AFP open to lowering recruitment age from 18 to 17

The Armed Forces is studying the proposal of the Department of National Defense to lower the military’s recruitment age from 18 to 17 to solve the problem of fast-aging regular troops.

AFP chief, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., said to address the problem of the military’s aging combatants, the ceiling age for new recruits will be 23.

The proposed National Defense Act (NDA) that was already submitted to Congress by Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. seeks to lower the military recruitment age to 17.

Speaking before the Manila Overseas Press Club (MPOC) forum chaired by STAR publisher Max Soliven at Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City last Monday, Esperon disclosed that at present the average age of the AFP’s infantrymen is between 35 and 39 years old.

"On the matter of lowering the recruitment age, this is meant to bring down the average age in the battalions today," Esperon said.

He said a lower recruitment age of 17 and the age limit of 23 years old for applicants will address the aging problem in the Armed Forces.

When told that the proposed defense bill is just courting criticism from the international community which is against child soldiers, Esperon said 17-year-old recruits will be made to sign a waiver.

"We will ask for a waiver if they (recruits) want to enter at 17. There should be a waiver,"

Esperon said the AFP can always go for the 18-year-old recruits and age limit of 23 years old.

"We could go for 18 but the maximum is 22. If we start at 18 and end at 22 to 23 its still fine," he said.

At present only 18 years old up to 29 years old are qualified to apply for military service.

Soldiers in the frontlines are often confused when they have to fight much younger enemies either belonging to the Abu Sayyaf or the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Both classified as terrorist groups by the government, the Abu Sayyaf and the NPA are allegedly recruiting minors to fight government troops.

While the decision to lower the recruitment age is not aimed at matching the NPA or the Abu Sayyaf, one Camp Aguinaldo source said that the move would infuse new blood in the battlefront.

"Our troops at present are well-rounded men in terms of combat but when they retire, we need their replacement to be young but equally capable in fighting the enemies," he said.