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by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

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The Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment,[1] is a Philippine Army unit specializing in anti-guerrilla jungle warfare, raids, ambushes, close quarters combat, urban warfare and sabotage.

Their headquarters is based at Camp Pablo Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan.[2][3]

The regiment is also known as Musangs (in English, Scout Rangers)[1][4]

History

The First Scout Ranger Regiment was formed on November 25, 1950, under the command of former AFP Vice Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary Rafael M. Ileto[5] The unit was modelled after the Alamo Scouts and the US Army Rangers.[6] The FSSR was created due to a growing need to counter the Hukbalahap guerrillas with a force trained in small unit actions.[7] Initially known as the Scout Ranger Training Unit (SRTU), they were made up of 5 man teams, made up of one officer and 4 enlisted men.[8] SRTU teams used deep penetration tactics to infiltrate Huk-held territory and take out their units.[8] In 1954, the Army decided to combine all active SRTU units into the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment.[8]

During the Cold War, the FSRR provided training for prospective commandos of the Royal Laotian Army.[6]

The Scout Rangers participated in the December 1989 coup attempt against the administration of Corazon Aquino.[9] Led by then Captain Danilo Lim, Major Abraham Purugganan and Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Galvez, some 2500 Rangers took over Makati in the most destructive coup attempt against the Aquino administration[10] which left hundreds of civilians and soldiers dead, and hundreds more injured.

The Scout Rangers played a major role in capturing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebel camp during the 2000 all-out war against the MILF.[11]

During the Battle of Marawi of 2017, Scout Rangers were the first elite units deployed with the 1st Infantry Division to neutralize the Islamic State-inspired groups the Maute and Abu Sayyaf and their leaders Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers. During the battle, the Rangers incurred many casualties including a veteran Captain of the battle of Zamboanga city. A Scout Ranger is credited with killing Hapilon during the final stages of battle.[12]

President Duterte was awarded the SR badge in 2017.[13]

Organization

Units

The following are subordinate battalions and companies of the First Scout Rangers.[citation needed]

Battalions

  • 1st Scout Ranger Battalion
  • 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion
  • 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion
  • 4th Scout Ranger Battalion
  • 5th Scout Ranger Battalion

Companies

  • 1st Scout Ranger Company "Reconnaissance"
  • 2nd Scout Ranger Company "Venceremos" (Sp., "We will win")
  • 3rd Scout Ranger Company "Terminator"
  • 4th Scout Ranger Company "Final Option"
  • 5th Scout Ranger Company "Salaknib" (Iloko, "Shield")
  • 6th Scout Ranger Company "The Cutting Edge"
  • 7th Scout Ranger Company "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (L., "Under this sign thou shalt conquer")
  • 8th Scout Ranger Company "Destruere Hostis Deus" (L., "Destroy the enemy of God")
  • 9th Scout Ranger Company "Angát sa Ibá!" (Tag., "Above all others!")
  • 10th Scout Ranger Company "We Lead" (Ultimus Fortis)
  • 11th Scout Ranger Company "Pericoloso" (It., "Dangerous")
  • 12th Scout Ranger Company "Always Ready"
  • 13th Scout Ranger Company "Warrior"
  • 14th Scout Ranger Company "Mabalasik" (Tag., "Fierce")
  • 15th Scout Ranger Company "Mandirigmâ" (Tag., "Fighters" or "Warriors")
  • 16th Scout Ranger Company "Mabangís" (Tag., "Vicious")
  • 17th Scout Ranger Company "Mapanganib" (Tag., "Dangerous")
  • 18th Scout Ranger Company "Makamandág" (Tag., "Venomous")
  • 19th Scout Ranger Company "Dimalupig" (Tag., "Unbeatable")
  • 20th Scout Ranger Company "Hellcat"
  • 21st Scout Ranger Company "Mapangahas" (Tag., "Fearless")
  • 22nd Scout Ranger Company "Cul Peri Duro" (Tag., "Strike Hard")

Training

Scout Ranger training has made the distinction that a graduating class must undergo an actual combat mission.[14]

In November 2021, the Scout Rangers have conducted joint training with Kopassus operators.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Cabunoc, Maj Harold. "Scout Rangers: The legend continues". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Philippines to scrap future war games with U.S." September 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "DND sets aside P83M for rangers' project". The Manila Times. October 20, 2020.
  4. ^ https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192965
  5. ^ Conboy (1991), pp. 27–28.
  6. ^ a b Conboy (1991), p. 28.
  7. ^ "A salute to the brave". The Philippine STAR.
  8. ^ a b c "1st Scout Ranger Regiment".
  9. ^ "The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: V: The Failed December 1989 Coup: Pre-Coup Events and Battle Zone Narratives | Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines". web.archive.org. October 11, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "MUTINY BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF 1989 SIEGE". web.archive.org. March 24, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Revisiting Camp Abubakar, ten years later". July 9, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "Army commander shares how they killed Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute". cdodev.com. October 17, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  13. ^ President Duterte receives Honorary Scout Ranger Badge from First Scout Ranger Regiment ops.gov.ph 24 November 2017Archived 10 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Go, Miriam Grace (May 25, 2018). "Marawi's silent heroes: Scout Rangers remember their days on the battlefield". RAPPLER. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "Scout Rangers, Indonesia Special Forces conclude 2-week training". Philippine News Agency.

Bibliography

  • Dennis V. Eclarin, Scout Ranger Combat Guide (Third Edition), 2003, The Philippine Star.
  • Conboy, Kenneth (1991). South-East Asian Special Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1855321069.
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