I'm kind of confused with the missions and objectives of our different SOGs in the Army. Can anyone help differenciate them? Nakakalito kasi eh. :aberet:

Phillipine Special Forces Overview

*NOTE* These forces have recently been places under the command of ACTForce (Stands for "Armed Forces of the Philippines Counter Terrorist Force), a command similar to the U.S. JSOC.

1. The Philippine Army (PA) Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is now composed of the a) Scout Rangers b) Special Forces c) Psyops. SOCOM was launched this year. This new unit takes the place of PA SWBde which was disbanded more than ten years ago. Recently, new unit under PA SOCOM called "Alpha Two Zero" (A-20) was formed along the lines of Delta Force and is responsible for CT operations.

2. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) Aviation Security Command (AVSECOM) has ceased to exist, the responsibility has been turned over to the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Command (PASCOM). The PASCOM is responsible for security at the major airports. Counter Hijacking functions are the responsibility of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the PASCOM. The SOG has trained alongside the Australian SAS and are equipped, trained and function in ASASR (TAG) aircraft counterhijacking methods.

3. The Philippine Navy (PN) Special Warfare Group is trained, equipped and functions in the same manner as US Navy Special Warfare. Philippine Navy SEALs undergo their own BUDS and wear a trident similar to their US Navy counterparts who have trained them in their own image. A joint PN SEAL and PM Recon unit operating directly under Naval Intelligence, the Special Reaction Group (SRG), is the local counterpart of SEAL Team Six (DEVGRP).

4. The Philippine Marines (PM) Force Recon trains alongside their USMC Force Recon brothers and operate in much the same way. Several members have received training in Shipboarding and Naval CQB.

5. The Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) is formed along the lines of the British SAS but have different recruitment and selection procedures. The SAF has received training from the US FBI, French RAID and the Israeli Ya'mam. The Anti- Terrorist Unit (ATU) of the PNPSAF is responsible for nationwide Police CT operations nationwide. Meanwhile, the regions have specially quipped and trained Regional Mobile Forces (RMF) which used to be the Light Reaction Unit (LRU) in Metro Manila and the Regional SAF (RSAF) in the provinces. All major cities have their own SWAT Teams.

6. The Presidential Security Group (PSG) which functions like the US Secret Service is actually a composite military command with police units attached to it. The PSG Special Reaction Group is the equivalent of the USSS "Cat Squad".

http://home.blarg.net/~whitet/ph_ovrview.htm

excellent forum btw :patrioticpinoy:

this A20 is very secretive , little is known about this unit, its said that some of its successes is attributed to other more known special units to divert attention away from them,

Don't forget the air force's 710th Special Operations Wing.

what do they do do - the also fight NPA rebels? or they just guard the airports

http://www.paf.mil.ph/HQ/pio/newsletter1/skywarriors.html

I think A20 was superseded by the LRC :dunno:

The excess men of the airforce were organized into a combat battalion, they became the 710th,720th?, 730th,740th and 750th SPOW. They have the good combat record in SOLCOM and I think one of these battalions were awarded as the area's best combat battalion beating Army battalions. The SPOW battalions when it was originally created attended a battalion size SROC course in the SRTS. SPOW battalions once in a while attend the SROC and they send most officers to SRTS SR Course and Sniper course. These wings are very proactive and motivated let us not discount them.

A20 is an SF Alpha Team whose main role was CT. I think you are right, the role was taken off them, the A20 team and the original elements of LRC/LRB whose composite members are SR were organize together to become the LRC and eventually the LRB. So most of the LRC/LRB members are ex SF A-20s and from SR Companies. These guys received traning from US SF Op Detachment Alpha and guys from Op Detachment Delta.

SFOD-Delta is familiar, SFOD-Alpha is out of my radar range - care to provide some more info on this unit Cold?

Is anyone here familiar with the organization of the Special Operations Command?

Does anyone know where BGEN Victor Ibradi fits into the picture?

