Age Requirement for Commissionship.
SEC. 13. Age Requirement for Commissionship. - Unless otherwise provided herein, all officers appointed to the Regular Force shall have an initial appointment in the grade of Second Lieutenant (O-1) and shall not be less than twenty-one (21) but not more than twenty-eight (28) years old.: Provided, That the original appointment in the Nurse Corps and Medical Administrative Corps, and in the Dental Service and Veterinary Corps shall be in the grade of Second Lieutenant (O-1) and First Lieutenant (O-2), respectively, from among applications who at the time of appointment shall be at least twenty-one (21) but not more than thirty (30) years old: Provided, further, That those commissioned under Presidential Decree No. 1908, namely, the original appointment in the Judge Advocate General's Service, Medical Corps, and the Chaplain Service, and those appointed in the Corps of Professors shall be not less than twenty-five (25) but not more than forty (40) years old at the time of appointment and shall be in the grade of Captain (O-3).
In accordance with this Act and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations, noncommissioned officers of the Regular Force of the AFP, who have shown outstanding ability and have rendered exceptional service may be appointed in the grade of Second Lieutenant (O-1) in the Regular Force by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of National Defense.
Age Requirement for Enlistment.
SEC. 14. Age Requirement for Enlistment. - Enlisted personnel shall not be less than eighteen (18) nor more than twenty-six (26) years old at the time of enlistment: Provided, That the AFP may offer special enlistment to an individual whose technical or skills qualifications, including excellence in athletics, are highly desirable to the organization and who at the time of enlistment is not less than eighteen (18) nor more than thirty-five (35) years old.
Officer Grade Distribution.
SEC. 15. Officer Grade Distribution. - The Secretary of National Defense shall prescribe the authorized number of officers in the active force in each grade and in each major, technical or administrative service and shall implement the gradual decrease in the number of officers in each officer ranks as part of, and in line with, the Modernization Program of the AFP: Provided, That one (1) year after the approval of this Act, such number shall not exceed the number in each grade authorized in the Table of Organization of units of the active force distributed as follows:
(1) One percent (1%) in the General/Flag Officer grade based on the total officer strength authorized for the AFP or zero point one per centum (0.1%) of the total troop strength authorized for the AFP, whichever is lower;
(2) Six percent (6%) in the grade of Colonel/Captain (PN) based on the total officer strength authorized for the AFP;
(3) Twelve percent (12%) in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel/Commander (PN) based on the total officer strength authorized for the AFP;
(4) Eighteen percent (18%) in the grade of Major/Lieutenant Commander (PN) based on the total officer strength authorized for the AFP;
(5) Twenty percent (20%) in the grade of Captain/Lieutenant (PN) based on the total officer strength authorized for the AFP; and
(6) Forty-three percent (43%) in the grades of First Lieutenant/Lieutenant Junior Grade (PN) and Second Lieutenant/Ensign (PN) based on the total officer strength authorized for the AFP.
Provided, further, That the Table of Organization of units of the active force shall be adjusted in accordance with their respective missions and officer requirements, and shall be gradually decreased pursuant to this section and such rules and regulations as the Secretary of National Defense shall prescribe, subject to the condition that the schedule of percentage for each grade as herein prescribed shall not be exceeded: Provided, furthermore, That in the determination of the officer to enlisted personnel ratio, the mission requirement, capabilities, scope of responsibility, technical nature of the position and task, and equipment inventory of units shall be taken into consideration: Provided, furthermore, That considering the highly technical nature of the Air Force and the Navy, they shall be allocated a higher officer to enlisted personnel ratio which shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the officer to enlisted personnel ratio allocated in the Philippine Army: Provided, furthermore, That as far as practicable, officers in the technical or administrative services such as surgeon general, chief dental service and chief nurse may be eligible for promotion to General/Flag Officer grade: Provided, furthermore, That the quota limitation provided herein shall not apply in the promotion to the rank of General/Flag Officer of reserve officers in the inactive service: Provided, finally, That if the actual number in a grade is less than the number prescribed, the difference may be applied as an increase to the number prescribed in a lower grade.
