Special Operations Command (Philippines)

Special Operations Command, Philippine Army
Unit insignia of SOCOM, PA
Active	January 16, 1978 - Present
Country	Philippines
Branch	Philippine Army
Type	Special Operations
Role	Airborne operations, Direct Action, Reconnaissance, Unconventional Warfare, Target Interdiction,
Size	3 Regiments, 1 Training Group (Provisional).
Garrison/HQ	Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija
Engagements	Anti-guerrilla operations against the NPA and Southern Philippines Seccesionist Groups (SPSGs) consisting of the Moro National Liberation Front, MNLF Lost Commands and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Counter-terrorist operations against JI cells such as the Abu Sayyaf Group; and, Participation in Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines
Decorations	Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge Presidential Streamer Award
Commanders
Current commander	MGen Donato San Juan II AFP
Notable commanders	COL David Abundo Jr. PA (INF) (GSC) GEN Hermogenes Esperon AFP GEN Victor Ibrado AFP LTGEN Arturo Ortiz AFP

The Special Operations Command (SOCOM) of the Philippine Army is the command that is responsible for planning, conducting, and supporting special operations for the Philippine Army. Currently, units under SOCOM are the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne),Scout Ranger Regiment and the Light Reaction Regiment.

The mission of SOCOM is to plan, conduct and support special operations in all operational environments in support of the Philippine Army's mission.

SOCOM forces are employed based on the following core capabilities:

The ASWABde

SOCOM, PA traces its roots to the Army Special Warfare Brigade (ASWABde) that was organized in 1978. The ASWABde was a first attempt to rein in the specialties of the Special Forces and the Scout Rangers, two army units that have among the most highly trained personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and structure their collective efforts into a highly effective army unit.

Following the destabilization attempts of the late 1980s, ASWABde was deactivated and the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) was placed directly under the control of Headquarters Philippine Army while the First Scout Ranger Regiment was unfilled.

Re-organization during the 1990's

Finding a new need to bring together the efforts of the two regiments, the reorganization of a command to control these elite units was brought up. Additionally, the re-organization and reassignment of Operational Controls in various units of the AFP also affected the decision to re-establish a "Special Operations Command".

On 25 July 1995, SOCOM was created at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. The First Scout Ranger Regiment was stationed at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan while the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) was transferred to its traditional home at Fort Magsaysay.

During its establishment as SOCOM in the mid-1990s it had three sub-commands, namely: the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) that was tasked to plan for and conduct Unconventional Warfare Operations; the First Scout Ranger Regiment that was tasked to conduct special reconnaissance and direct action operations against high-value targets; and, the Psy-Ops Group that was tasked to plan for and conduct psychological operations in designated areas.

The Psy-Ops Group was later detached from SOCOM and was assigned to the Civil Military Operations Group, PA (CMOG, PA).

Currently, SOCOM is composed of three combat units with distinct capabilities that perform various missions in the conduct of special operations, namely: