1st Special Forces Airborne Regiment (Philippines)
Encyclopedia
The Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) is an elite Philippine Army
unit established in the 1960s by Fidel V. Ramos
(first Commanding officer of the Special Forces), primarily trained in both unconventional and psychological warfare
.
Like the Scout Rangers
, the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army is also highly trained in the art of counter-insurgency operations
. Each member of the SF Regiment may opt to undergo speciality courses as well after finishing the basic special forces basic course. This includes undergoing training in demolitions and bomb disposal
(EOD), psychological warfare operations (PSYOPS), K-9 handling, prisoner and law enforcement management, riverine operations, combat diving, as well as VIP security training in preparation for a re-assignment with the Presidential Security Group
.
Similar to the United States Green Berets
, they are an elite unit established in the 1960s who are primarily trained in unconventional and psychological warfare. One of their accomplishments was the formation of an army of militiamen better known as the Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF) later re-named as the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU). While the regular army units engaged the insurgents in the field, the Special Forces trains citizens as militiamen to distract communist rebels while at the same time conducting intelligence. They win the hearts and minds of the community population through community work and mobilising them to defend themselves.
When not doing any Special Operations Team (SOT) concepts, they can be called upon as strike forces by regular army units when the communist rebels began giving them the run. They can re-capture places over-run by communist rebels that regular army troops are unable to do, reconnoitre the front lines - the no man's land, and destroy enemy bases with stealthy and surgical accuracy. The unit once a neglected and downtrodden unit has slowly regained its reputation as the best. They have been blown out of the water in the 1960s when a national scandal demoralised the troops and led them into ignominy. Today, the unit has been nurtured especially after the Scout Rangers took part in the December 1989 Coup 'd' etat at the side of the rebels that shocked the nation in 7 days.
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Tagalog is Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas. On July 23, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Maj. Gen...
unit established in the 1960s by Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
(first Commanding officer of the Special Forces), primarily trained in both unconventional and psychological warfare
Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
.
Like the Scout Rangers
1st Scout Ranger Regiment
The Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment, is a Philippine Army Special Operations Command unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare...
, the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army is also highly trained in the art of counter-insurgency operations
Counter-insurgency
A counter-insurgency or counterinsurgency involves actions taken by the recognized government of a nation to contain or quell an insurgency taken up against it...
. Each member of the SF Regiment may opt to undergo speciality courses as well after finishing the basic special forces basic course. This includes undergoing training in demolitions and bomb disposal
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
(EOD), psychological warfare operations (PSYOPS), K-9 handling, prisoner and law enforcement management, riverine operations, combat diving, as well as VIP security training in preparation for a re-assignment with the Presidential Security Group
Presidential Security Group
- External links :*...
.
Similar to the United States Green Berets
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
, they are an elite unit established in the 1960s who are primarily trained in unconventional and psychological warfare. One of their accomplishments was the formation of an army of militiamen better known as the Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF) later re-named as the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU). While the regular army units engaged the insurgents in the field, the Special Forces trains citizens as militiamen to distract communist rebels while at the same time conducting intelligence. They win the hearts and minds of the community population through community work and mobilising them to defend themselves.
When not doing any Special Operations Team (SOT) concepts, they can be called upon as strike forces by regular army units when the communist rebels began giving them the run. They can re-capture places over-run by communist rebels that regular army troops are unable to do, reconnoitre the front lines - the no man's land, and destroy enemy bases with stealthy and surgical accuracy. The unit once a neglected and downtrodden unit has slowly regained its reputation as the best. They have been blown out of the water in the 1960s when a national scandal demoralised the troops and led them into ignominy. Today, the unit has been nurtured especially after the Scout Rangers took part in the December 1989 Coup 'd' etat at the side of the rebels that shocked the nation in 7 days.
Notable Officers
- General Fidel V. RamosFidel V. RamosFidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
AFP- (first Commanding Officer) - General Lisandro Abadia AFP
- General Renato de VillaRenato de VillaRenato "Rene" de Villa is a political figure in the Philippines and founder of the rightist political party Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma-Lapiang Manggagawa.-Biography:...
AFP - General Angelo ReyesAngelo ReyesAngelo Tomas Reyes was the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada...
AFP - Brigadier General Arturo Ortiz AFP
Headquarters
- Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija
- Fort Bonifacio, Makati City, Metro Manila
Operations
- Anti-guerilla operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation FrontMoro Islamic Liberation FrontThe Moro Islamic Liberation Front is an Islamist group located in the southern Philippines. It is one of two Islamic militant groups, the other being the Abu Sayyaf, that are fighting against Government of the Philippines...
and Moro National Liberation FrontMoro National Liberation FrontThe Moro National Liberation Front is a political organization that was founded by Nur Misuari in 1969. The MNLF struggles against the Philippine Government to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro Land...
. - Counter-Terrorist operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group, Jemaah IslamiyahJemaah IslamiyahJemaah Islamiah , is a Southeast Asian militant Islamic organization dedicated to the establishment of a Daulah Islamiyah in Southeast Asia incorporating Indonesia, Malaysia, the southern Philippines, Singapore and Brunei...
, and Al Qaeda operating in the Southernmost Philippine Island of Mindanao. - Anti-guerrilla operations against the New People's ArmyNew People's ArmyThe New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It was formed on March 29, 1969. The Maoist NPA conducts its armed guerrilla struggle based on the strategical line of 'protracted people's war'.The NPA exacts so called "revolutionary taxes" from business owners...
. - Anti-guerrilla operations against Communist Dissidents at height of the Vietnam War in support of the PHILCAVG.
- Anti-Coup D' Etat Operations during the May 1 Riots (May 1, 2001)
- Anti Coup D' Etat Operations during the height of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny led by LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV PN.
- Anti Coup D' Etat Operations during the height of the 2006 Coup attempt led by BGen Danilo Lim AFP.
- COMELEC Marshalls during National and Local Elections.
- Provided force on force multipliers for government forces during the height of the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and BGen Danilo Lim AFP.