This is in contrast with a military academy which includes academic instruction leading to a bachelor's degree.
A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, such as civil aviation groups, maritime organisations, and police services, also designate their trainees as cadets.
Officer candidate or officer aspirant (OA) is a rank in some militaries of the world that is an appointed position while a person is in training to become an officer. More often than not, an officer candidate was a civilian who applied to join the military directly as an officer. Officer candidates are, therefore, not considered of the same status as enlisted personnel.
Philippine Merchant Marine Academy is a maritime higher education institution operated by the Philippine government in San Narciso, Zambales. Students are called midshipmen but are often also referred to as cadets. Upon graduation, students are commissioned as ensigns in the Philippine Navy Reserve and have the option to join the merchant marine, the Philippine Navy, or the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Candidate School, formerly known as the School for Reserve Commission, is a military school located at Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac for the Philippine Army Officer Candidate School; Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas for the Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School; and Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales for the Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School. It was established in the Philippines for training future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The Reserve Command is a major support command of the Philippine Army. It was created for the sole purpose of reserve force management, organization and Government Arsenal procurement.
The Philippine Military Academy also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). It was established on December 21, 1936, by the virtue of National Defense Act of 1935. It is patterned after the United States Military Academy, in West Point, New York. The academy is located in the city of Baguio, and serves as the primary training school for future officers of the AFP.
The Naval Reserve Command (NRC), also known as NAVRESCOM or RESCOM, (Filipino: Pangasiwaan ng Panlaang Kawal ng Hukbong Pandagat) is one of the Philippine Navy's Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of reserve force management, procurement, and organization.
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines is one of three components of the National Service Training Program, the civic education and defense preparedness program for Filipino college students. ROTC aims to provide military education and training for students to mobilize them for national defense preparedness. Its specific objectives include preparation of college students for service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the event of an emergency and their training to become reservists and potential commissioned officers of the AFP.
Women serve in the Philippine military including in combat roles since 1993.
Benjamin Rasgo Madrigal Jr. is a retired Philippine Army general serving as the Administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority under the Duterte administration since January 2020. He previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from December 2018 to September 2019. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Sandiwa" Class of 1985, along with his predecessor Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr.
Rozzano Dosado Briguez is a Filipino general who formerly served as the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Sinagtala" Class of 1986, and graduated as Top 2 of his class. He was also a commander of the AFP Western Command, and formulated the new command framework: "Padayon PAF: Perform, Reform, Transform", a framework of his leadership philosophy in the Philippine Air Force.
Allan Ferdinand Valdez Cusi is a Filipino Admiral who served as the former Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy after Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista resigned over the hazing case and the Death of Darwin Dormitorio He is a graduate of the PMA "Sinagtala" Class of 1986.
Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Jamero Bacordo is a Filipino admiral who was the Chief of the Philippine Navy. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Hinirang" Class of 1987. Prior to his post, he served as the commander of the Philippine Fleet.
Gilbert Italia Gapay is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the 54th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Prior to his appointment, he served as the 61st Chief of the Army and the commander of the Armor "Pambato" Division.
The Philippine Coast Guard Officers' Basic Education and Training Center (PCGOBETC) serves as the officer candidate school of Philippine Coast Guard officer aspirants. Cadets who are already baccalaureate degree holders taking the Coast Guard Officers’ Course (CGOC) became Probationary Ensigns (PENS) and after graduation are commissioned as regular officers in the organization.
Lieutenant General Ferdinand Mendez Cartujano is a retired Filipino Air Force General who served as the 82nd Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy since 16 November 2020. Prior to his position, he served as the commander of the Air Force Education, Training and Doctrine Command, the Chief of Academy Staff, Philippine Military Academy, the 505th Search and Rescue Group, and the 5051st Search and Rescue Squadron. Cartujano retired from military service on 26 June 2022 after 34 years in military service.
Vice Admiral Adeluis Santelices Bordado is a Filipino retired Admiral who served as the Flag Officer in-Command of the Philippine Navy from 8 June 2021 to 8 September 2022. Prior to his post, he served as the vice commander of the Philippine Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff and the AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC). He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Maringal" Class of 1988.
'Leopoldo "Leo" Velarde Laroya' is a Filipino Admiral who served as the 28th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard. Prior to his promotion as commandant, he also served as the Deputy Commandant for Operations, and led three commands: the Maritime Safety Services Command, the Coast Guard Education, Training and Doctrine Command and the Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command.
