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Light Reaction Regiment | |
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![]() Regiment Insignia, with the famous moniker of the Luna Sharpshooters (Spanish: Tiradores de la Muerte) as motto. | |
Active | 1 February 2004 – present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Special Operations Forces |
Role | Counter Terrorism Direct Action Special Reconnaissance Special Operations |
Size | Classified |
Part of | AFP Special Operations Command |
Garrison/HQ | Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija [1] |
Nickname(s) | "LRR", "Philippines' Delta Force" |
Motto(s) | "Tiradores de la Muerte" (Marksmen of Death) [2] |
Engagements |
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Decorations | ![]() Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge Presidential Streamer Award |
Commanders | |
Current commander | BGen Jose Jesus C. Luntok, PA |
Notable commanders | Jose Luntok, Lawrence San Juan, Alexander Macario, Danilo Pamonag |
Insignia | |
AFP Master Parachutist Badge | ![]() |
Scout Ranger Qualification Badge | ![]() |
Special Forces Qualification Badge | ![]() |
The Light Reaction Regiment (LRR) is the special operations unit of the Philippine Army (PA), under the operational control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command (AFPSOCOM). It is tasked to conduct rapid response missions, including counter-terrorism. [3]
The LRR was formed with the assistance of the 1st Special Forces Group (1SFG) in the early 2000s in response to several high-profile kidnappings and terrorism in the Philippines.
The LRR's history began in August 1995 when the Armed Forces of the Philippines established an anti-terrorist unit within the ranks of the 1st Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), known as Alpha Two Zero (A-20). [4] It consisted of 20 SFR operators, placed into two 4-man assaulter teams, two 2-man sniper/observer teams, two 2-man breaching teams and a four-man C2 group. [4]
In May 1996, 16 A-20 opearators graduated from the Special Action Force's Special Anti-Terrorist Course (SATC) at Subic Bay, Zambales. [4] The unit became the 33rd Special Forces Company (SFC) and was placed under the control of Task Force Aduana, [4] which was set up under Executive Order No. 196, s. 2000 under the administration of former president Joseph Estrada to be deployed in anti-smuggling operations and other types of fraud committed by organized crime. [5]
A-20's seen as an interim solution as its size was too small to be deployed to combat terrorist threats in the Philippines. [4]
Former Operational Detachment Alpha Team Leader Major Joseph H. Felter, who had previously been deployed to Mindanao in the 1990s, had the idea of creating a counter terrorism special operations unit in the Philippines. [6] Felter spoke to Michael A. Sheehan on creating a counter-terrorism unit in the AFP. [7] In September 2000, Admiral Dennis C. Blair went to the Philippines with a United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) team alongside Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) personnel, Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) officers and 1st Special Forces Group (United States) operators in a meeting with AFP officers and Philippine officials to plan for organizing and equipping the unit under Title 22 Chapter 22 (Mutual Security Assistance) authorities. [8]
Felter met with Major Teodoro A. Llamas, then AFP-SOCOM Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Training. and Major Angel Adrien Sievert II, then AFP-SOCOM Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Operations prior to his meeting with Sheehan. [4]
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After years of training under American instructors, the LRC was officially activated on 1 February 2004 [9] and was tasked to be deployed in Mindanao in order to combat Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists responsible for abducting several foreign hostages, [10] with the unit conducting an operation to rescue Gracia Burnham from Abu Sayyaf terrorists. [11] Further exercises had been conducted during the 2006 Balikatan exercises. [12] The LRC had been involved in a rescue operation conducted on a kidnapped Italian priest named Giancarlo Bossi by armed men from a rogue MILF group in 2007. [13] [14]
The unit was involved in the aftermath of the Manila Peninsula rebellion, where they had been deployed to Manila to deter any other Coup d'état attempts. [1] LRC forces have been deployed to Mindanao to conduct anti-terrorist operations in the region. [15] The unit changed its name from the Light Reaction Company to the Light Reaction Battalion in 2008.
