Vision of the Philippine Marine CorpsModernization

ur long time-honored tradition of excellence will be our guidingpath as we aggressively cross the threshold of modernization. TheCorps' metamorphosis shall be evident on our troops in theoperational area, as the pillars of our modernization shall all

congregate to shape the totality of their proficiency and relevance.Our concept of "combined arms" shall be fortified that will furtherfirm up our stern thrust of reinforcing our current status of combatreadiness and sole provider of an all-arms response team for thenational leadership.

Force Restructuring and Organizational Development

Long before Republic Act 7898 was enacted into a law, the PhilippineMarine Corps has envisioned its major role as a potent amphibious forcebased from the trends of both internal and external security landscape.The Corps strictly follow the time proven concept of "Combined Arms" asits units are tailored fit to respond to a wide spectrum of tacticaloperations. The present organizational structure of the Marine Corpshas been designed to absorb the changes brought about by the phase-out/phase-in of assets. A major restucturing of its units is theinclusion special operations capability within the Battalion LandingTeams implemented in 2001. Other units for enhancement/activation isthe Inshore Boat Company and Air Defence Company. Organizationaldevelopment has been achieved that awaits the implementation of assetacquisitions under the Capability, Materiel, and Technology Developmentof PN Modernization as well as the changes brought about by thedevelopment of Marine Base Ternate and Marine Station Sanga-Sanga. Onthe other hand, the Marine Corps will experience changes in its currentstrength to be attuned with Republic Act 7898 that mandates the AFP tobe compact, efficient, responsive and modern force with the capabilityto engage in conventional and/or unconventional warfare, disasterrelief and rescue operations, and contribute to economic developmentand other nontraditional military roles. Below is the projectedstrength of the Philippine Marine Corps with an Officer to EP Ratio of1:18.5.

DISTRIBUTION OF PMC PERSONNEL BY RANK

Officer Enlisted Personnel

GRADE STRENGTH GRADE STRENGTHO-10

O-9 E-9 7O-8 1 E-8 26

O-7 2 E-7 488

O-6 25 E-6 932O-5 53 E-5 1219

O-4 79 E-4 1761

O-3 78 E-3 1465O-2 98 E-2 1182

O-1 104 E-1 620

Sub Total 440 7700Aggregate Total 8140

Civilian 61

Human Resource Development

The Philippine Marine Corps envisions having highly disciplined,professional, focused, skilled, and well-motivated Marines who arepatriotic, service and people-oriented, environment advocates, and,capable of accomplishing its mission. The Marine Corps shall exhaustresources with in its reach to address related issues namely:Procurement, Training, Career Management, Retirement, Promotion,Remuneration, Personnel, Cultural Values, Reservist, and, Environment.In accordance with HPN guidance, tabulated below are the measures andcorresponding policies that the Marine Corps will undertake for theoptimal realization of its human resource development.

HRREQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITIES POLICIES

1. Procurement Widen recruitment base Treat personnel procurement as amajor investment

2. Training Strengthen trainingdevelopment and capabilities

Pursue specialization ofofficers.

Conduct periodic upgrading ofskills.

Establish performancevalidation system.

Cut short the learning curvebrought by technology

Sourcing and Pooling ofqualified instructors

Rationalize the selection of candidatesfor schooling

Emphasize unit/team training

3. CareerManagement

Create Personnel Data Base

Train Personnel Officers

Review/validate Fields ofSpecialization (FOS)

Management of careers must becomprehensive

Implement rotation policy for field andgarrison duty

Pre-qualify personnel for assignment

4. Retirement Strengthen performance-evaluation system

Create Personnel Data Base

Provide early retirementpackage

Implement selective enlistment/re-enlistment

Design livelihood programs

Timely release of retirement benefits

5. Promotion Establish Testing Centers·

Enhance library capabilities

Promote qualified personnel

and provide review materials

6. Remuneration Strengthen discipline, law andorder procedures

Provide appropriate incentivesand rewards

Adopt quality management andinnovation

7. Personnel Develop and implementphysical fitness/mental healthprograms

Observe Annual PhysicalExamination/Physical Test requirements

8. Cultural Values Integrate desiredculture/values in trainingprograms

Institutionalize and internalize PNculture/values

9. Reservist Conduct mobilization

Test operability

Operate, train, equip, and maintainreservist for peace time, wartime, crisisand emergency roles

10. Environment Active participation inenvironment related activities

Provide knowledge and skills regardingprotection of environment

Capability, Materiel, and Technology Development

The development of a naval defense capability is one of the setobjectives of Republic Act No. 7898 that involves the development ofamphibious warfare capabilities for the Philippine Marine Corps. Thearchipelagic nature of the Philippines is a fertile ground for thedevelopment of a potent amphibious force that can respond to any crisisat short notice. Due to a sudden security turmoil brought about byeconomic, political, and social disturbances that plagued not only thePhilippines but also the entire region, the implementation of the longsought AFP Modernization Program (AFPMP) was delayed. The delay of theAFPMP gave birth to a renewed focus from external defense to internaldefense manifested by the Republic Act No. 8551 reverting back InternalSecurity Operations (ISO) to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Afterfour years of marching in place, the AFPMP finally made its firststride of implementation with the release of the P5.484 B thatrepresents the share of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from thesale of military camps. Associated with the P5.484B is the Re-prioritized List (RPL) for the AFPMP with front-loaded ISO items thatcan be procured off-the-shelf and do not require multi-year contracts.The Philippine Navy was allocated a total amount of P1.576B of whichthe amount of P110.5M was allocated to the Philippine Marine Corps.With this allocation, the following items representing the mobility,firepower, and communication (move-shoot-communicate) requirements ofthe Marine Corps under its capability development:

