Department of National Defense Proposes Raising Reservist Enlistment Age to 35

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has proposed increasing the enlistment commissioning age for military reservists from 26 to 35 years old.

The plan was disclosed during the House budget briefing on the Department of National Defense’s (DND) proposed ₱295.18 billion budget for 2025. Teodoro explained that the initiative forms part of the agency’s push to reorganize the AFP Reserve Command to make it more effective in addressing modern security challenges.

He noted that the current age cap at 26 limits the pool of qualified applicants, excluding many professionals with specialized skills that the Armed Forces could benefit from.

Citing cybersecurity as an example, Teodoro said that numerous experts in the field fall outside the current age limit but could significantly contribute to national defense. “Instead of allowing their knowledge to be used for harmful purposes, it is better that they serve the Armed Forces,” he stressed.

The proposed measure aims to open opportunities for more young professionals to join the reserve force and use their expertise in areas such as technology, engineering, and other specialized disciplines in service of the country.

Source | Radyo Pilipinas

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