Active 12 May 1993 - Present Branch Philippine Navy | Country Philippines | |
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Allegiance Republic of the Philippines Type Naval & Marine Reserve Force Role Conventional and Unconventional Warfare, Anti-Guerrilla Operations, Combat Support & Service Support, Force Multiplier, Training, Disaster Rescue & Relief, and Community Service | ||
The Naval Reserve Command, known officially as the NAVRESCOM or RESCOM, (Filipino: Pangasiwaan ng Panlaang Kawal ng Hukbong Pandagat) (PPKHP) is one the Philippine Navy's Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.
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History
By 1935, the Philippine Commonwealth, under the leadership of President Manuel Luis Quezon enacted the very first legislature of his government. Commonwealth Act Nr. 01 ensured that Philippines will be prepared to thwart off any invasion or aggression of some sort by any nation, or entity and thus called upon its citizens to provide manpower to then fledgling Philippine Army. The National Defense Act of 1935 heralded the creation of what would be the Armed Forces of the Philippines and very first documented account of voluntary citizen enlistment.
Reservists fought hard during the 1940s and saw action on almost all parts of the country in World War II. Regular and reserve members of then Philippine Army/ Philippine Army Air Corps (the forerunner for the Phil Air Force), the Philippine Constabulary, and the Philippine Offshore Patrol (what would become the Phil Navy later on.) were incorporated with US units and rallied under the banner of the USAFFE.
Post World War II saw the re-organization of the AFP and the further need to rebuilt the defense of the nation. Reserve units were then organized to Battalion Combat Teams with the sole purpose of force augmentation in the eventuality that another world war ensues.
1991 saw the birth of a new reserve force when Republic Act 7077 (Reservists Act of 1991) was signed into law on July 1, 1991. This new legislation directed the AFP to organize and create units with the sole purpose of reservists management.
Training
Training is one of the primary tasks that is handled by NAVRESCOM. One of its primary training unit is the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) and the Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT).
The Naval Reserve Command also through its ROTC Program prepare future officers in the navy serving in the reserve force. Under the Naval Officer Qualification Course (NOQC), college graduates are trained to take roles as officers in Philippine Navy and the Philippine Marine Corps.
Types of Reservists
There are currently two (2) types of reservists in the component of the AFP Reserve Force; the Ready Reserve and the Standby Reserve. Ready Reservists are personnel that are always on constant alert and on a call whenever the mobilization order has been given, while Standby Reservists are the personnel that support and augment the Ready Reserve Force when only needed.