ASSETS PROJECTS

MOBILITY Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB)

FIREPOWER 81 mm Mortar

Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)

Grenade Launcher (GL)

COMMUNICATION HF SSB 20W

VHF 5W (MP)

VHF 2W (HH)

Night Vision Goggles

The RPL is only a glimpse of the entire capability development of thePMC Modernization. Should the AFPMP takes full speed ahead, the MarineCorps is scheduled for armor assets upgrades and acquisition that willall be realized with in a time frame of ten (10) years. Shown below arethe normal schedules of PMC capability development:

PROJECT 1-5YEARS

6-10YEARS

TOTAL

V-150/V-300 Upgrade in mobility, firepower, C2 &survivability

5 14 19

Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Acquisition 6 4 10

Doctrines Development

Doctrines development under the AFP Modernization Program (AFPMP)made its headway from the pronouncement of its Commander In Chiefduring on the occasion of the 104th AFP Day. Doctrines are principlesand concepts that are accepted as valid, and are taught andinstitutionalized, regarding the organization and employment of forcesfor general as well as specific purpose. The numerous achievements ofthe Marine Corps in its more than five decades of providing adependable force for the national government can be attributed to thekind of training that every individual Marines acquires in boot camp.However, the training essentials were never institutionalized. Hence,the Marine Corps deem vital the development of sound doctrines. Toeffectively address doctrines development, the Marine Corps hasestablished a system with the publication a primer - the PhilippineMarine Corps Modernization for Doctrines Development Revised Series,published 06 August 2001, the contents of which are generally inconsonance with higher headquarters' intents and purposes. PMCDoctrines development projects are classified into two categoriesnamely: Revision of doctrines affected by new capability; and,Formulation of new doctrines based new and future threats. Shown beloware the PMC doctrines development projects under the AFPMP:

PROJECT CLASSIFICATION PROJECT TITLE PROPONENT

Marine Special Operations PMCREVISION

Riverine and Inshore Operations PHLFLT and PMC

Maneuver Warfare Doctrine NETC, PHLFLT, PMCFORMULATION

Joint Fleet-Marine Operations PHLFLT and PMC

The Marine Corps went beyond the set limits of the doctrinesdevelopment under the AFPMP with its firm resolve of institutionalizingits long cherished tradition of excellence. The Marine Corps pooled thetime-tested concepts and lessons learned from previous campaigns tocome up with doctrines that shall guide commanders on the ground. Amajor doctrine formulation effort of the Corps is based on thearchipelagic setting of the Philippines that dictates a Fleet-Marinedoctrine which will serve as the overall concept for the country'smaritime external/internal defence needs and further emphasizing theManines unique "amphibious skills" and the "manuever from the sea" ofthe Fleet.

DOCTRINE TITLE STATUS

Ready Force Operations For Test and Evaluation

Personnel Support On-going Development

Marine Intelligence Operations On-going Development

Combat Support Operations On-going Development

Logistics On-going Development

Marine Light Armor Operations For Test and Evaluation

Marine Field Artillery Operations For Test and Evaluation

Scout Sniper Operations For Test and Evaluation

Marine Tri-Media Affairs On-going Development

Education and Training On-going Development

Capability Development For Test and Evaluation

Doctrine Development For Test and Evaluation

Human Resource Development On-going Development

Bases Development On-going Development

Other doctrines projected for development can be found in the Primer for the PhilippineMarine Corps Modernization for Doctrines Development Revised Series dated 06August 2001.

Bases and Support Systems Development

Republic Act No. 7898 paved the way for the Philippine Marine Corpsto develop a permanent base that the Corps can truly claim as its own.

PROJECT LOCATION TIMELINE

Marine Base Ternate Cavite 2000-2012

Marine Station Sanga-Sanga Tawi-Tawi 2010-2015

Marine Base Ternate that used to be the Calumpang Point NavalReservation was originally declared as a U.S. Military Reservation on17 April 1902 under U.S. War Department General Order No. 56. It wasturned over by the U.S. Government to the Philippines and proclaimed asa Military Reservation on 20 November 1967 under PresidentialProclamation No. 307 with an area of 2,897.3112 Hectares. On 06September 1976, Presidential Proclamation No. 1582-A amended PP No. 307reducing the area to 808.999 Hectares. The natural landscape of MarineBase Ternate offers an excellent breeding ground as it duplicates thetraditional operating environment of the Marine Corps. On the otherhand, Marine Station Sanga-Sanga is a 10-hectares estate located in thein the Province of Tawi-Tawi that was donated to the Marine Corps.

These bases will serve as launching areas for the conduct of navaland joint operations. Fundamental concerns that will be addressed bythe development of these bases are the logistics, training,communications, medical and other support systems associated withMarine Operations. Facilities that will further develop the physical,mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of every individual Marineshall stand as landmarks of these bases. Ecology will not be altered,as development shall be made following the existing terrain.