This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (November 2006)

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Seal of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Seal of the Philippine Army

Seal of the Philippine Navy

Seal of the Philippine Air Force

Seal of the Philippine Marine Corps

The Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP (Filipino: Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas; Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas Filipinas) 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. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Airmobile training File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Airmobile training File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Rparmy. ... Image File history File links Rparmy. ... The Philippine Army (PA) is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). ... Image File history File links PN_Seal. ... Image File history File links PN_Seal. ... The Philippine Navy (PN) is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). ... Image File history File links PAF_Seal. ... Image File history File links PAF_Seal. ... The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is the air force of the Philippines. ... Image File history File links Pmcseal. ... Image File history File links Pmcseal. ... The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) is the marine corps of the Philippines, and is part of the Philippine Navy. ... This page is about the military unit. ... Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (March 22, 1869 – February 6, 1964) was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... In military science, defense (or defence) is the art of preventing an enemy from conquering territory. ... The President of the Philippines is the head of state and government of the Republic of the Philippines. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the American general; for the municipality in the Philippines, see General MacArthur, Eastern Samar. ... Anthem Lupang Hinirang Location of the Philippines in Asia Capital Manila ¹ Language(s) Pilipino, English, Spanish Government Republic President  - 1935-1944 Manuel L. Quezon  - 1944-1946 Sergio Osmeña  - 1946 Manuel Roxas Vice President  - 1935-1944 Sergio Osmeña  - 1946 Elpidio Quirino Historical era American colonization  - Philippine Independence Act March... Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (b. ... The United States Armed Forces are the military services of the United States. ... “Insurrection” redirects here. ... Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or political entity. ...

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. The Philippine Army (PA) is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). ... The Philippine Navy (PN) is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). ... The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is the air force of the Philippines. ... The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) is the marine corps of the Philippines, and is part of the Philippine Navy. ... The Philippine Coast Guard (Tanod Baybayin ng Pilipinas) is the coast guard of the Philippines. ... The Philippines National Defense College of the Philippines (Filipino: Pambansang Kolehiyo ng Tanggulan ng Pilipinas), abbreviated as NDCP, is an educational, training, and research agency of the Philippine government under the Department of National Defense responsible for providing continued and intensive studies of the diversified problems related to national defense... The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is the training school for future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. ...

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. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Philippine Congress Session Hall The legislative power is vested in Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. ...

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. This article is about GDP in the context of economics. ...

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

AFP Special Forces 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.

• 

  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 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 1st Scout Ranger Regiment, 1st Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) 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".

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) is the marine corps of the Philippines, and is part of the Philippine Navy. ... The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) is the marine corps of the Philippines, and is part of the Philippine Navy. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Philippine_SEALs. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Philippine_SEALs. ... Special Warfare Group is an elite unit of the Philippine Navy trained in special operations, sabotage, psychological and unconventional warfare. ... Special Warfare Group is an elite unit of the Philippine Navy trained in special operations, sabotage, psychological and unconventional warfare. ... The Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment, is the Philippine Armys primary Special Forces unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare. ... Philippine Special Forces troops during a routine training exercise with US Army Special Forces. ... The Armed Forces of the Philippines Light Reaction Battalion is the lead counter-terrorist unit of the Philippine Army. ... The 710th Special Operations Wing is the rapid deployment force of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), which is divided into ten-man airborne attack teams. ...

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

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947), also known by her initials G.M.A., is the 14th and current president of the Republic of the Philippines. ... The Philippine Army (PA) is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). ... The Philippine Navy (PN) is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). ... The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is the air force of the Philippines. ...

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)

// List of major battles Battle of Manila Battle of Bataan Battle of Mactan Battle of Corregidor Battle of Luzon Battle of Leyte Battle of Pulang Lupa Balangiga Massacre Small Wars Wars with local Islamic Extremists Wars with local Communist Insurgents Foreign Service International Force East Timor see INTERFET UN Transitional... The Philippine Constabulary (PC) was one of two national police forces of the Philippines and was organized in 1901 by the United States appointed administrative authority. ... General Alfredo M. Santos was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1962 to 1965, making him the first four-star general of the Philippines armed forces. ...

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
• "The Scouts' Hymn"
• Joint Exercises