1st Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= First Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)


caption= Pin Badge of the Special Forces
dates=June 21, 1962 - Present
country= flagicon|Philippines Philippines
allegiance=
branch= Philippine Army
type= Special Forces
role= Airborne operations, Direct Action, Reconnaissance, Unconventional Warfare
size= 4 Battalions, 20 Companies. Total is 5000 soldiers
command_structure= Under the Philippine Army Special Operations Command (PASOC)
current_commander= BGen Arturo Ortiz AFP
garrison= Fort Andres Bonifacio, Makati Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palanan City, Nueva Ecija (Main)
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "SF"
patron=
motto= "Strike Anywhere"
colors=
march= "Special Forces Song"
mascot= Parachute/Arrow
battles= Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines Anti-guerilla operations against the NPA and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
notable_commanders= Gen. Fidel Ramos AFP
anniversaries=
decorations= Presidential Streamer Award
battle_honours=
identification_symbol=Special Forces Patch/Tab
identification_symbol_label=Unit Patch/TabThe 1st 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 and psychological warfare.

Like the Scout Rangers, the 1st Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army is also highly trained in the art of counter-insurgency 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.

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.

Notable Officers

*General Fidel V. Ramos - (first Commanding Officer)
*General Lisandro Abadia
*General Renato de Villa
*General Angelo Reyes

Headquarters

* Fort Magsaysay, Palanan City, Nueva Ecija
* Fort Bonifacio, Makati City, Metro Manila

Operations

* Anti-guerilla operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front.
* Counter-Terrorist operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group, Jemaah Islamiyah, and Al Qaeda operating in the Southernmost Philippine Island of Mindanao.
* Anti-guerrilla operations against the New People's Army.
* Anti-guerrilla operations against Communist Dissidents at height of the Vietnam War in support of the PHILCAVG.
* Anti-Coup D' Etat Operations during the May 1 Riots (May 1, 2001)
* Anti Coup D' Etat Operations during the height of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny led by LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV PN.
* Anti Coup D' Etat Operations during the height of the 2006 Coup attempt led by BGen Danilo Lim AFP.
* COMELEC Marshalls during National and Local Elections.
* Provided force on force multipliers for government forces during the height of the 2008 Manila Peninsula Siege led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and BGen Danilo Lim AFP.

ee also

* Scout Ranger

References

*Philippine Army History, The Philippine Army Museum

External links

* [http://www.army.mil.ph/ Philippines Army official website]