AFP readies elite unit for major security concerns

MANILA, Philippines — The Army has activated an elite brigade of troops trained to deal with major security threats.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto yesterday said activation of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1st BCT) is in support of the national government’s security agenda.

“Let us always be reminded that we are duty bound to secure our country’s sovereignty and the integrity of our national territory,” Alberto told the officers and men of the newly-formed 1st BCT at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

The 1st BCT will be headquartered at Fort Magsaysay. The elite fighting force will be the Army’s rapid deployable unit to any area of strategic significance across the country.

The unit is composed of two infantry and one mechanized battalions as well as field artillery and engineer combat battalions, military police, explosive ordnance, chemical, nuclear and biological experts as well as a medical platoon.

The 1st BCT’s primary task as a contingency force is to provide operational flexibility when called into action by any of the unified commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The 1st BCT is scheduled to train under “Salaknib” joint exercises involving Filipino and American forces. The newly formed combat team will also be representing the Army in next year’s joint Philippine-US Balikatan exercises.