Philippine Army Reserve Command

Reserve Command, Philippine Army
Pangasiwaan ng Panlaáng Kawal, Hukbóng Katihan ng Pilipinas
Unit seal of the Reserve Command, Philippine Army
ActiveSeptember 1, 1977 – February 26, 1986 (as Regional Community Defense Units)
May 12, 1992 – present (current iteration)
Country Philippines
TypeArmy reserve force
RoleConventional and Unconventional Warfare
Anti-Guerrilla Operations
Combat Support & Service Support
Force Multiplier
Training
Disaster Rescue & Relief
Community Service
Size790,000+ (both Ready Reserve, and Standby Reserve)
Part of Philippine Army
Garrison/HQCamp General Mariano Riego de Dios,
Tanza, Cavite
NicknamesARESCOM; RESCOM, PA
MottosTagapagbuo ng Hukbong Mamamayan
(Citizen Army Builder)
AnniversariesMay 12
Decorations
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.
Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines GEN Antonio G. Nafarrete, PA
Commanding General of the Philippine Army LTGEN Donald M. Gumiran, PA
Commander MGEN Ronald Jess S. Alcudia, PA
Insignia
Unit Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
AFP Reserve Force Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

The Reserve Command (RESCOM, PA; Filipino: Pangasiwaan ng Panlaáng Kawal) is one of the Philippine Army's functional commands created for the sole purpose of reserve force management, organization and Government Arsenal procurement.

History

Facade of the Headquarters Building of the Reserve Command, Philippine Army at Tanza, Cavite.

Philippine Commonwealth

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.

World War II

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 (forerunner of 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.

A ragtag group of former ROTC Cadets, Guerilla Fighters and draftees of the Philippine Army Reserve Force formed units among themselves and fought gallantly against the Japanese invaders. Collectively, they were known as the Hunters ROTC Unit.

Post World War II

Post WWII saw the re-organization of the AFP and the further need to rebuild 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.

On September 1, 1977, the Army Reserve Command was activated pursuant to General Orders No. 250 of the Philippine Army, after consolidating various Regional Community Defense Units (RCDUs). Army officers were tasked to organized, train, and manage a reserve force that will equate or surpass the current strength of its regular forces.

1986 EDSA Revolution

By 1986, after the EDSA Revolution, the unit was shortly deactivated since the AFP at that time was undergoing retraining and re-organization.

Birth of the modern AFP Reserve Force

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.

On May 12, 1992, the Reserve Command, Philippine Army, was again reactivated pursuant to HPA General Orders No. 392 and was later again renamed as the Army Reserve Command on October 1, 1999 (HPA GO Nr 1300) and was given its marching orders to maintain, administer, develop, train, and organize reservists units to help enhance and sustain National Security and Development.

Future of RESCOM, PA

In the 21st century, the unit is modernizing itself pursuant to the directives of Headquarters, Philippine Army's transformation roadmap to 2028.

Commonwealth Act 1

Commonwealth Act No. 1, particularly Section II, cites the responsibility of each and every citizen of for the defense of the nation. Citizens may be mobilized in the event the national government declares an act of war or emergency.

Republic Act 7077

Republic Act No. 7077, also known as the Citizen's Armed Force Act or Reservist Law of 1991, is an act passed in to law by the joint house of representatives which clearly provides the policies and procedures in the creation and administration of reservists and reserve units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Republic Act 9163

Republic Act No. 9163, also known as the National Service Training Program Act or National Service Law of 2001, defines the policies and procedures in administration/training of ROTC Units in relation to the other two components, Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service (LTS), of the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

Training

Training is the major task handled by RESCOM. Its primary arms are the university/college-based Department of Military Science and Tactics-administered mandatory basic and the optional advanced Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC); and the territorial unit-administered Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT).

Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC)

A soldier of the Special Operations Command of the Philippine Army instructs an ROTC cadet officer on the finer points of the M16 rifle

Basic ROTC is the only component required by a tertiary (college) level student to have completed as requirement for completion of the National Service Training Program. Military subjects are provided similar to how military instructions are conducted in the service academies and graduates are automatically enlisted in the reserve force of the particular service branch (Army) administering the training. Advance ROTC is purely voluntary in nature and that Advance ROTC Cadets are provided a modest allowance after passing the requirements for their respective Advance ROTC Examination (PAARE). Completion of Advance ROTC is considered a graduate qualification in Military Science, and such graduates who subsequently progress to the Probationary Officer Training Course (POTC) are commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants.

