Preparing to Serve, Learning to Build Peace

For 766 Probationary Officers at the Officer Candidate School (OCS), Education and Training Command, Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, peace goes beyond military training—it also involves understanding how government institutions work together and engage with communities.

This was highlighted during the Peace 2026 Symposium on September 23, held as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Peace Consciousness Month activities.

Spearheaded by the Peace and Development Office (PDO), AFP, the symposium featured discussions on the government’s peace processes and the NTF-ELCAC’s whole-of-nation approach.

Mr. Arnulfo Ferdinand G. Bajarin, Head of Directorate for Operations, NTF-ELCAC, discussed the Task Force’s mandate and structure, as well as the AFP’s roles in the various NTF-ELCAC clusters.

The discussion highlighted the responsibilities the graduating officers may undertake once deployed to their respective units and areas of assignment.

During the open forum, the Officer Candidates raised questions on recruitment prevention, community engagement, human rights, verification of organizations, and government support for community initiatives.

Mr. Bajarin emphasized inter-agency convergence, information dissemination, and community-level coordination in addressing these concerns and supporting peaceful and resilient communities.

More than a discussion on peace processes, the symposium gave future AFP officers practical insights into the whole-of-nation approach and community-oriented leadership they may carry into their future assignments.

For these future officers, understanding peace means being prepared not only to serve, but also to work with the institutions and communities that help sustain it.