Cadet rank in the Philippines

In the Philippines, Cadet is a rank held by candidate officer during the training to become commissioned officers in their preferred branch of military service.

Abbreviation

 * OCS – Officer Candidate School
 * AFPOCS – Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Candidate School
 * PAOCS – Philippine Army Officer Candidate School
 * PNOCS – Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School
 * PAFOCS – Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate School
 * PMCOCS – Philippine Marine Corps Officer Candidate School
 * PCGOBETC – Philippine Coast Guard Officers Basic Education and Training Center
 * RESCOM – Reserve Command, Philippine Army
 * NRC – Naval Reserve Command
 * AIR RESCOM – Air Force Reserve Command
 * PMA – Philippine Military Academy
 * PMMA – Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
 * PNPA – Philippine National Police Academy
 * MAAP – Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific
 * ACP – Aerospace Cadets of the Philippines
 * PAOCC/OCC – Philippine Army Officer Candidate Course
 * NOCC – Naval Officer Candidate Course
 * PAFOCC – Philippine Air Force Officer Candidate Course
 * NOCC (M) – Philippine Marine Corps Naval Officer Candidate Course
 * CGOC – Coast Guard Officers; Course
 * PAOPC/OPC – Philippine Army Officer Preparatory Course
 * POTC – Probationary Officer Training Course
 * PAFCAT – Philippine Air Force Citizenship Advancement Training
 * ROTC – Reserve Officers; Training Corps
 * P2LT – Probationary 2nd Lieutenant
 * PENS – Probationary Ensign
 * CDT 1CL – Cadet 1st Class
 * CDT 2CL – Cadet 2nd Class
 * CDT 3CL – Cadet 3rd Class
 * CDT 4CL – Cadet 4th Class

Cadet vs. Officer Candidate
The words cadet and officer candidate are synonymous in referring the rank below second lieutenant. In the Philippines, officer candidates are referred to RESCOM, AFPOCS and PCGOBETC students who had baccalaureate degree, foreign service academies and reserve officer pools undergoing 4 months to 1 year of rigorous military training. On the other hand, cadets are referred to students of military schools undergoing 4 years of military training while completing their college degree.