Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)

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).

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 MOS present in the team.

History

The regiment was established in the 1960s by then Captain Fidel V. Ramos PA (INF), primarily trained in both unconventional warfare operations and psychological warfare operations. The regiment has close ties and trains with the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) The unit encountered manpower issues when SF commandos were sent to Vietnam under the 1 Philippines Civic Action Group, Vietnam (PHILCAG), which forced commanders to train new recruits to refill the ranks.

The SFR was responsible for creating the Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF), later re-named 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.

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"
* Special Forces School

Notable Officers

* Lieutenat Colonel Vercisio San Jose Jr.
* Captain Harold Mark Juan Hitman)* General Fidel Ramos (first Commanding Officer)
* General Lisandro Abadia
* General Angelo Reyes
* Lieutenant General Voltaire Gazmin
* Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz edal of Valor

Training

Like the Scout Rangers, members of the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army are also highly trained in 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 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 demolitions and bomb disposal (EOD), psychological warfare operations (PSYOPS), riverine operations including combat diving, intelligence operations, weapons, medics, as well as VIP security training in preparation for reassignment with the Presidential Security Group.

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

References

Bibliography

* The Special Forces School, ''Philippine Army Special Forces Operations Manual PAM 3-071'', 2008, SFR(A).
*

{{Philippine Army regular units and formations

Special forces of the Philippines
Airborne units and formations
Regiments of the Philippines
Philippine Army
Counterterrorist organizations