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The 'Armed Forces of the Philippines' or 'AFP' (Filipino: ''Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas'') originated in the establishment of the Philippine Scouts in 1901 by the United States to assist in combating the revolution then led by General Emilio Aguinaldo. 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 (''Hukbong Katihan''), Navy (''Hukbong Dagat'') and Air Force (''Hukbong Himpapawid''). The Navy comprises 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.

Contents

Major Military Units

Philippine Army Noncommissioned Ranks

AFP Rapid Deployment Units

Current officers of the AFP

See also

External links

Major Military Units

The Army is organized into ten Light Infantry Divisions, a Light Armor Division, 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

Abbreviation	CMS			SGM			SMS	SGM	MSG		TSG	SSG		SGT	CPL		PFC	PVT
'Pay grade'	E-9						E-8		E-7		E-6	E-5		E-4	E-3		E-2	E-2	E-1

AFP Rapid Deployment Units

★ Philippine Marine Corps - The units of the 8,000-strong Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) are often the first to be called to respond to a crisis.

★ Philippine Navy Special Warfare Group (SWAG) - Supporting the Marines is the Philippine Navy's Special Warfare Group (SWAG) whose main unit is the Philippine SEALs (Sea-Air-Land). 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. 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 (PA SOCOM) - Philippine Army Special Operations Command (PA SOCOM) is composed of over 6,000 troops divided into the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR), Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), SFR(A) and The "Delta Force" of the Philippine Army is the elite Light Reaction Battalion or LRB trained in counter-terrorist operations.
Under the Special Forces Regiment (SFR(A)) 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 Air Force 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".
See also AFP Light Reaction Battalion

Current officers of the AFP

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr.: Secretary of National Defense
General Hermogenes Esperon Jr.: Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Lieutenant General Antonio L. Romero: Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Major General Christie B. Datu: Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Lieutenant General Alexander Yano: Commanding General of the Philippine Army
Vice Admiral Rogelio I. Calunsag: Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy
Major General Horacio Tolentino: Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force

See also

★ Military history of the Philippines

★ Philippine Constabulary

★ Gen. Alfredo M. Santos; First Four-star General, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (1962-1965)

External links

★ Armed Forces of the Philippines

★ The Army Scout Ranger Tribute Site

★ Col Carlos Palabrica Lademora and the Lost Command

★ Manokskis AFP Order of Battle

★ Unofficial Philippine Defense Page

★ Philippines Defense Forces Forum

★ "The Scouts' Hymn"

★ Joint Exercises