Country Philippines Type Special Forces | Branch Philippine Army | |
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Active June 25, 1962 - Present Role Primary missions:
Unconventional warfare
Foreign internal defense
Special reconnaissance
Direct action
Counter-terrorism
Other roles:
Counter-proliferation
Airborne Operations
Riverine Operations
Counter-insurgency
Hostage rescue
Information operations
Humanitarian missions
Counter-narcotics
Security forces assistance Part of Special Operations Command (Philippines) | ||
The Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) is an elite special forces unit of the Philippine Army. The regiment was established in the 1960's by then Captain Fidel V. Ramos PA (INF) (first commanding officer of the SFR-A), primarily trained in both unconventional warfare operations and psychological warfare operations. The regiment continually trains with its counterpart, the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets).
Contents
Like the Scout Rangers, members of the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army are also highly trained in counter-insurgency operations. Upon assignment to the Special Forces, soldiers are made to undergo the Basic Airborne Course. They, later-on, undergo the Special Forces Operations Course - an eight-month course that equips each SF soldier in the basics of Special Forces and unconventional warfare operations. Each member of the SF Regiment may opt to undergo specialty courses as well after finishing the Special Forces basic course. These include, but is not limited to, training in demolitions and bomb disposal (EOD), psychological warfare operations (PSYOPS), riverine operations, combat diving, as well as VIP security training in preparation for reassignment with the Presidential Security Group.
The basic combat organization of the Special Forces is the 12-man Special Forces Team. An SF Team will have at least one of each SF MOS present in the team.
Units
The following are subordinate battalions and companies of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne):
Headquarters
Battalions
Companies
The 8th Special Forces Company was established on November 14, 2005, at Special Forces School, Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palayan City, 3130 Nueva Ecija.( by CPL Edward M. Alfaro (INF)PA)
The 20th Special Forces Company was established on February 16, 1991. Pursuant to Paragraph 1, General Order No. 23, HSFRA dated 13 February 1991 at Fort Andres Bonifacio, Makati City with CAPT JOEL DC CELINO INF as the First Commanding Officer. After four (4) months of refresher training at Regiment Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, the company had their test mission at Mt. Sipitan, Brgy Aguid, Sagada, Mt. Province from 26 June to 7 July 1991. After the successful test mission, the 20th SFC was deployed in Batangas Province under the Operational Control of Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) which covers the area of 1st, 2nd and 4th District of Batangas Province and its main company headquarters stationed at Barangay Sto. Nino, Taysan, Batangas.