SOCOM is the umbrella organization of special operation units of the Philippine Army, under SOCOM are as follows:

First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR, under Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim)
Special Forces Regiment Airborne (SFRA)
Psyops Group (Psychological Operations)

I'm not familiar with the position of Gen. Ibardi, SOCOM commander is usually a major general, will FSRR, SFRA, Psyops are either full colonel of a brig. general.

Ang ating SOCOM ay pwede ihalintulad sa isang espesyal na Division na composed ng ilang specialized self supporting brigades (or regiments)

Noong kaunahan ang SOCOM ay nilalaman ng

FSRR - First Scout Ranger Regiment
SFRA - Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)
PALAR - Phil Army Light Armored Regiment
CAG - Civil Affairs Group (Psyops Regiment)

Ngayon ang SOCOM ay ni reshuffle sa kaunahang nilalaman nito

Ang PALAR ay naging LABde ngayon, ito ay hindi na kumikilos na isang regiment (noong may mga M113 pa tayo) kundi isang force provider ng "Detached Service" LA Sections/Platoon/Coy sa mga organic units ng PA.

Ang CAG naman ay isinayos at pinaglipunan ng non-core specialties ng PA halimbawa ang SF DEAR (Disaster, Emergency And Rescue) na dating isang unit sa SF ay sumasailalim na sa CAG.

Ang FSRR naman ay pinaglipon na at dinedeploy na lamang na isang Bn para sa isang AOR. Hindi na ngayon nagdedeploy ang SR gamit ang ISRCs (Independent SR Coy) ito ay katayuan na kinuha na ng mga division gamit ang DRCs (Div Recon Coy) na pawang kinokompone ng mga SR trained Division personnel.

Noong Kalakasan ng kaguluhan sa Mindanao, nag experimento ang SOCOM ng LRBn na kinasasangkutan ng ilang ISRCs halintulad sa sinaunang BCTs (Bn Combat Teams)

Noong lumakas ang terrorismo, nagpagpasyahan ng SOCOM na in kompone ang LRBn halintulad sa US Delta Team. At simula noon ay nagsanay ng mga SOCOM personnel upang maging LRC. Nabuwag ang ad hoc LRBn at ito ay pinalitan ng bagong trained na LRC1 & LRC2 na nilalamanan ng mga dating tauhan ng SFRA at FSRR. Ngayon ang LRC ay pinalaki at naging LRB.


Sa kasalukuyan ang SOCOM ay pinamumunuan ni Gen Ibrado na nilalamanan ng...

FSRR (BGEN Danilo Lim)
SFRA (Col XXXXXX)
LRB (Col XXXXX)
CAG (Col ZZZZZ)

Ang PALAR na naging LABde ay naghihintay na maging 1st Armored Div. hari nawa!

Pangsusog sa mga isinagot ni surehitter.

A backgrounder on General Victor S. Ibrado:

http://www2.apan-info.net/pams/PAMS28/Curr...20CG%20SFRA.doc

Special Forces is now headed by Brig. Gen. Art Ortiz, a Medal of Valor awardee....
:aberet:

Max Soliven
The Philippine Star 20 Jan 2006
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200601202602.htm

With these 2 highly-respected guys at the helms of two of the most prestigious posts in the Army, i can feel how high the morale of the SOCOM men is.

A good move indeed by Gen. Esperon, a SOCOM guy himself, on that one. :thumb: :thumb:

Ortiz heads special forces

A military officer, who received a Medal of Valor while assigned in Negros at the height of the insurgency problem in the 1980's, is now commander of the 4,000-strong elite Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army.

Col. Arturo Ortiz, who was a captain when he led the 606th Special Forces Company in attacking a training camp of the New People's Army occupied by about 200 rebels in Sitio Manipulon, Brgy. Pandanon, Murcia on April 6, 1990, replaces Brig. Gen. Victor Ibrado. Ibrado, a Negrense and former commanding general of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, has been designated chief of staff of the Philippine Army.

Ortiz, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class '79, yesterday said it was in Negros where he had spent the best years of his military career.

In more than two hours of gunbattle with more than 200 rebels, Ortiz and his men killed 85 guerillas and recovered 35 high-powered firearms, although they were outnumbered, military records show.

