7th Regional Community Defense Group

To develop, organize train, equip and administer a highly competent mobilizeable reserve force as an integral component of the total army and in the defense of the region and to participate in socio-economic development effort.[2]

A capable and responsible mobilizeable Citizen Armed Force as a component of the total army in pursuit of its constitutionally mandated expanded mission.[2]

Training is the major task handled by 7RCDG, ARESCOM. 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);[3] and the territorial unit-administered Basic Citizen's Military Training (BCMT).

Basic ROTC and BCMT graduates are enlisted as Privates in the Reserve Force, while advanced ROTC graduates are enlisted as Sergeants. 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.[3]

Other than time-in-grade and merit promotions, rank adjustments are authorized depending on civilian qualifications, as well as their reciprocity to the operating environment.[4]

There are currently two types of reservists in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force:[5]

• Ready Reservists: physically-fit and tactically-current reservist personnel that are always on constant alert and training; ready to mobilise once a mobilisation order has been given.
• Standby Reservists: reservist personnel who do not maintain currency in specialization qualifications but the base for expansion, support and augmentation to the Ready Reserve Force as needed.

The 7RCDG has several line units under its command, making the administration and training of reservists more compartmentalized and territorial based.

Citations

Bibliography

• Philippine Army Reserve Command