Navigation:

Latest News
Publications
 
 
 

OCS Mission

        "To conduct pre-entry training of selected individuals so that each graduate shall possess the character and professional military knowledge and skills necessary for commissionship and Call to Active Duty in the Philippine Army." 

Motto

       Valor, Integrity, Duty                   

History of OCS

        The Officer Candidate School traces its humble beginnings from the School for Reserve Commission (SRC) founded in 1937 that is tasked to handle the training of Officer Candidates selected from 20 year old trainees who have completed military training instructions.  The school came into existence under the provision of Section 34 Article IV of the National Defense Act. Three Branch Schools were organized namely; Field Artillery in Camp Del Pilar; Dau Mabalacat, Pampanga; Infantry in Camp O’ Donnell Tarlac; and another Infantry in Camp Keithley, Lanao. These Schools continued operations until the outbreak of World War II in 1941.

        In 1951, the school was activated and assigned with the Philippine Army School Center, Philippine Army Training Command, Fort William McKinley, Rizal pursuant to General Order Nr 421 GHQ AFP S-54.   From April 1951 to May 1953, three (3) SRC classes were conducted and their training  was subsequently taken over by the Ground Combat School, PASC at Fort McKinley, Rizal. Six (6) SRC classes that includes the three (3) Officer Candidate courses from the Philippine Air Force  which graduated were commissioned in the AFP Reserve Force. The SRC completed the training of classes Nrs 7 to 25 from September 1954 to April 1959. Upon graduation of class Nr 25, the course was again stopped, instead training directive Nr  64 HPA dated 06 April 1959 required the SRC to conduct  Non-Commissioned Officer Course training.

        In 1975, the name of the school was changed from School for Reserve Commission to AFP Officer Candidate School (AFPOCS) but the Officer Candidates were still selected from the enlisted ranks. Its training courses resumed at Camp Tinio, Bangad,  Cabanatuan City with the completion of seven (7) OCS  classes  before it was closed in 1979. Before this, one OCS Class was conducted exclusively for the Philippine Air Force also in 1975.

        In 1987, The AFPOCS was revived and transferred to Camp Mateo Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal under the AFP Training Command. With a new horizon in training and higher standards set for admission, it operated in full swing, catering to the Officer requirements of the Army, Air Force, Navy and the Philippine Constabulary to include the Technical Service (Medical Administrative Corps). During this period, Officer Candidates of the AFPOCS came not only from enlisted ranks but from the upper bracket of professionals and baccalaureate degree holders from the different colleges and universities nationwide. Also in this period, the school accepted two foreign Officer Candidates from Brunei belonging to OCS Class (Balikatan) 12-94. The AFPOCS in Tanay, Rizal successfully graduated seventeen (17) OCS  classes  including the four (4) pioneer members  of the Woman Auxiliary Corps of OCS Class 02-89, before being  decentralized to the AFP major services, PA, PAF and PN.

        In 1998, the AFP Training Command was deactivated transfering the responsibility of the school to the Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army. Under TRADOC, it initially lost its name  and become the Candidate  Officer and Soldier School (COSS), which is tasked  to train both would be Officer and enlisted personnel. Significant during  this period  was the completion of the training of MNLF integrees (OCS Class 18 and 19) and the first Officer Preparatory Course (OPC) training  which was previously undertaken by the Officer Preparatory and Soldier School(OPSS) in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. Eventually, all succeeding OPC classes were handled by COSS,TRADOC. 

 

   

   In 2001, when the school stopped conducting training for candidate soldiers, it paved the way for the retention of its previous name, the Officer Candidate School in November 2001. On 26 May 2005, OCS was transferred from Camp Capinpin, Tanay,Rizal to its permanent home in Camp O’ Donnell, Capas, Tarlac.

    Officer Candidate School, Camp O' Donnell, Capas, Tarlac  

COURSE CURRICULUM

  1. GENERAL
   
               The Officer Candidate Course is conducted to qualified individuals as pre-entry for commissionship and Call to Active Duty  (CAD) in the Philippine Army. It is designed to provide a progressive, well-rounded, and balance training that shall equip Officer Candidates the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitude necessary for CAD as Second Lieutenants. 
  1. COURSE OBJECTIVES 

 
  1.  To instruct and train Officer Candidates the fundamental military skills; and
  2.  To develop Officer Candidates to be physically and mentally capable and ready to  perform their   respective duty assignments or missions.  
  3.   To provide the Officer Candidates a broad  military knowledge and skills necessary for them  to   assume the function, duties and responsibilities of an Infantry Platoon Leader.       
  4.   To enhance positive attitude for Officer Candidates as new member of the  Philippine Army.  
  1. CONCEPT OF TRAINING 

                The Course is divided into (5) module as follows:

           1. Orientation and Indoctrination Module.  This module is designed to orient and indoctrinate the Officer Candidates on the aspect of  life of a soldier in the Army.

                2. Basic Military Training Module.  This module is designed to teach the Officer Candidates on basic military skills essential to an individual soldier in the Army. This module is performance oriented or “hands on” training to enhance their capability to survive, move, shoot and communicate. A military stake (OCC challenge) is conducted at the end of the training module in order to test and evaluate the performance of the Officer Candidates.

                3. Leadership Module.  This module is designed to develop the Leadership qualities of the Officer Candidates that focuses on strengthening their values and attributes and enhancing their military skills for them to become Leader's of character and competence.

                4. Ground Warfare Module. This module is designed to teach the Officer Candidates with the broad military knowledge that wil provide them the conceptual and tactical skills to assume the duties and responsibilities of an infantry platoon leader. The emphasis is on tactical  and combat administration wherein, the Officer Candidates are tested and evaluated to plan and conduct small unit operations. A military stakes (OCC challenge) is  likewise conducted at the end of the training module in  order to test and evaluate the performance of the Officer Candidates.

               5. Professional Enhancement Module.This module is  designed to enhance the professional development of the Officer Candidates. Field Training Exercises (FTX), on-the-job training (OJT) to Infantry Battalions, and the final military stakes (OCC challenge) are incorporated in this module to determine the over-all performance of the Officer Candidates by applying the basic knowledge, skills and stamina that they have acquired and developed from the start of their training.

 

 

OCS Hymn

Hail to thy OCS
Oh! Hail to thee
With loyal hearts to homage we
Tried through the years we come today

Pray God to lead our way
Thy son in meekness vow their heads
With faces up we stand to sing
Oh! Hail to thy name OCS

Hail to thy OCS
Oh! Hail to you
Our beacon thy wisdom shall be
As light to guide us on our way

Wherever we shall be
And when the Lord of land and sea
Call us to heaven still we'll sing
Oh! Hail to thy name OCS