Special Operations Command (Philippines)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command is the unified special operations command of the Armed Forces responsible for planning, conducting, and supporting special operations. Although the current AFPSOCOM was established in April 2018 on the basis of the Philippine Army Special Operations Command and the AFP Joint Special Operations Group, it traces its origins to the Philippine Army Special Warfare Brigade (ASWABde), established on January 16, 1978 (the date is marked as the official anniversary of SOCOM).

Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command
Unit Seal of the AFPSOCOM
ActiveJanuary 16, 1978 – present
Country
Branch Armed Forces of the Philippines
Type Special Operations
RoleDirect Action
Reconnaissance
International and domestic counter-terrorism
Special operations
Direct action
Special reconnaissance
Unconventional warfare
Hostage rescue
Foreign internal defense
Counter-proliferation
Counter narcotic operations
HVT Raids
SizeClassified
Garrison/HQFort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija
ColorsMaroon, Gold and Black
Anniversaries16 January
Decorations
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Presidential Streamer Award
Commanders
Current
commander		MGen Divino Rey Pabayo, AFP
Notable
commanders		COL David Abundo Jr. PA (INF) (GSC)
GEN Hermogenes Esperon AFP
GEN Victor Ibrado AFP
LTGEN Arturo Ortiz AFP
LtGen Danilo M. Pamonag

History

The AFPSOCOM traces its roots to the Philippine Army Special Warfare Brigade (ASWABde) that was organized in January 1978. The ASWABde was a first attempt to unify the specialties of the Special Forces and the Scout Rangers, two army units that have among the most highly trained personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and structure their collective efforts into a highly effective army unit. Disbanded in 1986, it was reactivated as the PA SOCOM in 1995. It has been headquartered in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija since its reactivation, and was expanded in 2003 to accommodate the Light Reaction Regiment.

The current AFPSOCOM, which was elevated to an Armed Forces combatant command in April 2018, also includes units from the now disbanded AFP Joint Special Operations Group, raised in August 2003, and included not just the LRR, but the Naval Special Operations Group and the 710th Special Operations Wing. The AFP JSOG K-9 Platoon was carried over to the expanded command.

Unit mission

The mission of the AFPSOCOM is to plan, conduct and support special operations in all operational environments in support of the fundamental missions of the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Unit core capabilities

SOCOM forces are employed based on the following core capabilities:

  • Unconventional Warfare
  • Direct Action
  • Special Reconnaissance
  • International and domestic Counter-terrorist Operations
  • HVT Raids
  • Sabotage
  • Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Response
  • Security Assistance

Units

The current AFP SOCOM is organized into:

  • Scout Ranger Regiment[1] Organizes, trains, equips and provides rapidly deployable forces and conducts special operations in support of SOCOM's mission. The unit was modeled after the intelligence-gathering American Alamo Scouts and the combat-ready US Army Rangers. The regiment's core capabilities are: direct action, jungle warfare, special reconnaissance, and sniping operations against hostile positions.
  • Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) - Organizes, trains, equips and provides rapidly deployable forces and conducts unconventional warfare in all types of operational environment in support of SOCOM's mission. The Special Forces specializes on the following: unconventional warfare, direct action; special reconnaissance; psychological warfare and mass base operations.
  • Light Reaction Regiment - The premier counter-terrorist unit of the Philippine Army and the Special Mission Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was formerly known as the Light Reaction Battalion and the Light Reaction Company before finally being upgraded into a regimental unit. Due to its specialization in counter-terrorism operations and its formation with the assistance of American advisers, the Light Reaction Regiment has been sometimes referred to as the Philippines' Delta Force.
  • Naval Special Operations Group - The Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) or Special Warfare Group (SWAG) is a unit of the Philippine Navy trained in special operations, sabotage, psychological and unconventional warfare and is heavily influenced by the United States Navy SEALs.
  • Marine Special Operations Group - Marine Special Operations Group (MARSOG) of the Philippine Marine Corps, similar to Philippine Navy NAVSOG. Formerly known as the Force Reconnaissance Battalion.
  • 710th Special Operations Wing - The 710th SPOW is the Special operations unit of the Philippine Air Force handling hostage rescue and counter-terrorist operations.
  • JSOG K-9 Platoon - Highly trained canine unit.

Training

Some types of training in AFPSOCOM
  • Basic Airborne Course
  • Jumpmaster Course
  • Parachute Packing, Maintenance and Air Delivery Course
  • Military Freefall Course
  • Combat Diver’s Course
  • Scout Ranger Target Interdiction Course
  • Close Quarter Combat Training
  • Basic Naval Special Warfare Course
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gollark: That is the autobotrobot test prefix, actually.
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See also

References

Citations
  1. Dennis V. Eclarin, Scout Ranger Combat Guide (Third Edition), 2003, The Philippine Star.

Bibliography
  • Philippine Army History, The Philippine Army Museum.
  • The Philippine Army Public Affairs Office, The Philippine Army: First 100 Years, 1997, OTAPA.
  • The Special Forces School, Philippine Army Special Forces Operations Manual PAM 3-071, 2008, SFR(A).
  • Dennis V. Eclarin, Scout Ranger Combat Guide (Third Edition), 2003, The Philippine Star.
  • Pobre, Cesar P. (2006). History of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People. New Day Publishers.ISBN 9711010410.
  • Ryan, Mike (2008). The Operators: Inside the World's Special Forces. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 1602392153.
  • Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (2005). Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide. HarpersCollins Publishers. ISBN 0007183291.
  • Conboy, Ken. South-East Asian Special Forces. London, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1991
  • Special Operations Forces Online Database
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