Armed Forces of the Philippines

Scholarships Open for Military Dependents

Published on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 12:58

Written by PAO, AFP

CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has announced that the AFP Educational Benefit System Office (EBSO) is now accepting new applicants for 1st Semester, School Year 2012-2013 in college level under the Department of National Defense – Commission on Higher Education – Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges scholarship program.

In a letter directive from the AFP Chief of Staff, LtGen Jessie D. Dellosa, there are still 151 vacant scholarship slots available in state universities nationwide. The program covers courses in Engineering, Agriculture, Fisheries, Teacher Education and Social Science which excludes Bachelor of Laws, Physical Science, Dentistry and Medicine.

Dellosa encourages all Major Services (Army, Air Force and Navy) Commanders, AFP Wide Support Service Units (AFPWSSUs) Chiefs, Joint, Personal and Special Staff to further promote and advertise the scholarship program to help more AFP personnel dependents in their college education.

AFPEBSO offers educational benefits to legitimate and qualified applicants such as full scholarship; which includes free tuition from state colleges and universities, free miscellaneous fees and stipend. An electronic copy of the application form is available for download at the AFPEBSO website (www.afpebso.org.ph). In order to qualify, military dependents who applied for the scholarship programs must pass the organization’s requirements; military status of their parents are also vitally considered.

The AFPEBSO is one of the morale and welfare outfits of the AFP which grants educational benefits both to the military personnel and their dependents with the aim of assisting them to finish their education. The organization is currently serving a total of 4,535 grantees of educational benefit and scholarship with the help from different educational benefit programs from government agencies, foundations, a private individual, non-government institutions and partner schools in all regions.

Recognizing the soldiers' heroism, especially of those who lay down their lives in protecting peace, AFPEBSO gives priority to the orphans of Filipino soldiers who were killed in action. In fact, two of the dependents of the 19 soldiers slain in last year’s Al-Barka clash are currently obtaining their educational benefits from AFPEBSO.

Since 2006 up to 2011, AFPEBSO was able to help 1,723 students finish their education in college with 42 graduated as Cum Laude and 7 as Magna Cum Laude.

“This implicates our strong commitment and concern for the future of our youth as the AFP’s duties go beyond its mandate of protecting the people and the state. We value our soldiers’ morale and welfare which is why we are very active in offering services and benefits for them and their dependents to make sure their wellbeing as military personnel is well-sufficed,” Dellosa said.