AFPSAT AFP Knowledge — AFP Organization — Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast GuardCheat Sheet
AFP Organization — Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard cheat sheet for AFPSAT aspirants. If you could only take one sheet of paper into your review session, this is what it would look like. Armed Forces of the Philippines's most-tested concepts, all in one place.
Exam context
On the AFPSAT 2026, the AFP Knowledge subtest carries a "Core" weight in Armed Forces of the Philippines's pattern. AFP Organization — Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard lands at position 2nd out of 3 in the standard review order. Target score is AFP-set percentile, and roughly a meaningful share of items come from AFP Knowledge on a typical AFPSAT paper.
AFP Organization — Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard - Cheat sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for AFP Organization — comprehensive reference for AFPSAT exam success
Sections
Section Title
AFP Overview
Important Facts
- Established 1935 by Commonwealth Act No. 1 (National Defense Act)
- Mission: Defend sovereignty and territorial integrity of Philippines
- HQ: General Headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
- Total active personnel: ~150,000+
- Constitutional basis: Article XVI, Section 4 of 1987 Constitution
- President is Commander-in-Chief
- Department of National Defense (DND) provides civilian oversight
Key Definitions
Term
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Example
Headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Definition
Principal defense organization established 1935 by Commonwealth Act No. 1
Term
Civilian Supremacy
Example
AFP Chief of Staff reports through DND Secretary to President
Definition
President as Commander-in-Chief, DND provides civilian oversight
Diagrams To Know
- AFP organizational chart
- Chain of command structure
Section Title
Three Principal Services
Important Facts
- PA: Largest service, 9 Infantry Divisions, Special Forces Regiment
- PN: Surface combatants, frigates, corvettes, patrol vessels
- PMC: Part of Navy but operationally distinct, amphibious operations
- PAF: FA-50 fighter jets, C-130 transports, helicopters, drones
- PA Major Commands: Scout Ranger Regiment, Light Reaction Regiment
- PN Commands: NFNL, NFWM, NFEM
- PAF Wings: Air Defense Wing, Air Combat Wing, Air Mobility Command
Key Definitions
Term
Philippine Army (PA)
Example
HQ at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig; 100,000+ personnel
Definition
Largest service, land warfare and internal security
Term
Philippine Navy (PN)
Example
HQ at Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite
Definition
Maritime defense and coastal protection
Term
Philippine Air Force (PAF)
Example
HQ at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City
Definition
Air defense, mobility, and support operations
Diagrams To Know
- Service branch organization charts
- Major command locations map
Section Title
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
Important Facts
- NOT part of AFP in peacetime
- Under Department of Transportation (DOTr)
- Integrated with Navy during war
- Mission: Maritime safety, law enforcement, search and rescue
- Marine environmental protection and security
- Front-line for West Philippine Sea encounters
- Equipment: Patrol vessels, search-rescue boats, aerial surveillance
Key Definitions
Term
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
Example
Can be integrated with Navy during wartime
Definition
Maritime safety and law enforcement, under DOTr in peacetime
Diagrams To Know
- PCG organizational structure
- PCG mission areas diagram
Section Title
Command Structure
Important Facts
- GHQ AFP: Chief of Staff, Vice Chief, Deputy Chief
- J-directorates: J-1 Personnel, J-2 Intelligence, J-3 Operations
- NOLCOM: Northern Luzon Command (Tarlac)
- SOLCOM: Southern Luzon Command (Lucena)
- CENTCOM: Central Command (Cebu)
- WESCOM: Western Command (Palawan)
- EASTMINCOM: Eastern Mindanao Command (Davao)
- WESTMINCOM: Western Mindanao Command (Zamboanga)
- Specialized: AFPSOCOM, AFP Cyber Group, AFP Reserve Command, NCRCOM
Key Definitions
Term
AFP Chief of Staff
Example
Member of national security councils
Definition
Top AFP officer, 4-star rank, 3-year term, appointed by President
Term
Unified Commands
Example
NOLCOM in Tarlac, WESCOM in Palawan
Definition
Geographic commands covering specific regions
Diagrams To Know
- Unified command locations map
- GHQ organizational chart
