MILITARY COURTESY AND DISCIPLINE

Lesson Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, the student will:

a. Explain the importance of military courtesy and discipline in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
b. Define military courtesy and discipline.
c. Enumerate the factors that create a climate of discipline.
d. State when and how to salute, who are entitled to a salute, and when not to salute.
e. Identify the different ranks and insignias used in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

INTRODUCTION:
Many people think that discipline is nothing more than the enforcement of regulations and the corresponding punishment when one
violates them. Others associate discipline with the state of subservience where subordinates blindly follow the orders of their superiors out of habit
or fear. All of these are not true. As a matter of fact, discipline is that condition wherein men work and get well together for the accomplishment of
a group mission. It is that climate of orderliness where individuals execute commands and follow regulations exactly as a result of intelligent and
reasoned obedience.
Just like in the civilian world, the observance of military courtesy serves to smoothen the personal relationship and among men in the
profession of arms and strengthen the bond between them. They must be thoroughly familiar with the different forms of military courtesy and must
be able to confidently practice them.

A. Definition of Terms:

1. Military Courtesy - It is the written, officially prescribed code of deportment (behavior) for members of the military establishments. In
civilian life, courtesy is an expression of consideration for others. This implies the use of good manners and polished conduct in dealing with other
people.

2. Military Discipline - This term maybe defined as the willingness to accept with conviction and without reservation the necessity for a
common law that rules and coordinates the effort of a group. Obvious, a rather severe but basic type of discipline is suggested by this definition.

3. Morale - The term maybe defined as the mental state and spirit of an individual or unit.

B. Necessity for Discipline:

Military discipline is necessary to ensure orderly and effective group action, commonly known as teamwork. Teamwork is particularly
important in military operations where its presence or lack of it may very well spell the difference between victory or defeat.

With discipline, a soldier learns a sense of obligation to himself and to his comrades; to his commander and the entire organizations.
He also realizes that he is a member of a team, organized, trained and equipped for the purpose of engaging and defeating the enemies of our
country. The ultimate objective of military discipline therefore is unit efficiency in battle – to ensure that a unit performs its role correctly; that it
reaches its objectives, accomplishes its assigned mission and helps other units to accomplish their mission.

C. Creating a Climate of Discipline:

We find ready application of discipline in all aspects of military life. We often hear of “fire discipline”, “water discipline”, and “supply
discipline”. Favorable climate of discipline may be best created in unit by a leader thru the following:

1. Training - a soldier learns to work with other soldiers; learn to unify their actions into a single effort in order to accomplish the group mission
and also develops the habit of prompt obedience to all orders.

2. Judicious Use of Punishment and Reward - the best kind of discipline is that which exacts obedience by appealing to reason and that which
makes use of the so called “positive incentives” or reward.

3. Instilling a Sense of Confidence and Responsibility - a confident and responsible soldier realizes that he has an obligation not only to himself
but to the other soldier in the organization, and that violation of the rules of discipline will not only reflect on him as an individual but will also
discredit, if not cause irreparable damage to his unit.

D. Military Courtesy in the Service:

Military Courtesy are acts of politeness, civility and respect that personnel in the military organization accord to one another. Just like in
the civilian world, military courtesy serves to smooth the personal relationship among men in the profession of arms. The following are some of the
significant forms of courtesy in the AFP:

1. Salute – is the most important and most common form of all military courtesies. Men of arms have used some form of military salute as an
exchange of greeting since the earliest times. In the Navy, saluting with the left hand is allowed when the right hand is occupied with something or
not available for the execution of the same.

