MMS BADGE SYSTEM

CONCEPT

The concept of the MMS ranking system is not just to rank the membership in terms of status but it is more of acknowledging the skills of the members. It should be clear to all the members that the rank will and should never be used to discriminate members in any form more particularly in terms of the inherent rights our constitution provides for the members.

Organization’s benefit from the ranking system:

a. This information can be collected into a database of experts that will be very useful for the organization in terms of manpower resource management.

b. Participation and volunteerism to various MMS activities will be encouraged since it gives the members the opportunity to earn badges necessary for their advancement.

c. MMS can clearly plan and develop trainings in support of the necessary skill requirements for members to progress.

d. Documentations will be encouraged since records should be kept to make the system reliable.

Member’s benefit from the ranking system :

a. The ranking system will give him a clear map on how to progress in his so-called “mountaineering career.” The ranking system will help the person pursue further skills development. It will give him a growth opportunity contrary to a traditional set-up wherein there is little growth after the Basic Mountaineering Course.

b. All efforts he gives to the organization will be acknowledged.

c. Members will have more opportunity for training and development.

Most sport has its own ranking system. Mountaineering on the other hand is so loose and disorganized. This is the first attempt to make it more professional and at par with other sports. The ranking system being proposed is not that stringent since it is designed to cater to a wide spectrum of mountaineers with the aim of development rather than competition. It is very much similar to diving proficiency levels.

The ranking system was adapted from the widely used Boy Scout Badge System wherein badges are given per skills and a collection of these badges makes up a level.

LEVEL SYSTEM

There are 5 levels in this system. To achieve a particular level, you have to complete all the prerequisites of that level. Most prerequisite are what we call Skill Badges. Skill badges can be taken in any order and is not sequential meaning you can have a badge from Level 2 and another badge from Level 5 but it has no relation to your level standing. The level on the other hand is sequential. You have to get level 1 to go to 2; 1 and 2 to go to 3 and 1,2 and 3 to go to 4; except Level 5 as explained later on.

The support trainings mentioned are recommended trainings only. They are not required except for the first Level 1 BMC training, which is a prerequisite to become an MMS member.

SKILL BADGES

There are two types of skill badges :

a. Major badges – badges that are defined as a necessary requirement for a particular level.

b. Optional or Minor Badges - badges other than those specified as a requirement for a specific level.

THE LEVEL 5 MOUNTAINEER

Due to the immense requirement, wherein you need to have a very big achievement to go to Level 5, this is the only level wherein you can go directly without passing to levels 2,3 and 4 except level 1, which as mentioned, is a prerequisite to become a member in the organization.

THE SYSTEM

LEVEL 1 : GREEN LEVEL
JUNIOR MOUNTAINEER

Prerequisite :
1. Undergone and passed a BMC Training
2. Has been inducted as a mountaineer

MMS Training available to help achieve this level :
1. Basic Mountaineering Course

LEVEL 2 : RED LEVEL
SENIOR MOUNTAINEER

Prerequisite :
1.       First Aid Badge
2.       Ropemanship Badge
3.       20 Peaks Badge
4.       Search and Rescue Badge
5.       Land Navigation Badge
6.       Swimming Badge
7.       JR Leader Badge

MMS Training available to help achieve this level :
1.       First Aid Training
2.       Advance Mountaineering Course
3.       Search and Rescue Course
4.       Swimming Course
5.       Leadership Training Course

LEVEL 3 : BLUE LEVEL
SKILLED MOUNTAINEER

Prerequisite
1.       50 Peaks Badge
2.       Conservation Badge
3.       Survival Badge
4.       SR Leader Badge
5.       5 Optional Badges

MMS Training available to help achieve this level :
1. Conservation Seminars
2. Advance Mountaineering Course

LEVEL 4 : YELLOW LEVEL
EXPERT MOUNTAINEER

Prerequisite
1.       100 Peaks Badge or 1 - 8,000 Level Mountain Badge
2.       Rock Climbing Badge
3.       Caving Badge
4.       5 Optional Badges

MMS Training available to help achieve this level :
1. Rock Climbing Training
2. Caving Training

LEVEL 4 :BLACK LEVEL
ACHIEVER MOUNTAINEER

Prerequisite (Any 1 of the Following)
1.       Lifetime Achievement Badge
2.       Heroic Badge
3.       7 Summits Badge
4.       14- 8,000 Level Badge

BADGES

MAJOR BADGES

BADGE NAME

PREREQUISITE

BADGE

1. First Aid Badge

a. Undergone Intensive First Aid Training in either MMS or PNRC.

b. Passed the First Aid Proficiency Exam

(Medical Practitioners are automatically qualified to get this badge)

2. Ropemanship Badge

a. Passed the Ropemanship Test

b. Passed the Anchoring and Rigging Exam.

3. 20 Peaks Badge

a. Has already climbed 20 peaks with height of greater than 1,000 meters.

4. Search and Rescue Badge

a. Has undergone a Search and Rescue training from either PAF, PNP, PA, PNRC, MMS or any other recognized SAR training institution

(Those who are directly involved in SAR either through their job or voluntary works automatically get this badge)

5. Conservation Badge

a. Has attended any Conservation related seminar, training and/or symposiums.

b. Has handled any Conservation efforts or projects

(Those who’s job involves conservation or those involved in large scale conservation project automatically get this)

6. Survival Badge

a. Has to pass a written exam on Survival.

b. Has to pass an actual exam on Survival.

7. Land Navigation Badge

a. Has to pass a written exam on land navigation.

b. Has to pass an actual exam on land navigation.

(Land Navigation should include improvised techniques, traditional compass and GPS system)

8. Swimming Badge

a. Has to demonstrate 4 types of strokes properly.

b. Has to thread the water for 1 hour.

c. Knows the basic of life saving techniques.

