Special Operations Command (Philippines)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Phil. Army Special Operations Command


caption= Unit insignia of the PASOCOM
dates= January 16, 1978 - Present
country= flagicon|Philippines Philippines
allegiance=
branch= Philippine Army
type= Special Operations Forces
role= Airborne operations, Direct Action, Reconnaissance, Unconventional Warfare
size= 3 Regiments. Total is close to 15000 soldiers
command_structure= Under the Philippine Army
current_commander= Major General Daniel Casabar AFP
garrison= Fort Andres Bonifacio, Makati Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palanan City, Nueva Ecija (Main)
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= SOCOM, PASOCOM, Special Operations Forces
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot= Arrow
battles= Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines Anti-guerrilla operations against the NPA and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
notable_commanders= Gen. Dionisio Santiago AFP, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon AFP, MGen Victor Ibrado AFP
anniversaries=16 January
decorations= Presidential Streamer Award
battle_honours=
identification_symbol=SOCOM Patch/Tab
identification_symbol_label=Unit PatchThe Special Operations Command in the Philippine Army is the single command responsible for maintaining the various special forces units in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Re-organization during the 1990s

Re-organization and re-assignment of Operational controls in various units of the AFP also affected the structure of the Special Operations Command. Currently the Scout Rangers were transferred to Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan while the Special Forces and SOCOM Headquarters stayed in Fort Magsaysay.

ub-Commands

The Philippine Army Special Operations Command (PASOCOM) is further divided into (3) Sub-commands or Regimental Sized Units that function as both Quick Reaction and Unconventional Warfare Units as opposed to the Philippine Navy and Airforce's Special Operations Units having a singular or centralized type of unit focusing on special operations. The Modern Structure of SOCOM was established to be divided in Ranger, Special Forces, and Psy-Ops Operational Regiments, having the later one transferred its operational control to Civil Relations Group, PA and the Community Relations Service, AFP (CRS-AFP). Currently the PASOCOM is structured to 2 Regiments and Quick Reaction Battalion namely:

*1st Scout Ranger Regiment
*1st Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)
*Light Reaction Battalion

References

*The Philippine Army: First 100 Years - 1997
*History of the Armed Forces of the People
*The Operators - Mike Ryan
*Jane's: Special Forces Recognition Guide - Haper-Collins Publication 2004