Other than time-in-grade and merit promotions, rank adjustments are authorised depending on civilian qualifications, as well as their reciprocity to the operating environment.

Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT)

A Sergeant from the Scout Ranger Regiment gives instructions on military rappelling to SBCMT CL45-11 of the 1302nd Community Defense Center.

Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT) is a military training course conducted by the Philippine Army through RESCOM, PA. It is an entry-level training course undertaken by Filipino citizens wanting to enlist in the reserve force.

BCMT instruction is administered by a joint training pool of military instructors from both regular and reserve forces and is usually conducted inside any of the Philippine Army's training camps. Guest instructors are requested from other government agencies and non-government organizations (NGO) for specialized instructions.

Special Basic Citizen's Military Training (SBCMT) is a special course conducted by the Philippine Army in response to a request from a Local Government Unit (LGU). Funding is usually provided for by the requesting agency as compared to regular BCMT which receives funding from the Army.

Military Orientation Training (MOT)

This is specialized training provided by the AFP, through RESCOM, PA for volunteer employees of private or public organizations of utility service providers assigned as a Philippine Army Affiliated Reserve Unit (PAARU).

Types of Army Reservists

There are currently three types of reservists in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force:

Categorization of Reservists and Reserve Units

Section 12, Article 5, of Republic Act 7077 breaks down and categorizes reservists and their units based on various criteria cited by this law.

Classification of Reservists and Reserve Units

Section 13, Article 5, of Republic Act 7077 clearly cites the classification of reservists based on their operational readiness for immediate deployment or mobilization.

Lineage of commanding officers

Commanders of RESCOM, PA are drawn from both the ranks of Called To Active Duty (CAD) Reserve Officers and Regular Army Officers that graduated from either Officer Candidate School (OCS) and the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Tenure begin Tenure end Rank Name
1 Sep 1977 1986 COL Anthony Zamora, GSC, PA
1 Jul 1992 1 Jul 1995 COL Ernesto H Luis, GSC, PA
1 Jul 1995 10 Dec 1997 BGEN Franklin C Acosta, AFP
10 Dec 1997 30 Nov 2000 BGEN Antonio J Saldua, AFP
30 Nov 2000 16 Jan 2002 COL Edmund G Pacada, GSC, PA
16 Jan 2002 25 Apr 2002 COL Bernard Basona, GSC, PA
25 Apr 2002 9 Dec 2002 BGEN Marcial A Collao Jr, AFP
9 Dec 2002 16 Oct 2003 BGEN Jeffer Francia, AFP
16 Oct 2003 1 Jul 2004 BGEN Dionisio A Torina, AFP
1 Jul 2004 24 Aug 2005 COL Ibarra P Gutierrez, INF, GSC, PA
24 Aug 2005 18 Dec 2006 BGEN Emmanuel S Cayton, AFP
18 Dec 2006 26 May 2008 BGEN Luini C Mirar, AFP
26 May 2008 7 Mar 2010 BGEN Danilo M Garcia, AFP
7 Mar 2010 10 Mar 2011 BGEN Joel P Ibañez, AFP
10 Mar 2011 19 Oct 2013 BGEN Alex N Albano, AFP
19 Oct 2013 13 Nov 2014 BGEN Alexis D Tamondong, AFP
13 Nov 2014 2 Feb 2016 BGEN Paolo Leo Ma G. Miciano, AFP
2 Feb 2016 16 Sep 2016 BGEN Pascual Luis D Bedia, AFP
16 Sep 2016 26 Mar 2020 MGEN Bernie S Langub, PA
26 Mar 2020 10 Jul 2021 MGEN Peale Jon L Bondoc, PA
10 Jul 2021 5 Nov 2022 MGEN Fernando V Felipe, PA
5 Nov 2022 27 Feb 2023 COL Samuel B Manzano, PA (acting)
27 Feb 2023 20 Jan 2025 MGEN Romulo A Manuel, PA
20 Jan 2025 4 Feb 2025 BGEN Samuel B Manzano, PA (acting)
4 Feb 2025 3 Nov 2025 MGEN Ramon P Zagala, PA
3 Nov 2025 present MGEN Ronald Jess S Alcudia, PA

Organization

RESCOM's unit are divided into several base units, regionally into 15 Community Defense Groups, having three or more Community Defense Centers incorporated into them, and nine Reserve Infantry Divisions. Army ROTC Management falls under their respective RCDGs.