Ortiz, Lt. Col. Cirilito Sobejana -- formerly assigned with the 11th Infantry Battalion, and former President Ferdinand Marcos are among only 21 recipients of the Medal of Valor given from 1917 to the year 2000.

The Medal of Valor is the military's highest medal for bravery in combat.

The nine SF battalions under the command of Ortiz, are deployed all over the country, the majority of which are stationed in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Ibrado replaced Brig. Gen. Alexander Yano, who was named as incoming commanding general of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division.

Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin also assumed command of the AFP Central Command in Visayas on Jan. 21, replacing Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio who retired after 34 years in military service.

source

G.M.A. WITH ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND



President Arroyo poses with Army chief Lt. Gen. Hemogenes Esperon (right) and the officers and men of the elite Army Special Operations Command headed by Maj. Gen. Benito Ramos (left) after a counterterrorism capability demonstration at Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija yesterday. - Photo By Willy Perez

Is it just me or sobra na ba dami ng 'high speed, low drag' spec ops units natin? We have the PNP-SAF, PA has the SR, SF and LRC and PN has the SWAG. Meron pa mga kung ano-anong super secret CIDG, TMG, whatever teams. Traffic Management nga pero sobrang hi powered ang mga dala! Kelangan ba nila ng MP5 para mang arresto ng jeepney driver na overloading? It seems to me that they think the solution to our insurgency and increasing crime problems are to create more 'special operations' teams.

IMHO, making so many different units will only spread the budget thinner. Why not just one special unit per branch? Wala nang super secret units. By having lesser special units, training will become better since the specialists conducting the training wont also be spread through different units. More specialists conducting training + more budget = more effective unit. Also, their missions should not be the same with each other. So many units pero same lang mission nila, counter insurgency lahat, so why make new ones pa? Halos lahat ata ng sundalo/pulis member na ng isang special warfare, counter terrorist, multi jurisdictional, task force unit eh. Well, having lots of special units wont make them so special anymore, will it?

*Sarcasm and rant mode off*

Seriously, what do you guys think?

US armed forces has army delta force, special forces and rangers, navy seals, marine force recon, air force special tactics team. But their still lacking in personnel and their too spread out.

Philippines has army LRC, special forces, scout rangers, navy swag, marine recon, air force special ops, PNP SAF. Each has their own mission and specialties.

There is never too many.

US-trained elite forces beef up security in Metro Manila

First posted 12:12pm (Mla time) Feb 28, 2006
By Joel Francis Guinto
INQ7.net


THE MILITARY has beefed up its forces in Metro Manila with some 1,200 US-trained elite forces despite its claim that it has quashed a fresh plot to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an official said Tuesday.
Composed of elements from the Scout Rangers, Special Forces, Light Reaction and Mechanized Battalions, the special operations task group has been stationed at Fort Bonifacio Army headquarters and readied for deployment, said Colonel Arturo Ortiz, commander of the Army Special Operations Command (Socom) and concurrent task force chief.

“It [task group] was organized primarily so that we can respond to any eventuality in Fort Bonifacio and in Metro Manila… It is a contingency reserve force," Ortiz said in a phone interview.

He said the task force was also equipped with at least eight Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) tanks.

When asked if the task group could be called on to defend Arroyo, Ortiz answered in the affirmative.

But Ortiz added that there was no threat to the government as of the moment.

Nonetheless, Ortiz said the special troops were organized "so that we can readily respond to any eventuality."

On Friday, officials claimed to have thwarted a coup plot with the arrest of Army Brigadier General Danilo Lim, who allegedly tried to convince military chief General Generoso Senga to withdraw support from Arroyo and join anti-government street protests.

A Marine officer, Colonel Ariel Querubin, was being investigated over similar charges.

On Sunday, Querubin protested the sudden relief of Marine Commandant Major General Renato Miranda, causing a five-hour standoff at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, which ended following a dialogue with Querubin and his superiors.

Querubin also admitted to planning to join Friday's anti-government rallies where he was expected to bring “majority” of the 400-strong Marine officers' corps.

Ortiz and Querubin were classmates at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1979.

