Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP originated in the revolutionary battles during the Philippine War of Independence against Spain. The AFP was formally organized during the American Commonwealth era through
Commonwealth Act No. 1 or the
National Defense Act of December 21, 1935. It is the principal body of defense for the nation, under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President of the Philippines. Organized under the advisory supervision of General
Douglas MacArthur by invitation of
Commonwealth Pres. Manuel L. Quezon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is loosely based on the structure of the
military of the United States.
Encyclopedia
The
Armed Forces of the Philippines or
AFP originated in the revolutionary battles during the Philippine War of Independence against Spain. The AFP was formally organized during the American Commonwealth era through
Commonwealth Act No. 1 or the
National Defense Act of December 21, 1935. It is the principal body of defense for the nation, under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President of the Philippines. Organized under the advisory supervision of General
Douglas MacArthur by invitation of
Commonwealth Pres. Manuel L. Quezon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is loosely based on the structure of the
military of the United States. While modest in its material and technological capability, the AFP soldiers are considered one of the most battle-hardened armies in the world due to their long exposure to counter-insurgency and anti-secessionist campaigns in the Philippines.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines consists of the
Army ,
Navy and
Air Force . The Navy is comprised of two commands: the Philippine Fleet and the Marine Corps. The Coast Guard exists under naval command. The National Defense College of the Philippines and
Philippine Military Academy are the principal defense training institutions.
Due to its close relationship with the United States military establishment, the Armed Forces of the Philippines was considered the strongest national defense program in
Asia — especially in the
1950s and
1960s. The expulsion of United States military presence from its structures, cuts in funding by the
Congress of the Philippines and the nature of Philippine politics has been cited as sources of decline of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in recent years.
The average age of its manpower is 18 years old; males aged 15 through 49 are eligible for recruitment and active duty. The 1998 fiscal year expenditures for the Armed Forces of the Philippines totaled USD $995 million; a total of 1.5% of the
gross domestic product.
Major Military Units
The Army is organized into eight Light Infantry Divisions, a Light Armored Brigade, a Scout Ranger Regiment, a Special Operations
Command with various special forces units, five Engineering Battalions, one Artillery Regiment at Headquarters, the Presidential Security Group, and three Light-Reaction Companies. The Navy is deployed at Sangley Point/Cavite, Zamboanga,
and Cebu. The Air Force is organized into Headquarters and five commands: Air Defense, Tactical Operations, Air Education and Training, Air Logistics and Supply, and Air Reserves.
Philippine Army Noncommissioned Ranks
AFP Rapid Deployment Units
- Philippine Marine Corps - The units of the 8,000-strong Philippine Marine Corps are often the first to be called to respond to a crisis.
- Philippine Navy Special Warfare Group - Supporting the Marines is the Philippine Navy's Special Search and kill Group whose main unit is the Philippine SEALs . The Search brigade is divided into thirty teams. Their basic training lasts six months and has a 75% to 90% percent dropout rate. SEAL training includes demolitions, cartography, scuba, parachuting and hand-to-hand combat, Silent killing, Underwater fighting skills or UFS. SEALs train regularly with their American counterparts in an annual amphibious exercise codenamed "Palau". In 1996, Filipino and American SEALs trained in Palawan island near the Spratlys.
- Philippine Army Special Operations Command - Philippine Army Special Operations Command is composed of over 6,000 troops divided into the Army Scout Ranger Regiment , 1st Special Forces Regiment , the Psychological Operations Group and the Special Operations Group . The "Delta Force" of the Philippine Army is the elite "Alpha Two Zero" or A-20 trained in counter-terrorist operations.
Under the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army is the 1st Riverine Battalion equipped with 50 footer fast assault boats. This Special Forces seaborne battalion works together with the Seaborne Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division. Both Army seaborne units are based in Sulu near the Spratly islands.
- Philippine Air Force RDU - The rapid deployment force of the Philippine Air Force is the 710th Special Operations Wing divided into ten -man airborne attack teams. Supporting units include the Air Commando Squadrons of the 15th Strike Wing under the Tactical Operations Command. Its official mission is to "conduct contingency operations against hostile elements".
See also AFP Light Reaction Battalion
See also
- Military history of the Philippines
- Philippine Constabulary
External links
Additional information
