Special Operations Command (Philippines)

Last updated
Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command
SOCOM BADGE 001.jpg
Unit Seal of the SOCOMAFP
ActiveJanuary 16, 1978 – present
Country Flag of the Philippines.svg
Branch Coat of arms of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.svg Armed Forces of the Philippines
Type USA - Special Forces Branch Insignia.png Special Operations
SizeClassified
Garrison/HQ Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija
ColorsMaroon, Gold and Black
AnniversariesJanuary 16
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines) Streamer.png
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Presidential Streamer Award
Commanders
Notable
commanders
COL David Abundo Jr., PA
LTGEN Francisco Ariel A Felicidario III, PA
GEN Hermogenes Esperon, PA
GEN Victor Ibrado, PA
LTGEN Arturo Ortiz, PA
LTGEN Danilo M. Pamonag, PA
GEN Dionisio Santiago, PA
Current CommanderMGEN FREDDIE T DELA CRUZ PA COMMANDER SOCOM AFP 001.jpg
Special Operations Forces (SOF)MGEN FREDDIE T DELA CRUZ PA Philippines SOF Units.png

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command (AFPSOCOM) [1] is the unified special operations command of the AFP. [2] It is responsible for planning, conducting, and supporting special operations.

Contents

Although the current command was established in April 2018, the date marked as the official anniversary of AFPSOCOM is January 16, 1978 - the same date the Philippine Army Special Warfare Brigade (ASWABde) was organized. [3]

History

The AFPSOCOM traces its roots to the Army Special Warfare Brigade (ASWABde) that was organized in January 1978. [3] The Army Special Warfare Brigade was the first attempt to unify the specialties of two army units with the most highly trained personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Special Forces and the Scout Rangers, and structure their collective efforts into a highly effective army unit. Disbanded in 1986, it was reactivated as the Philippine Army Special Operations Command (PA-SOCOM) in 1995. [3] It has been headquartered in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija since its reactivation, [4] and was expanded in 2004 to accommodate the then newly activated Light Reaction Company.

On April 6, 2018, the PA-SOCOM was elevated to an Armed Forces combatant command and became the AFPSOCOM. [4] This was done as part of lesson learned by AFP officers in the Zamboanga and Marawi sieges in 2013 and 2017. [5]

The AFP Joint Special Operations Group (AFP-JSOG) was also disbanded and its officers, enlisted personnel and units was transferred to form the core of the new command. [2] The units transferred from the AFP-JSOG included not just the Light Reaction Regiment, but also the Naval Special Operations Group and the 710th Special Operations Wing.

The AFP-JSOG K-9 Platoon was also included into the new command. [2]

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.

Core capabilities

SOCOM forces are employed based on the following core capabilities:

Training

The AFPSOCOM training regimen comprises different types of training. These training methods are employed to enhance the skills and abilities of the different units under the command.

Structure

The current AFP Special Operations Command is organized with the following units SOC command: [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment</span> Military unit

A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.

United States special operations forces (SOF) are the active and reserve component forces of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, as designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. All active and reserve special operations forces are assigned to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Naval Special Warfare Command</span> Naval component of United States Special Operations Command

The United States Naval Special Warfare Command (USNSWC), also known as, is the naval component of United States Special Operations Command, the unified command responsible for overseeing and conducting the nation's special operations and missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jungle warfare</span> Warfare in jungles, forests, or similar environments

Jungle warfare or woodland warfare is warfare in forests, jungles, or similar environments. The term encompasses military operations affected by the terrain, climate, vegetation, and wildlife of densely-wooded areas, as well as the strategies and tactics used by military forces in these situations and environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Army</span> Ground warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Philippine Army (PA) is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare and as of 2021 had an estimated strength of 101,000 soldiers backed by 100,000 ready reserves. The service branch was established on December 21, 1935, as the Philippine Commonwealth Army. The Philippine Army has engaged in many conflicts including the ongoing Communist rebellion in the Philippines, the Moro conflict and, alongside other national military forces, in conflicts of international scope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light Reaction Regiment</span> Philippine Army counter-terrorist unit

The Light Reaction Regiment is the premier counter-terrorist unit of the Philippine Army. It was formerly known as the Light Reaction Battalion and Light Reaction Company. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Special Operations Group</span> Philippine Marine Corps elite ground forces unit

The Marine Special Operations Group, formerly known as the Force Recon Battalion or FRBn, is the Philippine Marine Corps' elite special forces unit for unconventional warfare and special operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Special Operations Command</span> Military unit of the Philippines Navy

The Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) is a separate command of the Philippine Navy trained in special operations, sabotage, psychological and unconventional warfare and is heavily influenced by the United States Navy SEALs. NAVSOCOM is headquartered at Naval Base Heracleo Alano Sangley Point, Cavite City. It has eleven units located across the Philippines, from Naval Operating Base San Vicente at Santa Ana, Cagayan in the north to Naval Station Zamboanga in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Special Forces Group (United States)</span> Military unit

The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) (1st SFG) (A) is a unit of the U.S. Army Special Forces operating under the United States Pacific Command. It is designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions throughout the Indo-Pacific Command area of operations: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, counter-insurgency, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, information operations, counterproliferation of weapon of mass destruction, and security force assistance.

The United States Marine Corps is tasked by Department of Defense directive to "conduct complex expeditionary operations in the urban littorals and other challenging environments" and "conduct amphibious operations, including engagement, crisis response, and power projection operations to assure access." Before 2006, the Marine Corps was the only branch of the Armed Forces that did not have any of its special warfare elements participating in the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), due to confining its special operations capabilities only for the purpose to the Fleet Marine Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command</span> Military unit

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command, known officially as the AFP RESCOM or RESCOM, is one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Forces Regiment (Philippines)</span> Military unit

The Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) is a Special Operations Forces unit of the Philippine Army. The unit is based on and continually trains with its American counterpart, the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFP Joint Special Operations Group</span> Military unit

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Special Operations Group was one of the AFP's units tasked in conducting counter-terrorism, unconventional-guerrilla warfare, asymmetrical warfare, and highly specialized operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Special Operations Command</span> Unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for special operations

The United States Special Operations Command is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special operations component commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense and is the only unified combatant command created by an Act of Congress. USSOCOM is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

The Special Forces and Elite Forces include both a specially and higher trained unit and a small percentage of personnel from a specific Malaysian military branch, law enforcement or government agency. In Malaysia, the term 'Special Forces' is widely used by uniformed services for special forces, special operations forces and 'special' trained units while 'Elite Forces' for units that more trained and capable combat. Regular personnel must undertake specialized and higher training to be able to join the units of the 'Special and Elite Forces'. These "Special Elite Forces" are denoted by different beret colours, shoulder tabs, unit patches, skill badges and uniforms.

References

  1. https://www.manilatimes.net/2018/04/09/news/top-stories/afp-activates-special-ops-command/391460
  2. 1 2 3 "AFP special forces units now under one command". PTV News. Apr 8, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Centino recognizes Special Ops Command's growth on 4th anniversary". Manila Bulletin .
  4. 1 2 "What's in the New Philippines Special Operations Command?".
  5. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/04/08/the-special-operations-command-is-back/
  6. "AFP special forces units now under one command". Philippine News Agency.
  7. https://sof.news/update/20180409/

Bibliography