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?in...&story_id=67822
===================================================

Isn't he the MOV awardee?

So, PGMA found an ally in him.

That's a good move. At least his being the new SOCOM chief, and as a MOV awardee himself, will definitely uplift the morale of the confused SOCOM troops who are dissapointed with the lost of Gen. Danny Lim.

Col. Ortiz's expression of support to the govt will definitely shield the AFP from further confusion and division.

coup-pal 1: "inakup! palpak na naman tayo! iskatter!"
coup-pal 2: "kasalanan mo ito eh.... nagdala ka pa kasi ng time reporter!"
coup-pal 3: "eh akala ko panalo na tayo dis taym... gusto ko lang naman i-document ang ating pre-victory heroic actions eh"
coup-pal 1: "bahala kayo jan, basta ako magtatago na ulit ako... sanay naman ako magtago eh..."
coup-pal 2: "hoy isama mo naman ako, di na nga ako makakita e tapos inutile pa mga anak ko"
coup-pal 1: "bahala ka jan.... di mo ba alam na magaling ako sa laglagan!"

In the US, special units have clearly defined missions. In the Philippines for example, our SR and SF operates in much of the same manner, both operate in small teams, albeit the SF has more missions such as teaching CAFGUs, etc., its redundant to have a small, squad operating unit. The LRC is also a redundancy. In my understanding, the LRC is similar to the US Rangers since they are more of a specialized infantry. The PNP SAF on the other hand has missions which criss-cross with other military units. I am not against specialized units, but I am against having multiple specialized units having the same missions. Each specialized unit must have a clearly defined mission which does not coincide or overlap with the other units.

PGMA is lucky, she picked Esperon for the Army.

Wow more bodyguards for GMA. :armyLol:

Shouldn't we have the Philippine Army Special Operations Command organized into a division? That would be cool.

The 1st Special Operations Division (Scout Ranger) (Airborne/Mountain)

-1st Scout Ranger Regiment
-1st Airborne Commando Regiment
-1st Mountain Trooper Regiment

-1st Special Tactical Aviation Group
-1st Psychological Operations Group
-1st Special Combat Support Group

Isn't the current SR already airborne and mountain capable? What is the use of separating Scout Rangers, another airborne regiment, and a mountain trooper regiment? That would spread an already thin budget.

2 communist rebels killed in Sorsogon clash


By Bobby Labalan
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 21:12:00 02/27/2008


SORSOGON CITY, Philippines -- Two suspected members of the New People's Army were killed in an encounter with the Army's 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion in the village of Bulacao, Gubat, some 30 kilometers from this city.

Soldiers led by Sergeant Ronelo de Pedro were on patrol in the area when they encountered an undetermined number of NPA members at around 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday, said Lieutenant Tristan Vallesca, the Army's information officer.

Vallesca said a 30-minute battle ensued, leaving the two rebels dead. Both remained unidentified.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/...-Sorsogon-clash

Too complicated task but the troops are idle most of the times.

I suggest these;

1) Scout Ranger Regiment
(acting as airmobile commando unit as well as a mountain trooper unit)

- keeps 3 battalions, 3-4 companies each
- enhancement of weapons, communications, etc .. (SAW, M203, Barret or Remington rifles, light vests, NVGs for all units, other thermal image scanners)
- all Scout Rangers must undergo training for airmobile operations
- shall spearhead COIN-related operations


2) Special Forces Regiment

- keeps 3 battalions as well
- enhancement of weapons, communications, etc
- maintain current role in managing local militia or the CAFGUs
- takes over functions of PsyOps
- augments Scout Rangers in its operations


3) Light Reaction Company

- downsized from battalion to a company-sized counter-terrorist unit (the rest are deployed back to SR or SF regiments)
- trained for seaborne and airborne operations
- solely for small unit operations (7-man squad) handling rescue and highly sensitive operations.
- all units are equipped with SatCom headsets or similarly powerful system
- all units will be trained for EOD or handling demolition
- all units must undergo martial arts training (Kali, judo/aikido, jeet kune do)
- all units are provided with body protection gears
- all units are provided with the best weapons available
- shall operate in total secrecy as much as possible to ensure success of criticial tasks


The current setup of creating a large-sized Light Reaction team is counter-productive since the provision for the necesary gadgets and sustainment trainings will be harder to achieve.