9. JR Leader Badge

a. Has undergone any accepted Leadership Training Course

b. Has been a successful Team Leader for at least 10 times.

10. 50 Peaks Badge

a. Has already climbed 50 peaks of greater than 1,000 meters in height.

11. Rock Climbing Badge

a. Has undergone any basic rock climbing training.

b. Pass a written examination.

c. Can climb an indoor wall.

d. Can lead and complete an actual outdoor wall.

12. Speleo or Caving Badge

a. Has undergone any basic caving training.

b. Pass a written examination.

c. Can lead and complete an actual spelunking expedition.

13. SR Leader Badge

a. Has been elected to any elected Executive* position in MMS .

(* - President, Vice President, Secretary, Tresurer and PRO. Appointees do not get this badge)

14. 100 Peaks Badge

a. Has already climbed 100 peaks with height of greater than 1,000 meters.

15. 8,000 Level Mountain Badge

a. Has already climbed an 8,000-meter high mountain.

16. Lifetime Achievement Badge

a. Awarded by the Executive Committee for an outstanding achievement of a member in developing and promoting mountaineering as well as MMS.

17. Heroic Badge

a. Awarded by the Executive Committee for a heroic action of a member.

18. 7 Summits Badge

a. Awarded to mountaineers who will be able to complete the 7 highest summits of the seven continents.

19. 14- 8,000 Level Badge

a. Awarded to mountaineers who will be able to climb the 14 mountains over 8,000 meters in height.

MINOR OR OPTIONAL BADGES

BADGE NAME	PREREQUISITE	BADGE
1. Cooking Badge	a. Can cook perfect rice b. Can cook 10 dishes. c. Pass a cooking test.
2. Social Master Badge	a. Has been a successful Social Master for at least 10 times.
3. Adventure Racing Badge	a. Has participated in an Adventure Race and was able to finish or complete the course.
4. Trail Building and Maintenance Badge	a. Has studied trail building and maintenance. b. Has passed the trail building and maintenance exam. c. Has maintained at least a kilometer of mountain trail.
5. Explorer Badge	a. Has explored and created an IT of a new mountaineering destination for MMS.
6. Outdoor Writer Badge	a. Has significantly contributed to MMS explorer for at least a year and/or. b. Has published a written article, journal or book about MMS and/or mountaineering in a widely read publication and/or c. Editor of MMS Explorer for 1 year.
7. Craftmanship Badge	a. Attended a craftmanship seminar. b. Was able to pass a craftsmanship test.
8. Outdoor Technical Equipment Proficiency Badge	a. Pass a technical equipment proficiency exam and /or b. Developed an outdoor product that has been widely accepted/used in the mountaineering community.
9. Forestry badge	a. Attended any lecture or seminar on forestry. b. Pass a forestry exam.
10. Outdoor Educator Badge	a. Has been a lecturer to any MMS sponsored lecture, training or related activity.
11. Business/ Finance/ Economics Badge	a. Has been an officer of the MMS Coop and/or b. Has been elected to the treasurer position of MMS and/or c. Has been involved in a large successful fund raising activity of MMS.
12. President’s Badge	a. Has been a past President of MMS. (Only given after the elected president finishes his term successfully. The year of his presidency is indicated in the badge)
13. Friendship Badge	a. Awarded by the Executive Committee to members who have made significant efforts to promote ties with external organizations or groups.
14. Service Badge	a. Awarded by the Executive Committee to members who have made significant contributions to MMS service oriented projects.
15. Athlete Badge	a. Awarded by the Executive Committee to members who have made significant achievements and/or has been recognized externally in the field of sports other than mountaineering.
16. Radio -Communications	a. Has passed the NTC radio communications license (amateur/ professional) and/or b. An expert in other forms of outdoor communications like semaphore, Morse code etc.
17. Photography	a. Has made significant contributions in terms of outdoor photography wherein works has been published, exhibited or displayed for public viewing.
18. Government/ Law	a. Has made significant contribution in terms of policy, law or government formulation in MMS or b. Has been an elected local official of the Republic of the Philippines.
19. Environmental Science	a. Has made significant contribution in terms of environmental science.
20. Arts	a. Has made significant contribution in MMS arts wherein works has been used by MMS.
21. International Badge	a. Given to all members who had experience climbing/hiking on locations outside of the Philippines
22. Scuba Diver’s Badge	a. Given to members of MMS who are certified Divers (PADI, NAUI or other acknowledged certifying body)
23. Kayak/ Rowing/ Canoe/ Rafting	a. Given to members who are acknowledged experts in kayaks, rowing or canoeing. b. Pass a kayak exam. (Members of rowing teams automatically gets this badge)
24. Biking/Mountain Biking	a. Given to members who are acknowledged experts in Biking/ Mountain Biking. b. Pass a bike –exam. (Members of professional biking organizations automatically gets this badge)

MMS PROFICENCY COMMITTEE

This committee will be in-charge of the overall ranking system from record keeping, to examinations and awarding. It will also be in charge of disputes regarding the same matters.

APPLICATION FOR NEW BADGES

Skills currently not included in the major and optional badge list can be requested to be considered as part of the badges. The MMS Proficiency Committee is in-charge of this process.

PERSONAL RECORD SYSTEM

To help the members keep track of its proficiency record, a personal record book will be distributed to all members of the organization.

TOKENS

All members who achieve a particular level will be given plastic ID’s and Patches (indicating level). All Skill Badges (Major or Optional) Will be given laminated ID’s only (see sample). Level 5 badges will be given corresponding plaques or trophies/medals. All levels will also have a color-coded bandana.