50 members of the unit, including 3 officers, were suspended on 9 February 2008, when elements of the LRB came under investigation for the alleged possible killing of innocent civilians on 4 February 2008 during operations in Mindanao against the MILF, known as the Ipil Incident. [16] The unit was cleared of any wrongdoing since the investigation subsequently linked the killings to misinformation provided by an unreliable informant, [17] who was involved in a clan feud and wanted to use the operation to get rid of a rival clan. [16]
In 2014, the unit was again renamed as the Light Reaction Regiment due to its heroic stand in Zamboanga in September 2013. Its elevation to a full regiment was formally sanctioned by Defense Secretary Gazmin on 16 January 2014. [18] A further three companies have been authorized to be added to the three currently operational, bringing the total end strength of the regiment up to 600 soldiers. [19] This could prove difficult for the unit as it has almost always been understrength. When deployed to Zamboanga in 2013, the LRB was at only 40% strength. [20] [21]
All three companies were deployed to Zamboanga City in September, 2013 and led the over 3,000 soldiers and police deployed in the siege. The terrain proved tough for the other units used to fighting rebels in the jungles and remote, uphill areas. The Light Reaction Regiment (still a Battalion at the time) consisted of battle tested soldiers recruited from the Army's elite fighting units, the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment and the Special Forces. The unit was undermanned throughout the operation, only being at 40% authorized manpower and had to be augmented by 45 SEALs from the navy's Naval Special Operations Group. [21] Despite the setbacks, the operation was a success, but it cost the lives of 9 LRB soldiers with a further 37 wounded. [22] [19]
In 2014, the LRR conducted a trojan horse operation at a drag race to either kill or capture Abu Sayyaf target Sihata Latip, who was wanted for kidnapping 21 people in Malaysia in 2000. He went on to conduct a string of kidnappings in the Philippines over subsequent years, but as the Philippines got better at counter terrorism operations, the Islamists were cut off from overseas international terror-finance networks, particularly the ones originating in Saudi Arabia and in order to make up for this loss in income, they engage in kidnapping for ransom. The 24 LRR soldiers trained for a week to execute the mission. They dressed up as if going to a Muslim wedding, rented local jeeps and decorated it. Some soldiers dressed up as women to avoid raising suspicion. One soldier with a M249 light machine gun dressed as a pregnant woman, but forgot to shave on the day of the operation and had to loan a hand fan from one of the female soldiers on the base to cover his goatee. On the way to the drag race one of the jeeps broke down. The commander of the operation decided to go on with the mission with only one jeep and 13 men. When they arrived at the drag race, the LRR operators identified their High Value Target from about 50 civilians and terrorists, approached and drew weapons. A firefight ensued in which the target was killed, but at the loss of a LRR operator who got shot in the neck. The operators loaded up the two bodies and made their getaway, while being shot at by Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front. [23] [24]
In May 2017, the regiment spearheaded the army's counter terrorism effort in the Marawi crisis, clearing out the enemy house by house. [25]
On September 4, 2018, the U.S. Counterterrorism Train and Equip Program provided more than 5 million rounds of ammunition worth Php117.4 million ($2.2 million), most of them being used by the LRR. [26]
On 4 May 2020, Col. Monico E. Abang was appointed as the LRR's commander, taking over from Brig. Gen. Monico S. Batle. [27]
On 14 February 2022, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. vowed to provide more support to the unit during his visit in Nueva Ecija. [28]
The LRR is a regiment-size special operations unit with two Light Reaction Battalions (LRBs) consisting of a Headquarters, Higher Headquarters Company, a Military Police Unit, and Seven Light Reaction Companies (LRCs). [29] [30]
The Activation of the 4LRC, 5LRC, and 6LRC was done subsequently after a General Order from the President was ordered which authorized the activation of the Light Reaction Regiment and the creation of its three additional Light Reaction Companies.
Light Reaction School (LRS) - Formerly called as the Counter Terrorist Development and Training School (CTDTS). It is responsible for Recruiting, Selection and Training of Candidates of the Counter Terrorist Course (CTC).
Light Reaction Regiment Military Police - The Light Reaction Regiment has its own Military Police unit for supporting other Light Reaction Companies.
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Prior to being qualified for the Light Reaction Regiment's selection and assessment, a candidate must be a graduate of either or both the Scout Ranger Course (SRC) or the Special Forces Operations Course (SFOC) with at least three (3) years worth of combat experience. [31]
The Light Reaction School (Formerly known as Counter-Terrorist Development & Training School) is patterned after the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School's SFARTAETC, a CT program that is outside of the 1SFOD-D's Operator's Training Course, ran by the 1st Special Warfare Group at Fort Bragg.
The LRS was based on the Selection and Training Detachment (SATD), composed of USSF instructors with graduates of Counter Terrorist Class One assisting instructors, created in 2002 in order to make way for the future training requirement of the Counter Terrorist Course Class Two and Three. On July 15, 2004, it was replaced by the Selection & Training Platoon, a platoon under the LRB's HQ company.
Due to the increase of instructors, on July 1, 2012, the Selection & Training Platoon was deactivated and replaced by a company-sized SATD separate from the HQ company. As the LRB was activated as a regiment-wide unit, on January 1, 2014, the SATD was renamed CTDTS to meet the expansion which is approved by the LRR'S HHC.