Base units

Line units

Source:

Ready Reserve Infantry divisions

Source:

Ready Reserve Light Armor divisions

Standby Reserve Infantry divisions

Source:

Reserve regiments

Deactivated units

The Following Divisions were subsequently de-activated due to the activation of the two Regular Infantry Division with the latter's divisional numerical designation.

Reserve Brigade

Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST) Groups (Army ROTC Units)

Philippine Army Affiliated Reserve Units (PAARUs)

Prominent Filipino Army Reservists

Commissioned officers

Non-commissioned officers/Enlisted Personnel

Ranks of Army personnel

Officers

Army rank (pay grade)

Abbreviation

 General Office Attire (GOA)

shoulder rank insignia

 Philippine Army Pattern (Philarpat) Uniform

chest insignia

General (O-10)

GEN
Lieutenant General (O-9)

LTGEN
Major General (O-8)

MGEN
Brigadier General (O-7)

BGEN
Colonel (O-6)

COL
Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)

LTC
Major (O-4)

MAJ
Captain (O-3)

CPT
First Lieutenant (O-2)

1LT
Second Lieutenant (O-1)

2LT

Enlisted Personnel, and Non-Commissioned Officers

Air Force rank (pay grade)

Abbreviation

 General Office Attire (GOA)

sleeve rank insignia

 Philippine Army Pattern (Philarpat) Uniform

chest insignia

Chief Master Sergeant (E-9)

CMSGT
Senior Master Sergeant (E-8)

SMSG
Master Sergeant (E-7)

MSG
Technical Sergeant (E-6)

TSG
Staff Sergeant (E-5)

SSG
Sergeant (E-4)

SGT
Corporal (E-3)

CPL
Private First Class Class (E-2)

PFC
Private (E-1)

PVT

Awards and decorations

Campaign streamers

Award Streamer Streamer Name Operation Date Awarded Reference
Presidential Unit Citation BadgeSAR/DRR Ops, TS Ketsana & TS ParmaFebruary 4, 2010General Orders No. 112, GHQ-AFP, dtd Feb 4 '10
Presidential Unit Citation BadgeGeneral Elections, PhilippinesJuly 1, 2010General Orders No. 641, GHQ-AFP, dtd July 1 '10

Badges

Military Badge Badge Name Operation Date Awarded Reference
AFP Election Duty BadgeGeneral Elections, PhilippinesMay 21, 2010General Orders No. 513, GHQ-AFP, dtd May 21 '10

