PMAEE PMA Knowledge — Articles of War & Military LawCheat Sheet
Articles of War & Military Law cheat sheet for PMAEE aspirants. If you could only take one sheet of paper into your review session, this is what it would look like. Philippine Military Academy's most-tested concepts, all in one place.
Exam context
For the Philippine Military Academy Entrance Examination, Philippine Military Academy tests PMA Knowledge under a "Core" label, with Articles of War & Military Law in the 2nd slot across 4 chapters. PMAEE candidates must clear the Top scorers meeting quotas per region cut on the 2026 paper, which draws about a meaningful share of PMA Knowledge questions. Date to watch: August 2026 (expected).
Articles of War & Military Law - Cheat sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for mastering military law fundamentals and the Articles of War for the PMAEE exam.
Sections
Section Title
Foundations of Military Law
Important Facts
- Commonwealth Act 408 (1938) is still the governing law for AFP
- Military law exists because military requires discipline beyond civilian standards
- Constitution Article XVI, Section 4 establishes the AFP
- President has Commander-in-Chief powers under Article VII, Section 18
- Civilian supremacy principle established in Article II, Section 3
Key Definitions
Term
Military Law
Example
Court-martial proceedings for military offenses
Definition
Set of rules governing conduct of armed forces members, requiring stricter discipline than civilian law
Term
Articles of War
Example
Article 85 defines desertion penalties
Definition
Commonwealth Act No. 408 (1938) - the governing legal code for AFP personnel with 121 articles
Term
Chain of Command
Example
Orders flow from superior to subordinate officers
Definition
Hierarchical structure of authority that must be preserved in military operations
Diagrams To Know
- Military law hierarchy structure
- Sources of Philippine military law flowchart
Section Title
Persons Subject to Military Law
Important Facts
- Article 2 defines who is subject to military law
- Regular and reserve AFP components included
- All PMA cadets are subject to military law
- Persons accompanying AFP during wartime included
- Some prisoners of war fall under military jurisdiction
Key Definitions
Term
Subject Persons
Example
PMA cadets are subject to Articles of War from admission
Definition
All AFP officers, enlisted personnel, PMA cadets, active service members, and war companions
Diagrams To Know
- Categories of persons under military law
Section Title
Major Military Offenses
Important Facts
- Four main categories: discipline, duty, persons/property, wartime offenses
- Conduct unbecoming an officer (Article 96) covers professional behavior
- Misbehavior before enemy is a serious wartime offense
- Sleeping on post and drunk on duty are duty-related offenses
- Assault on superior officer combines discipline and person offenses
Key Definitions
Term
Insubordination
Example
Refusing to follow a lawful order from commanding officer
Definition
Disobedience to a superior officer (Article 65)
Term
Desertion
Example
Leaving military base without permission and not returning
Definition
Abandoning post with intent to remain absent permanently (Article 85)
Term
AWOL
Example
Missing formation or duty without permission
Definition
Absence Without Leave - temporary unauthorized absence (Article 86)
Term
Mutiny
Example
Group of soldiers refusing orders and resisting authority
Definition
Combined defiance against military authority (Article 67)
Diagrams To Know
- Classification of military offenses by category
- Severity levels of military crimes
Section Title
Court-Martial System
Important Facts
- Three types of courts-martial with different jurisdictions
- Officers appointed by convening authority
- Includes trial judge advocate (prosecutor) and defense counsel
- Secret ballot voting by court members
- Accused has right to military and/or civilian counsel
Key Definitions
Term
General Court-Martial
Example
Cases involving desertion, mutiny, or capital crimes
Definition
Handles serious offenses, can impose any punishment including death
Term
Special Court-Martial
Example
Mid-level disciplinary violations
Definition
Intermediate level, cannot impose death or dismiss officers
Term
Summary Court-Martial
Example
AWOL, minor insubordination cases
Definition
Minor offenses involving enlisted personnel only
Diagrams To Know
- Court-martial hierarchy and jurisdiction
- Military trial procedure flowchart
Section Title
Military Punishments
Important Facts