1.1 Who are entitled to the Salute:

a. Commissioned Officers (both male and female) of the AFP, the National Flag and National Anthem.
b. High ranking civilian officials or foreign dignitaries during military honors rendered for them.
c. Officers of the Coast Guard and Geodetic Survey and the Public Service when they are serving with the AFP.
1.2 When to Salute:
a. Aboard ship. When boarding a navy ship where the National Flag is flying, all persons in the naval service step upon reaching the
upper platform of the accommodation ladder or shipboard end of the prow, face the national flag , and salute. After this, salute the Officer of the
Deck (OOD). When leaving the ship, salute first the OOD and then the national flag. All officers, captains of ships, and officers senior to
themselves salutes each other on every occasion of meeting, passing near, or when being addressed.
b. In Boats.
 1) Men seated in boats where there are no officer, petty officer or acting petty officer in charge, rises and salute all officers passing
near. When there is an officer, petty officer or acting petty officers in charge of the boat, he alone renders the salute.
2) Officers seated in boats rise in rendering and returning salutes when a senior enters or leaves the boat or when acknowledging a
gun salute.
3) Coxswain in charge of boats rise and salute all officers entering or leaving the boat. All members of the crew when the boat is not
underway and not carrying an officer aboard stand and salute when an officer comes alongside, leaves the side, or passes near them. If the
boat awning are spread, the men sit at attention and render the hand salute without rising.
4) When Ashore. Same general rules of saluting apply as on board navy ship. Salute the Captain and all officers senior to you on all
occasions salute other officers on first meeting during the day. The salute also rendered indoors during ceremonies honoring the flag and in
court martial.
5) In a group. If officers and enlisted men are standing together not in formation, and a senior approaches, the first to perceive him
shouts “ATTENTION” and all faces him and salute. When in formation, cautions his unit to attention before executing the appropriate salute.
6) Accompanying women. When escorting women both officers and men will render the customary salute. When seated with women,
junior officers if covered rise and salute when senior officers approach.
7) Overtaking and Accompanying a Senior
a) Overtake and pass senior officer only upon his permission. When it become necessary to walk past a senior
officer, pass his left side, salute when you are abreast and ask, “BY YOUR LEAVE SIR?” When the officer returns the salute you can continue
pass him.
b) When in company with a senior, you always walk on his left or put him on your right. This also applies aboard
any vehicle.
8) Reporting. When reporting on deck or outdoors ashore, one is covered and salute accordingly. When reporting in an officer, he
uncovers upon approaching the senior, salute and states his business.
9) Seated. An enlisted man being seated and without particular occupation rises upon the approach of an officer, faces him and
salutes, if covered. If both remain in the same vicinity, the salute need not be repeated.
10) Seniority unknown. Officers will know the relative seniority of those with whom they are in frequent contact. The safest way and
the best rule is to salute when in doubt.
11) Sentries. Sentries at gangway salute all officers going or coming over the side and when passing or being passed by officers
close aboard in boats.

1.3 How to Salute:

a. When not walking render the salute in the position of a soldier at attention. When walking, continue and render the salute within a
recognizable distance (5 paces).
b. Hand salute is rendered smartly and done in the following manner. The forearm should be inclined 45 degrees. The tip of the fore
finger should be slightly touching above the eyebrow of the right eye, the thumb and fingers must be extended and joined. The upper arm is
parallel to the deck with elbow forward. Hand and wrist in the straight line. The palm is slightly inward.
c. The salute is made whether headgear is worn or not.
d. Rifle salutes are used in place of the hand salute when carrying a rifle. They are used when executing present arms, when you give
rifle salute at order arms and rifle salute at shoulder arms.

1.4 When NOT to Salute

a. When troops are at work.
b. Indoors, except when reporting to an officer
c. When carrying articles with both hands, or being so occupied as to make saluting impracticable
d. When serving as a military prisoner
C. Identification of ranks, Insignias in the AFP

All officers in the AFP are commissioned into the service and are given ranks by the President of the Republic of the Philippines. They
hold such rank for a certain time in grade until they are promoted to the next higher grade.

AFP Officers Ranks and Insignia

Enlisted personnel (EP) are likewise given ranks by their respective services as well as rates and ratings depending on the level of their
occupational field on a certain job classification. For the PN, an EP is given a promotional examination (PROMEX) before he/she can be promoted
to the next higher grade.
PN Rank Classification
 
The ranks, rates and ratings of officers and enlisted personnel in the Philippine Navy differ in name from that of the other branches of
service of the AFP including the Philippine Marines. They are almost a universal tradition for all navies of the world and the difference lies only on
the various uniform insignias, badges, markings and devices.
 Rating - is the term used in the Navy to identify an occupational specialty that is based on the aptitude, training, experience, knowledge
and skills of an individual. Examples of ratings are: Quartermaster (QM), Boatswainmate (BM), Electronic Technician (ET), Engineman (EN),
Damage Controlman (DC), etc.
 
Rate - is the term used to identify the level of achievement and expertise within the individual's rating. Rate may also be called paygrade
within a rating. a level of aptitude, training, experience, knowledge, skill and responsibility within the rating of occupation.
Rank - is the combined rate and rating of the individual. Examples of enlisted ranks are: Radioman, Third Class (RM3), Electrician's
Mate, First Class (EM1), Seaman First, Hospital Corpsman (S1HM), Gunner's Mate Chief (GMC), etc.

Unrated or non-rated/ unclassified - a term used to identify an individual who has not yet been classified for a particular rating. His rank
would carry an initial (UN). Examples are: ASN(UN), SN1(UN), PO3(UN), etc.
Striker - a term that applies to an individual in the pay grade E-1 to E-3. 
Petty Officer - a term that applies to an individual in the paygrade E-4 to E-7.
 
Naval Enlisted Job Classification (NEJC) -a system of classifying jobs of enlisted personnel that identifies and describes their special and technical
knowledge and skills including the duties and responsibilities to be undertaken by each within the various ratings.
It determines where an individual will work and what an individual will do.
  Officers are graded according to rank, Enlisted Personnel according to pay grades, and are also spoken as having rates.

Rating - a rating pertains to occupation in the navy which requires basically related aptitudes, training, experienced, knowledge and
skills. Each rating has its own special symbol worn by all men properly qualified.