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Actress Nathalie Hart continues reservist training". Philippine Army. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  2. ↑ National Defense Act of 1935
  3. 1 2 3 Conscription in the Philippines
  4. 1 2 3 "ARESCOM - History". Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  5. ↑ Hunters ROTC
  6. ↑ "ATR « Army Transformation Roadmap 2028". Atr2028.wordpress.com. April 29, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Army transformation roadmap 2028" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "C.A. No. 1". Lawphil.net. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  9. ↑ "R.A. 7077". Lawphil.net. June 27, 1991. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  10. ↑ "R.A. 9163". Lawphil.net. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Philippines)
  12. ↑ "PROBATIONARY OFFICERS TRAINING COURSE CLASS 22-06". Potc22.tripod.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  13. ↑ "ARESCOM - Program and Activities". Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 "ARESCOM - Legal Mandate". Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  15. ↑ "ARESCOM - What's New". Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  16. ↑ "ARESCOM - Command Headquarters". Archived from the original on November 20, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  17. ↑ "usnewslasvegas.com". usnewslasvegas.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Zamboanga Times - YouTube". Zambotimes.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Leadership, Friendship and Service | ARESCOM NCRRCDG". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Army Reserve Command under new leadership". Philippine Army. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Army welcomes new RESCOM commander". Philippine Army. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Army installs acting RESCOM commander". Philippine Army. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Army welcomes 27th RESCOM commander". Philippine Army. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  24. ↑ "MOST AWAITED COMEBACK: Maj. Gen. Ronald Jess S. Alcudia Takes Helm as the 28th Commander of RESCOM, PA". Facebook. Reserve Command, Philippine Army. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Organisation map Harescom". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 "Reserve Units - Philippines Defense Forces Forum". S3.zetaboards.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  27. ↑ 15th Infantry Division (Philippines)
  28. ↑ 22nd Infantry Division (Philippines)
  29. ↑ Provisional unit for fill-out as the Philippine Army expands its components.
  30. ↑ Currently filled out by personnel from the 201IB(RR), 1502IBde, 15ID(RR).
  31. ↑ 9th Infantry Division (Philippines)
  32. ↑ 3rd Infantry Division (Philippines)
  33. ↑ 3ID(RR) was downgraded to 3rd Infantry Battalion (Ready Reserve), PA
  34. ↑ 1502nd Infantry Brigade (Philippines)
  35. ↑ "Army to check if reservists part of Quiboloy's 'angels of death'". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Philippine Army Affiliated Reserve Unit (PAARU) MOA Signing". Retrieved August 28, 2025 – via Facebook.
  37. ↑ "Reserve Command, Philippine Army". Retrieved August 28, 2025 – via Facebook.
  38. ↑ "CDC named as PAF Affiliated Reserve Unit of the Year". Punto! Central Luzon. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  39. ↑ Sun, Cherry. "Former QC Mayor Herbert Bautista returns to public service as an army reservist". GMA Entertainment. Philippine Air Force. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  40. ↑ "News". Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  41. ↑ 1st Metro Davao Infantry Battalion (Ready Reserve)
  42. ↑ Tingting Cojuangco#Career
  43. ↑ "Manny Pacquiao makes rank of full Colonel in the Philippines Army". ESPN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Cabinet Profiles". pcoo.gov.ph. Archived from the original on October 24, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Gwen 'first woman battalion commander' | Inquirer News". July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  46. 1 2 Nepomuceno, Priam. "Gomez couple joins PH Army reserve ranks". GOVPH. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Special Assistant to the President joins Army Reserve Force". Philippine Army. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  48. ↑ "The Secretariat". Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Ronnie Liang promoted to 1st lieutenant in the Philippine Army". GMA News.
  50. ↑ "Ronnie Liang, Zahra Saldua complete military training in Armor Division". Philippine Army. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  51. ↑ Nene Tamayo
  52. ↑ "UP ROTC Female Cadet Officers | University of the Philippines – Reserve Officers' Training Corps". Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  53. 1 2 "LOOK: Jessa Zaragoza, Dingdong Avanzado enlist as PH Army reservists". ABS-CBN News. December 8, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  54. ↑ "ARMY MARAÑO Nxled Chameleons veteran Aby Maraño shared photos of herself donning the Philippine Army uniform on social media, marking a new milestone beyond her volleyball career". One Sports (Facebook). July 28, 2026. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  55. ↑ Malanum, Jean (January 14, 2023). "Army boxing champ receives special promotion". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  56. ↑ "Nash Aguas, di biro ang pinagdaanan sa Army training". ABSCBN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  57. 1 2 3 4 "Meet the brave celebrities who readily signed up to be military reservists". ABSCBN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  58. ↑ Krishnan, Ganiel. "Gerald Anderson promoted to auxiliary captain in Philippine Coast Guard". ABSCBN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  59. ↑ Santiago, Ervin. "Gerald, Nash, Jerome, Elmo, Yves buwis-buhay ang military training; May 1 tumakas". Bandera.
  60. ↑ Nepomuceno, Priam. "Actress Nathalie Hart, 154 others now bona fide Army reservists". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 11, 2025.

Bibliography

  • Official Site ARESCOM
  • The Training Committee, Military Science 21 ROTC Manual, 2001, NCRRCDG, ARESCOM.
  • The Philippine Army Public Affairs Office, The Philippine Army: First 100 Years, 1997, OTAPA.
  • Pobre, Cesar P. (2006). History of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People. New Day Publishers.ISBN 9711010410.