- Death penalty limited to specified grave offenses with strict review
- Dishonorable discharge/dismissal removes from service
- Forfeiture of pay and allowances affects compensation
- Reduction in rank affects military standing
- Accused may demand court-martial instead of non-judicial punishment
Key Definitions
Term
Non-Judicial Punishment
Example
Restriction to barracks, extra duty assignments
Definition
Article 105 allows commanders to impose discipline without court-martial for minor offenses
Diagrams To Know
- Punishment severity hierarchy
- Non-judicial vs judicial punishment process
Section Title
Military Justice Doctrines
Important Facts
- Following orders defense fails when orders were clearly unlawful
- International humanitarian law sets limits on military necessity
- Command responsibility established after WWII tribunals
- Rules of engagement (ROE) govern use of force
- ROE violations face disciplinary action even without civilian crime
Key Definitions
Term
Lawful Order
Example
Order to secure perimeter is lawful; order to harm civilians is not
Definition
Orders that soldiers must obey; unlawful orders (war crimes, human rights violations) must not be obeyed
Term
Command Responsibility
Example
Officer liable if aware troops committed war crimes but took no action
Definition
Commanders responsible for subordinate crimes if they knew or should have known and failed to act
Term
Military Necessity
Example
Destroying enemy infrastructure while minimizing civilian harm
Definition
Combat operations may justify otherwise illegal actions within strict international law limits
Diagrams To Know
- Lawful vs unlawful order decision tree
- Command responsibility chain
Section Title
AFP Code and Ethics
Important Facts
- Mission first - accomplish assigned task
- Honor includes truthfulness, integrity, dignity
- Loyalty to country, command, and comrades
- Service means sacrifice for Filipino people
- Protect human rights at all times
Key Definitions
Term
Code of Conduct
Example
Mission first means accomplishing assigned tasks before personal interests
Definition
Five principles: Mission first, Professionalism, Honor, Loyalty, Service
Diagrams To Know
- Five pillars of military conduct
- AFP ethical principles hierarchy
Must Remember
- Commonwealth Act 408 (1938) = Articles of War with 121 articles
- Article 2 defines persons subject to military law (AFP, PMA cadets, etc.)
- Four offense categories: discipline, duty, persons/property, wartime
- Three court-martial types: General (serious), Special (intermediate), Summary (minor)
- Desertion (Art. 85) = permanent intent vs AWOL (Art. 86) = temporary
- Lawful orders must be obeyed; unlawful orders must NOT be obeyed
- Command responsibility: commanders liable for subordinate crimes if aware
- Non-judicial punishment (Art. 105) for minor offenses by commanders
- Five AFP Code principles: Mission, Professionalism, Honor, Loyalty, Service
- Military law requires stricter discipline than civilian law due to combat/command needs
Last Minute Tips
- Focus on article numbers for specific offenses (Art. 85 = desertion, Art. 86 = AWOL)
- Remember the hierarchy: General > Special > Summary court-martial powers
- Distinguish intent: desertion (permanent) vs AWOL (temporary absence)
- Commonwealth Act 408 (1938) is still current law - not outdated
- Command responsibility flows upward - commanders accountable for subordinates
Comparison Tables
Rows
Values
- Permanent absence
- Temporary absence
Property
Intent
Values
- Serious offense
- Minor offense
Property
Severity
Values
- Severe penalties
- Lighter penalties
Property
Punishment
Values
- General/Special
- Summary/Special
Property
Court-Martial
Columns
- Aspect
- Desertion (Art. 85)
- AWOL (Art. 86)
Table Title
Desertion vs AWOL
Rows
Values
- Serious offenses
- Yes (with review)
- Yes
Property
General
Values
- Intermediate
- No
- No
Property
Special
Values
- Minor (enlisted only)
- No
- No
Property
Summary
Columns
- Type
- Jurisdiction
- Death Penalty
- Officer Dismissal
Table Title
Court-Martial Types
Rows
Values
- Articles of War
- Revised Penal Code
Property
Governing Code
Values
- Court-martial
- Regular courts
Property
Trial System
Values
- Stricter standards
- Standard requirements
Property
Discipline Level
Values
- Chain of command critical
- Individual responsibility
Property
Command Structure
Columns
- Aspect
- Military Law
- Civilian Law
Table Title
Military vs Civilian Law
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PMA Organization, Cadet Life & Career Progression
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