History
Operations
A British businessman, Allan Hyrons, 70, and his wife, Wilma, were rescued by the 2nd Special Forces Battalion with support from the 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division who found them abandoned at the forested areas of Mt. Piahan, the boundary of Barangays Silangkan and Kaha in Parang, Sulu in the morning of 25 November 2019. SFR commandos engaged Abu Sayyaf Group fighters during the operation.Structure
The following are subordinate battalions of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne):Headquarters
* Headquarters & Headquarters Company * 1st Special Forces Battalion "Hunter Killer" * 2nd Special Forces Battalion "Sabertooth" * 3rd Special Forces Battalion "Arrowhead" * 4th Special Forces Battalion (Riverine) "Dolphin Warriors" * 5th Special Forces Battalion "Primus Inter Pares" * 6th Special Forces Battalion "Lionheart Farms" (Reported to be inactive) * Special Forces School There are currently 5 battalions and 20 Companies in SFRCOMPANIES
*1st Special Forces Company *2nd Special Forces Company *3rd Special Forces Company *4th Special Forces Company *5th Special Forces Company *6th Special Forces Company *7th Special Forces Company *8th Special Forces Company *9th Special Forces Company *10th Special Forces Company (Airborne) a.k.a. "COBRAS" or Company Of Brave Reverent Army Soldiers *11th Special Forces Company *12th Special Forces Company *13th Special Forces (Knights) Company *14th Special Forces Company *15th Special Forces Company *16th Special Forces Company *17th Special Forces Company *18th Special Forces (Riverine) Company *19th Special Forces Company *20th Special Forces CompanyTraining
Like the Scout Rangers, members of the Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army are also highly trained in counterinsurgency. Upon assignment to the Special Forces, soldiers are made to undergo the Basic Airborne Course. They will then attend the Special Forces Combat Qualification Course (SFCQC) a 20-week course which includes a test mission phase will equip students with a much higher level of combat skills that they can apply in any operational environment. The course will also prepare students to take a higher level of specialization and acquire higher-level special forces skills. Upon graduating SFCQC, they will now undergo the Special Forces Assessment and Qualification System (SFAS) which is a two-week course designed to push students to their physical and mental limits. Only then will they be qualified to undergo the Special Forces Operations Course – an eight-month course that equips each SF soldier in the basics of Special Forces and unconventional warfare operations. Each member of the SF Regiment may opt to undergo specialty courses as well after finishing the Special Forces basic course. These include, but is not limited to, training in air assaults, anti-guerilla operations, close quarter combats, counter-insurgency, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, jungle warfare and reconnaissance missions. The unit has trained with the Green Berets and the Australian SASR.Known personnel
* Fidel Ramos * Eduardo Ermita * Ferdinand NapuliReferences
Bibliography
* The Special Forces School, ''Philippine Army Special Forces Operations Manual PAM 3-071'', 2008, SFR(A). * {{Philippine Army regular units and formations Special forces of the Philippines Airborne units and formations Regiments of the Philippines Military special forces regiments Military counterterrorist organizations