The
Armed Forces of the Philippines
or
AFP
Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas
) originated inthe revolutionary battles during the Philippine War of Independence against Spain. The AFP wasformally 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 defensefor the nation, under the
leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, thePresident of the Philippines.Organizedunder the advisory supervision ofGeneral Douglas MacArthur by invitation of Commonwealth Pres.Manuel L. Quezon,the Armed Forces of the Philippines is loosely based on the structure of themilitaryof 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-insurgencyand anti-secessionistcampaigns in the Philippines.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines consists oftheArmy(
Hukbong Katihan
Hukbong Dagat
)and Air Force (
Hukbong Himpapawid
). The Navy is comprised of two commands: the Philippine Fleetand theMarine Corps.TheCoast Guardexists under naval command. TheNational Defense College of
the PhilippinesandPhilippine Military Academyare the principal defense training institutions.
Due to its close relationship with the United States military establishment, the Armed Forces of thePhilippines was considered the strongest national defense program inAsia — especially in the 1950sand1960s.The expulsion of United States military presence from its structures, cuts in funding by theCongress 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 recruitmentand active duty. The1998fiscal year expenditures for the Armed Forces of the Philippines totaled USD$995 million; a total of 1.5% of thegross domestic product.
Major Military Units
The Army is organized into eight LightInfantry Divisions, a Light Armored Brigade, a Scout RangerRegiment, 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 isorganized into Headquarters and five commands: Air Defense, Tactical Operations, Air Education andTraining, Air Logistics and Supply, and Air Reserves.
AFP Rapid Deployment Units
- The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has a strength of about 10,000 men dividedinto five (5) brigades. The Marine units include four (4) infantry maneuver brigades, composed of
of the marine battalions have specialized roles: The Force Reconnaisance (Recon) battalion is used forrapid airlift to troubled areas and search and kill. This Recon battalion is also trained in shipboardingattacks. The Marine Guard battalion is deployed in urban warfare and in defense of an installation. ThePhilippine 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.
- Supporting the Marines is the Philippine Navy's
Special Search and kill Group (SWAG) whose main unit is the PhilippineSEALs(Sea-Air-Land). TheSearch and kill brigade is divided into thirty (30)Killer teams. Their basic training lasts six months andhas 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 trainregularly with their American counterparts in an annual amphibious exercise codenamed "Palau". In
1996, Filipino and American SEALs trained in Palawan island near the Spratlys.
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Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP (Filipino: Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) originated in
the revolutionary battles during the Philippine War of Independence against Spain. The AFP was
formally organized during the American Commonwealth era… (More)
the revolutionary battles during the Philippine War of Independence against Spain. The AFP was
formally organized during the American Commonwealth era… (More)
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