The LRR conducts training with American special forces personnel via bilateral exercises. [32] The LRR has also been training with the Australian SASR and SOCOM units since at least 2013, in exercises Dusk Caracha held in Australia, and Dawn Caracha held in Fort Magsaysay. [24] [33] The unit has trained with British, Indonesian and Malaysian special forces units. [21]
Assault Rifles | |||
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![]() | ![]() | Colt M4A1 | Standard assault rifle of the LRR. Originally exclusively had 10.3" CQBR rifles in inventory, but was later supplemented by more 14.5" rifles. [34] |
![]() | Remington R4A3 | Standard assault rifle of the Philippine Army. [35] | |
![]() | ![]() | HK416A5 | Seen used in small numbers by LRR's primary assault units. [36] |
![]() | ![]() | G36 | Seen in small numbers with the LRR. [6] |
Sidearms | |||
![]() | ![]() | Rock Island Armory TAC Ultra .45 | Acquired during the 2017 Marawi Siege on the instructions of former president Rodrigo Duterte to include them. |
![]() | ![]() | Glock 17 Gen 4 | Standard handgun of the Philippine Army. |
![]() | ![]() | HK45 | Seen used by a Lieutenant Colonel from the LRR-STG during the 2017 Marawi siege. |
Subcompact Weapons | |||
![]() | ![]() | MP5A3 | Seen used with suppressors during the early days of the LRR. [6] |
![]() | ![]() | FN P90 | Seen on at least one LRR member during the early 2010s. |
Shotguns | |||
![]() | ![]() | Remington 870 Tac 14 | Standard breaching shotgun before 2023. |
![]() | ARMSCOR PF14 | Standard breaching shotgun since 2023. [37] | |
Machine Guns | |||
![]() | ![]() | Daewoo K3 | Standard issue machine gun of the LRR. |
![]() | ![]() | FN Minimi | Procured to replace the old Daewoo K3s in service. |
Sniper Rifles | |||
![]() | ![]() | Remington M24 | Standard issue sniper rifle of the LRR. |
![]() | ![]() | KAC SR25 | Standard suppressed sniper rifle of the LRR. |
![]() | ![]() | Barrett M95 | Standard anti-materiel rifle of the Philippine Army. |
![]() | ![]() | Mk.13 Mod 7 | Loaned by the LRR-STG from MSOT 8123 during the 2017 Marawi Siege to help bridge a range gap that some rifles couldn't reach. |
![]() | ![]() | SIG 716G2 | Recently seen in limited numbers to supplement the LRR's sniper rifles. |
Night Vision Devices | |||
![]() | ![]() | AN/PVS-31A | Procured to replace aging PVS-7Bs. |
![]() | ![]() | AN/PVS-14A | Used by the 5th Light Reaction Company during their sniper interdiction missions in Marawi. |
![]() | ![]() | AN/PVS-7B | Given by the United States during the conception of the LRR. Was used until the early 2020s when the LRR started procuring binocular night vision systems. |
Red Dot Sights | |||
![]() | Trijicon ACOG RX01 | Donated by the United States during the formation of the LRR. | |
![]() | Trijicon MRO HD | Procured by the LRR during the 2020s from local Trijicon retailer, UDMC. | |
![]() | SIG Romeo 5 | SIG Romeo 5 red dot sights, manufactured in the Philippines. Are used by the LRR in training exercises as of 2022. | |
Infrared Aiming Devices | |||
![]() | ![]() | L3Harris AN/PEQ-15 | At least 2,300 units were acquired by the Army in two batches between 2008 and 2011. |
![]() | Beamshot Trizm-G | - | |
![]() | ![]() | Insight AN/PEQ-2 | One of the primary Laser Aiming Modules used by the LRR, which were donated by the US. |
![]() | Insight PAQ-4C | - |
Battle Dress Uniforms | |||
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![]() | Light Reaction Regiment Distinctive Uniform | The LRR's camouflage pattern. Believed to be based on a camouflage pattern called “Jungle MARPAT” made by a local uniform and textile manufacturer in Nueva Ecija. [38] | |
![]() | ![]() | Philippine Army Pattern (PHILARPAT) | Philippine Army's official camouflage based on HyperStealth's Camopat design. [39] |
![]() | ![]() | Crye Multicam Tropic | G3s in Multicam Tropic used by the LRR in smaller numbers as an alternative to PHILARPAT |
Combat Helmets | |||
![]() | ![]() | Team Wendy EXFIL | New helmet being utilized by the LRR. |
![]() | ![]() | Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology (FAST) | Both original/clone helmets used by the LRR. |
![]() | ![]() | Gentex Advanced Combat Helmet | Some helmets seen modified with FAST Rails mounted. |
![]() | ![]() | Crye Precision Airframe | Seen used primarily by LRR in small quantities. |
![]() | ![]() | PASGT Helmet | Provided through United States Foreign Military Financing (FMF) during the early 2000s when the then LRB was being formed. |