Born in Pangasinan province in 1928 and graduated from the United States Military
Academy in 1950. He later earned his master's degree in civil engineering from the
University of Illnois and saw military service in Korea and Vietnam.

His service to the state continued through the Marcos years, during which he headed the
Philippine Constabulary (now the Philippine National Police) and serve as Vice-Chief of
Staff of the armed forces for five years. Ramos was also identified as one of the "Rolex
Twelve", the group of the close associates of the president. However, he switched sides in the
struggle for power in February 1986, aligning himself with Corazon Aquino and the "Peopel
Power" movement against Marcos. He and Juan Ponce Enrile led the resistance to Marcos
centred on two military camps. He was rewarded with promotion to Chief of Staff and then,
in January 1988, with the post of Defense Minister in Aquino's government. He increased
his popularity during these years by helping to defeat a series of coup attempts againts
Aquino.