Creation of AFP 1st Chief Master Sergeant Rank

Section 2 creates the grade of First Chief Master Sergeant/First Master Chief Petty Officer (E-10).
The E-10 grade is part of the noncommissioned grades of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The E-10 grade is held by the AFP Sergeant Major.

Section 3 provides that the AFP Sergeant Major shall be selected from among the Chief Master Sergeants/Master Chief Petty Officers.
Selection must follow rules and regulations prescribed by the Chief of Staff, AFP.
Unless sooner terminated for cause by the Chief of Staff, AFP, the AFP Sergeant Major may serve for a maximum term of three years.
Section 3 prohibits appointment as AFP Sergeant Major if the appointee has less than one year in the active service prior to reaching the compulsory retirement age.

Section 4 requires that the First Chief Master Sergeant/First Master Chief Petty Officer receive a monthly base pay equivalent to the monthly base pay given to Salary Grade 19.

Section 5 directs that enlisted personnel who attain the rank of First Chief Master Sergeant/First Master Chief Petty Officer shall be retired with the rank of Second Lieutenant/Ensign.
Section 5 provides that those personnel receive retirement pay and benefits of a First Lieutenant/Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2).

Section 6 charges the amount necessary for initial implementation against the available appropriations of the AFP under the current General Appropriations Act.
Section 6 requires that thereafter, necessary sums for continued implementation be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 7 mandates that the Secretary of National Defense promulgate the necessary rules and regulations.
The promulgation must occur within ninety (90) days after December 21, 2006 (approval).
The rules and regulations must be for the effective implementation of the Act.

Section 8 repeals or modifies accordingly all laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and memoranda that are inconsistent with the Act.

Section 9 provides that the Act takes effect fifteen (15) days upon approval.
The Act was approved on December 21, 2006.

Republic Act No. 9365 is entitled “An Act Creating the Rank of AFP First Chief Master Sergeant/First Master Chief Petty Officer in the Enlisted Ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Appropriating Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes.”
The Act was approved on December 21, 2006.
The Act was finally passed by the Senate on October 9, 2006 and by the House of Representatives on October 11, 2006.
The Act states it is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1286 and House Bill 224.