Special Forces Regiment (Philippines)

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).

Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)
Philippine Army Special Forces
Active	June 25, 1962 – Present
Country	Philippines
Branch	Philippine Army
Type	Special Operations Forces
Part of	Special Operations Command (Philippines)
Garrison/HQ	Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija
Nickname(s)	SF
Motto(s)	Courage and Determination
Colors	Yellow Gold
March	Special Forces Song
Engagements	Anti-Guerilla operations against the NPA Anti-Guerilla operations against the MILF Anti-Guerilla operations against MNLF Moro conflict Zamboanga siege Marawi crisis
Decorations	Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge Presidential Streamer Award
Commanders
Current commander	COL Ferdinand Napuli PA
Notable commanders	CPT Fidel V. Ramos PA (INF) COL Arturo B. Ortiz PA (INF) (GSC)
Insignia
Special Forces Tab
Special Forces Qualification Badge
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (Riverine)

The basic combat organization of the Special Forces is the 12-man Special Forces Team. An SF Team will have at least one of each SF Military Occupational Specialty present in the team, these include Intelligence, Demolition, Weapons, Communication and Medical.

It is based at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

History

Promotional photo of SFR commandos in various combat gear.

In 1960, then Captain Captain Fidel V. Ramos PA (INF), Lt. David Abundo Jr., Capt. Cesar Batil and Capt. Jose Magno Jr were trained by American forces at Fort Bragg, North Carolina at the Special Warfare Center, taking the Special Forces and Psychological Warfare Courses. They later took training in airborne courses.

The regiment was established in on June 25, 1962, primarily trained in both unconventional warfare and psychological warfare, which started as the 1st Special Forces Company before it evolved into a group and then to a regiment. The regiment has close ties and trains with the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) When the unit was created, around 12 officers and 105 enlisted soldiers formed the unit.

The unit encountered manpower issues when SF commandos were sent to Vietnam under the 1 Philippine Civic Action Group - Vietnam (PHILCAG-V), which forced commanders to train new recruits to refill the ranks.

SFR commandos were known to have been actively sent to Mindanao after it was established.

The SFR was responsible for creating the Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF), later renamed as the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).

The unit changed its name from Special Forces to Home Defense Forces in June 1968 to avoid being disbanded when it was revealed that special forces commandos trained Muslim Filipino soldiers for operations in Sabah. At the time, the Home Defense Forces Group consisted of A Teams (Operational Detachment) and B Teams.

In 1970, the HDFG was placed under Task Force Pasig of the Presidential Security Command.

In 2004, it's reported that 1,200 operators are in the SFR.

Operations

A British businessman, Allan Hyrons, 70, and his wife, Wilma, were rescued by the 2nd Special Forces Battalion with support from the 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division who found them abandoned at the forested areas of Mt. Piahan, the boundary of Barangays Silangkan and Kaha in Parang, Sulu in the morning of 25 November 2019. SFR commandos engaged Abu Sayyaf Group fighters during the operation.

Structure

The following are subordinate battalions of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne):

Headquarters

• Headquarters & Headquarters Company
• 1st Special Forces Battalion "Hunter Killer"
• 2nd Special Forces Battalion "Sabertooth"
• 3rd Special Forces Battalion "Arrowhead"
• 4th Special Forces Battalion (Riverine) "Dolphin Warriors"
• 5th Special Forces Battalion "Primus Inter Pares"
• 6th Special Forces Battalion "Lionheart" (Reported to be inactive)
• Special Forces School

Training

Like the Scout Rangers, members of the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army are also highly trained in counterinsurgency. Upon assignment to the Special Forces, soldiers are made to undergo the Basic Airborne Course. They will then attend the Special Forces Combat Qualification Course (SFCQC) a 20-week course which includes a test mission phase will equip students with a much higher level of combat skills that they can apply in any operational environment. The course will also prepare students to take a higher level of specialization and acquire higher-level special forces skills. Upon graduating SFCQC, they will now undergo the Special Forces Assessment and Qualification System (SFAS) which is a two-week course designed to push students to their physical and mental limits. Only then will they be qualified to undergo the Special Forces Operations Course – an eight-month course that equips each SF soldier in the basics of Special Forces and unconventional warfare operations.

Each member of the SF Regiment may opt to undergo specialty courses as well after finishing the Special Forces basic course. These include, but is not limited to, training in air assaults, anti-guerilla operations, close quarter combats, counter-insurgency, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, jungle warfare and reconnaissance missions.

The unit has trained with the Green Berets and the Australian SASR.

Known personnel

• Fidel Ramos
• Eduardo Ermita
• Ferdinand Napuli

References

Bibliography

• The Special Forces School, Philippine Army Special Forces Operations Manual PAM 3-071, 2008, SFR(A).
• Conboy, Kenneth (1991). South-East Asian Special Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1855321069.