Also, they somewhat take the role of COIN from the SF and SR units.

We should keep our Light Reaction team as small as possible to ensure sustenance in all aspect.

The LRC shall be the Army's finest. All members shall come from SF and SR only.

We should then complement the LRC with night-flying choppers, fixed-wing medium lift aircrafts and ensure coordination with Navy's floating assets whenever the need arises.

That should have been the setup.

The current setup of a regiment for SR and another for SF and a battalion of LRC maybe undermining if not negating the operations of the each other.

Flipzy, another thorough and comprehensive post. You always come up with detailed assessments and recommendations..

sir dr, what is this Mangodai?

You wont find this even in Google.

The moment they bloated the LRC into a battalion, i saw the trap in there.

We arent a big country deploying troops around the world like the SAS, SEALS and even Delta Force.

Secondly, we dont have much money. MEANING IT WILL BE HARD FOR US TO EQUIP OR EVEN SUSTAIN THE NEEDS OF THESE ELITE UNITS.

Thirdly, creating too many Sec Ops doing the same task is counter-productive.

Whoever planned that is getting the wrong analysis.

It's even stupid deploying the LRC in full battle gear with the backpacks, helmets, vest, and all in the jungle and made them climb mountains and cross rivers like what teh Scout Rangers do.

They still think they can do a Delta Force manuever in our jungles like what they did in Iraq or Somalia.

Weird.

The best setup is the tried and tested Scout Rangers. Lighly armed, trained for long-range recon patrol and skillful and can operate day and night even without NVGs and other modern gadgets.

As for the LRC, it should have been kept as small as possible. A company size would have been ideal enough.

Send them via helos or parachute for rescue or highly sensitive missions.

For bigger missions they can work in tandem with SR or SF teams.

Unfortunately, they created a battalion size unit that is almost doing the same tasks as the SR and SF and even police SAF.

This is wrong.

That is true.

That's why R&R and other benefits like specialty pay or combat pay, medical insurance, loans and other similar things should never be forgotten.

Else, the exodus will continue.

Mangodai?

I'll check that out.

In my assessment, the skills improvement should continue. Just like a specialization course like;

1) computers & communication technology

2) weapon systems design like what ColdDeadFish and the private company, SteelCraft, are doing

3) paramedics

4) surveillance and intel gadget design

5) as well as how to fly an aircraft

Here's a related thread about the LRC/LRB:

http://pdff.sytes.net/index.php?showtopic=1248&st=0

The more accepted term is Mangudai instead of Mangodai.

Mangudai were light cavalry troops of the Mongols who were excellent in scouting/recce and survival. These warriors were said to survive without food and water for months as they did their long range recon work well ahead of the main Mongol armies.

Current mangudai training revolves around SERE with severe sleep, food deprivation for very long periods.

Question for Kampilan;

Mangodai or Mungudae...Spelling....Depends on where you come from. The word has many spellings.... like Ghenghis Khan instead of Chingis Khan. I've researched the former leader Yasutai (again spelling may differ) and his supposed famous mission which helped validate the concept and have talked to many historians who claim to know of the name but none can recall having knowledge of its actuality or that Yassutai was even in the military. PM me as this is an interesting time and I can also share many of my observations...Also what do you know of the nine yak tails... There is confusion on its terminology and use instead of the manuever formation or banner...the historians have a different version when I asked. However that was over 12 years ago and I no longer see their websites or email address in which to correspond to them.

"Genghis Khan unleashed a seemingly invincible military force.

Our Scout Rangers are perfect examples of the Mangodai.

In fact, they are the combination of the Mangiodai discipline and modern tactics.

If the Scout Rangers are properly supported with modern weapons, gadgets, skills enhancement, air mobility, etc, they can outshine any other elite unit in the world.

In fact, the Scout Rangers continue to be the most feared warriors of the AFP.

Amen to that Sir Flipzi