Section Title
Ranks and Entry Pathways
Important Facts
- Officer entry: PMA, ROTC, OCS, Lateral entry
- Enlisted entry: Candidate Soldier Course (CSC), Recruit training
- AFPSAT: Service Aptitude Test for various officer programs
- Highest rank: General/Admiral (4-star)
- Entry rank: Second Lieutenant/Ensign
- Enlisted progression: Private to Sergeant Major/Master Chief
Key Definitions
Term
Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
Example
Primary officer training institution
Definition
4-year cadet program, graduate as Second Lieutenant or Ensign
Term
Officer Candidate School (OCS)
Example
Alternative pathway to commission
Definition
9-month training for college graduates
Diagrams To Know
- Rank structure comparison chart
- Entry pathway flowchart
Section Title
Modernization and Exercises
Important Facts
- Major acquisitions: BRP Jose Rizal, BRP Antonio Luna frigates
- FA-50 fighter jets, C-130 cargo planes, attack helicopters
- US exercises: Balikatan, CARAT, Sama-Sama
- Japan: Maritime cooperation exercises
- Australia: AUSPHIL Maritime Exercise (Lumbas)
- Multilateral: RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific)
- Modern communications and land vehicles included
Key Definitions
Term
AFP Modernization Program
Example
Frigates, FA-50 jets, attack helicopters
Definition
R.A. 7898 (1995) and R.A. 10349 (2012) for equipment acquisition
Term
Balikatan
Example
Major bilateral military training
Definition
Annual large-scale joint exercise with United States
Diagrams To Know
- Modernization timeline
- Joint exercise schedule
Must Remember
- AFP established 1935 by Commonwealth Act No. 1, HQ at Camp Aguinaldo
- Three principal services: Army (largest), Navy, Air Force
- PCG is under DOTr in peacetime, NOT part of AFP
- President is Commander-in-Chief, DND provides civilian oversight
- Six unified commands: NOLCOM, SOLCOM, CENTCOM, WESCOM, EASTMINCOM, WESTMINCOM
- Officer entry: PMA (4-year), OCS (9-month), ROTC, Lateral entry
- Army HQ: Fort Bonifacio; Navy HQ: Sangley Point; Air Force HQ: Villamor
- Modernization acts: R.A. 7898 (1995) and R.A. 10349 (2012)
- Major exercises: Balikatan (US), AUSPHIL (Australia), RIMPAC (multilateral)
- AFP mission: Defend sovereignty and territorial integrity of Philippines
Last Minute Tips
- Remember PCG is NOT part of AFP during peacetime - this is a common trap question
- Know the six unified commands by location: NOLCOM-Tarlac, WESCOM-Palawan, etc.
- Army is the largest service with 100,000+ personnel - don't confuse with Navy or Air Force
- Constitutional basis is Article XVI, Section 4 of 1987 Constitution - memorize this
- Modernization has TWO acts: 1995 and 2012 - both are important for acquisition programs
Comparison Tables
Rows
Values
- Second Lieutenant
- Ensign
- Second Lieutenant
- OF-1
Property
Entry Level
Values
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Captain
- OF-2
Property
Company Grade
Values
- Major
- Lieutenant Commander
- Major
- OF-3
Property
Field Grade
Values
- Colonel
- Captain
- Colonel
- OF-5
Property
Senior Field
Values
- Brigadier General
- Commodore
- Brigadier General
- OF-6
Property
General/Flag
Values
- General
- Admiral
- General
- OF-9
Property
Highest Rank
Columns
- Army (PA)
- Navy (PN)
- Air Force (PAF)
- NATO Equivalent
Table Title
Officer Ranks Across Services
Rows
Values
- Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
- Land warfare, internal security
- 100,000+
Property
Philippine Army
Values
- Sangley Point, Cavite
- Maritime defense, coastal protection
- ~25,000
Property
Philippine Navy
Values
- Villamor Air Base, Pasay
- Air defense, mobility, support
- ~18,000
Property
Philippine Air Force
Values
- Port Area, Manila
- Maritime safety, law enforcement
- ~12,000
Property
Coast Guard
Columns
- Service
- Headquarters
- Primary Mission
- Personnel
Table Title
Service Headquarters and Missions
Rows
Values
- Tarlac
- Northern Luzon
- Mountain provinces, NPA areas
Property
NOLCOM
Values
- Lucena
- Southern Luzon
- Bicol region, island provinces
Property
SOLCOM
Values
- Cebu
- Central Philippines
- Visayas region
Property
CENTCOM
Values
- Palawan
- Western Philippines
- West Philippine Sea, Spratlys
Property
WESCOM
Values
- Davao
- Eastern Mindanao
- Davao region, eastern coast
Property
EASTMINCOM
Values
- Zamboanga
- Western Mindanao
- Sulu archipelago, MILF areas
Property
WESTMINCOM
Columns
- Command
- Location
- Area of Responsibility
- Key Features
Table Title
Unified Commands by Region
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