AFP CORE VALUES

I. Introduction

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) focuses on values that are the basis of every soldier's
daily existence. It is the foundation of all his acts and deeds. These are the ties that bind. With the country
moving forward in nation building, these values have shown their enduring quality and have provided the
soldier with the time-tested tools for the future.

Terms Definition
It is the systematic and collection or digestion of all the moral ethical and
Code of Ethics legal principles and with members of an institution as a profession freely
and publicly living by themselves in order to achieve their common role,
duty or purpose to the society.
It is a quality of a person's subject or action which an individual consistently
Value considers professed in words and reflects in this lifestyle in fulfilment of
response to the inner image/dream aspiration.

The profession of arms, noble calling, demands from its members not only
AFP Core Values specialized knowledge and skill but also a distinct lifestyle governed by a
commonly held belief-system containing non-negotiable core values of
honor, loyalty, valor, duty, and solidarity.

II. AFP Core Values

1. Honor

Members of the AFP believe in honor as their crowning value as it is more precious than life itself.
It hallmarks their military conduct which implies their clear consciousness of personnel dignity and worth.
For them, honor means truthfulness, sincerity, honesty, uprightness, credibility, and avoidance of
deception so that our written word may be accepted without question. No matter the arena, honor is
respected in oneself as in the other. In outward form, honor is seen in cleanliness of the person, courtesy
in manners, decency in daily living, and prudence in the use of personal or government resources. It shows
in candor, honesty, and straight-forwardness in speech as well as in actions. When one leads an honorable
life, he is perceived of good reputation, credible, sincere, and emulated for his uprightness and
transparency in all his dealings.

Honor also means integrity. Integrity is the foundation of the character that is embedded in the
soldier's thinking, feeling, and doing. It is a requirement in both leadership and esprit-de-corps (oneness
to the organization).
2. Loyalty

The AFP believes in inflicting loyalty. Their oath of office required them to be loyal to the nation
and to obey the mandate to support and defend the constitution. They shall be obedient to the duly
constituted political order. They are bound to support the Chain of Command and obey lawful orders from
authorized persons or units. Loyalty reaps the harvest of military unity. It fosters cohesion, sincere concern
for the welfare of each member of the unit or command and those they work with and is best expressed
in each member's adherence to the military value system.

3. Valor

The AFP members believe in valor as the power of strength, courage, and ability to overcome fear
to carry-out our mission and to accomplish what is seemingly impossible. Valor goes beyond the physical
dimension of boldness and endurance to pain and hardships. It is pursuing a mission against all odds.
Courage is beyond bravery. It is calculating but not suicidal. Valor also means moral courage in continuing
the fight for a principled cause.
Indeed, it was both the physical and moral courage of the Filipino soldiers, whose fierce resistance
against subjugating powers in the past and despite the enemy's superior arms and numbers, which
defined the road map to our freedom and independence.

4. Duty

The AFP believes in duty as the value of obedience and disciplined performance despite difficulty
and danger. To its soldiers, duty is a personal act of responsibility to accomplish all assigned tasks to the
fullest one’s capabilities, meeting all their willingness to sacrifice even if it means giving up their lives in
defense of our country.
Duty is not imposed. It derives its authority from the soldier's steadfast commitment to the service
of the country. Any civilian/person intending to join the military service must understand that soldiers
always make themselves available, 24/7 when their presence is needed. Duty is a continuous process that
is cultivated by both the challenges faced on the job as well as the discipline in the service. Duty is
exercised in peace when in support of all legal initiatives of the civilian authority, more so in war that may
take the soldier's precious life.

5. Solidarity

The AFP believes in solidarity for it is consolidating and integrating values to which all its members
bind themselves with the rest, comrades-in-arms. With it, they reject divisive fraternal organizations with
the AFP.
Solidarity within the organization is the Army's benchmark for action, growth, and resilience as it
protects the country and nurtures its development. It is also a manifestation of sound leadership as it is
the expression of a soldier's solid commitment to the service.
III. Conclusion

Core values are the heart of every successful organization. An organization’s core values are those
principles or guiding lights that each member shares those commitments they consider most important
in their lives.
The AFP as one of the biggest social institutions of our society is ensuring that its core values ---
honor, loyalty, valor, duty, and solidarity are properly enhanced and cherished by every soldier and their
units in order to foster better accomplishment of its missions and visions.