Philippines seeks coders, hackers for military – will it be ‘a career killer’?

The Philippines is targeting to recruit more coders, engineers and cybersecurity specialists into the military, as Manila confronts a battlefield increasingly shaped by software, networks and artificial intelligence.Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr on Saturday ordered the Philippines" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="19015" data-entity-type="organization">Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to expand a programme that allows civilian professionals with specialised skills, such as scientists, engineers, doctors and lawyers, to join the military as commissioned officers without going through the traditional officer training route.The plan reflects Manila’s growing recognition that cyber, AI and engineering capabilities are integral parts of modern warfare, as the country invests in more advanced weapon systems and seeks to defend its territory and maritime claims, according to analysts.