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 has eight light infantry divisions, one special operations
command with a light armed brigade, one scout ranger unit, one special forces unit, five engineering battalions, one artillery regiment at headquarters, one 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.
Marine Force Recons - The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has a strength of about 10,000 men divided into five(5) brigades. The Marine units include four(4) infantry maneuver brigades, composed of fifteen (15) tactical infantry battalions and one(1) heavy weapons brigade(composed of 105mm howitzer, 106mm recoiless gun, amphibious vehicle (LVT) and armoured units). Two(2) of the marine battalions have specialized roles: The Force Reconnaisance (Recon) battalion is used for rapid airlift to troubled areas. This Recon battalion is also trained in shipboarding attacks. The Marine Guard battalion is deployed in urban warfare and in defense of an installation. The Philippine Marines(PMC) is also considered the shock force of the Armed Forces and is the first unit to be involved in any amphibious or seaborne clashes.
SWAG SEALs in action. Philippine Navy Special Warfare Group (SWAG) - Supporting the Marines is the Philippine Navy's Special Warfare Group(SWAG) whose main unit is the Philippine Navy SEAL (Sea-Air-Land) Brigade. The SEAL brigade is divided into thirty(30) SEAL teams. The SEALs 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. 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 (SOC) - Philippine Army Special Operations Command(SOC) is composed of over 6,000 troops divided into the Army Scout Ranger Regiment(SRR), the Special Forces Regiment(SFR), the Psychological Operations Group(POG) and the Special Operations Group(SOG). 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(SFR) of the Philippine Army is the 1st Riverine(SF) Battalion equipped with 50 footer fast assault boats. This Special Forces seaborne battalion works together with the Seaborne Brigade of the 1st Infantry (Tabak "Machete") Division. Both Army seaborne units are based in Sulu near the Spratly islands.
Philippine Airforce RDU - The rapid deployment force of the Philippine Air Force(PAF) is the 710th Special Operations Wing divided into ten(10)-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".
_Nine_One_crouch_low_and_move_together_on_the_deck_aboard_the_amphibious_dock_landing_ship_USS_Fort_McHenry_(LSD_43).jpg)
