President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday vowed his “unassailable commitment” to the Philippine Army’s Special Forces Regiment Airborne (SFRA), noting that the unit’s “unconventional warfare strategy has become all the more relevant and significant in view of the complex threats our nation now faces.”
“We assure you of the administration’s unassailable commitment and that of your Commander-in-Chief’s support of all your undertakings, strengthening your capabilities and ensuring your welfare and that of your families,” the President said in a speech during the SFRA’s 61st founding anniversary held in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
Aside from witnessing a capability demonstration of the SFRA, the President also awarded badges of honor to outstanding members of the unit.
President Marcos, who once trained with the SFRA and is qualified as a Special Forces operator, also thanked the unit for demonstrating “competence and professionalism even in the most challenging of times” and for working as “dependable sentinels for the Filipino people.”
“You have exemplified self-sacrifice and resilience, going beyond the call of duty to safeguard communities towards the attainment of internal security and the peace of the Republic,” the President said.“I think it would be safe to say that you have lived up to your name as the silent professionals,” he added.
The President also urged the SFRA to continue supporting the Filipino people in times of crisis as he assured them of his commitment to strengthening its capabilities and ensuring their welfare and their family.
“Through the responses for humanitarian assistance, you have created a ripple of hope in communities, increased our people’s trust in the military and in the government,” the President said.
Founded by former President and then-Captain Fidel Valdez-Ramos back in 1962, the SFR(A) is an elite Army unit trained in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, as well as community relations and other unconventional warfare operations.
It continues to train with its Western counterpart, the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets), which the SFR-A was based on. The most recent training of the two elite units was held in February last year.
The President further said that the government has adopted the Riverine Operations Equipment Project (ROEP) to further improve the capabilities of the SFRA in riverine operations, referring to the insertion and extraction of special forces troops for rescue and other special military operations.
National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. was present during the 61st anniversary of the SFRA in Nueva Ecija along with Special Assistant to the President Sec. Anton Lagdameo and other members of the cabinet.