| Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) | |
|---|---|
Pin Badge of the Special Forces |
|
| Active | June 21, 1962 - Present |
| Country | Philippines |
| Branch | Philippine Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Airborne Operations, Riverine Operations, Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance, Unconventional Warfare Operations, Disaster Relief Operations, Psychological Operations |
| Size | 5 Special Forces Battalions, 20 Special Forces Companies, 1 Special Forces School |
| Part of | Under the Special Operations Command, Philippine Army (SOCOM, PA) |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija |
| Nickname | SF |
| Motto | Courage and Determination |
| Colors | Yellow Gold |
| March | Special Forces Song |
| Engagements | Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines Anti-guerilla operations against the NPA and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front |
| Decorations | Presidential Streamer Award |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Gen. Fidel Ramos AFP |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Patch/Tab | Special Forces Patch/Tab |
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 Warfare Operations and Psychological Warfare Operations.
Like the Scout Rangers, members of the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army are also highly trained in the art of 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 Unconventiona Warfare 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.
The basic combat organization of the Special Forces is the 12-man Special Forces Team.
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.
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