The unit's tasks were also expanded to cover all facets of unconventional warfare in a maritime and riverine environment. This includes but is not limited to demolition, hostage rescue, harassment, force protection and maritime tactical operations.
History
The predecessor unit to the NAVSOCOM, the Underwater Operations Team or UOT was activated on 5 November 1956 as a special operations unit of the Philippine Navy.[3] Patterned after the US NavyUnderwater Demolition Teams and the ItalianDecima Flottiglia MAS with modifications for Philippine conditions, from its founding the UOT was charged with conducting underwater operations in waterways, beach areas and harbors in support of Philippine naval operations. These operations included underwater explosive disposal, mine countermeasures, salvage and search and rescue. In 1959, the UOT was expanded and redesignated the Underwater Operations Unit (UOU), then as the Underwater Operations Group (UOG).[4]
The UOG was then renamed Special Warfare Group (SWG) in 1983,[5] then Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG), and later on as the Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) on May 30, 2005.[6]
The unit took the Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) name on July 7, 2020.[7] Among the changes included the name change from the Naval Diving Unit (NDU) to the Naval Diving Group (NDG).[1]
On August 20, 2022, the Philippine Navy made NAVSOCOM a regular combat support command with Commodore Alfonspin Tumanda Jr as the commanding officer, taking over from Captain Dwight Steven Dulnoan.[8]
On November 6, 2022, Vice President Sara Duterte paid a visit to the unit in Sangley Point, Cavite during the 66th anniversary celebration of the unit's founding.[7]
Role
The unit specializes in Sea, Air, Land(SEAL) operations ranging from reconnaissance, close combat, demolition, intelligence and underwater operations in support of overall naval operations. The unit gained prominence in a number of counter-terrorism operations, most notably against the Abu Sayyaf Group, and is known for its highly-demanding physical training program which is based on the United States Navy SEAL program.[9]
Training
The NAVSOCOM training program is known as Basic Naval Special Operations Course (BNSOC). The program is physically and mentally demanding and is regarded as one of the toughest military selection programs around the world. Candidates have to swim 3 kilometers and run 10 kilometers every day. Furthermore, they must swim 14.6 nautical miles from Roxas Boulevard in Manila to Sangley Point, Cavite City without any rest. They also undergo "Hell Week", considered as the most demanding week of BNSOC training.[5] Candidates have to carry out demanding physical team events with their boat crews without any sleep at all for an entire week. In one BNSOC class, only 21 students remained from 79 applicants who originally started the BNSOC training program. These are only the common and basic training phases of BNSOC, with further evolutions of the training (including interrogation resistance) remaining highly classified.
Under Filipino law, women can apply to become SEALs, but thus far none have. Prospective SEALS are put through BUD/S, which lasts for four months and can often stretch into six with breaks between phases.[10]
United States influence
There are similarities between the Philippines Naval Special Operations Command and the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. NAVSOCOM operators are trained and operate in a manner similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs. They also wear a trident similar to their U.S. Navy counterparts.
NAVSOCOM Operators (Aiming) with counterparts from Australian Special Forces during Balikatan 2019
The Filipino counterpart of the U.S. counterterrorist United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) is the Philippine Naval Special Reaction Group (SRG), which operates under the direction of Naval Intelligence.[11]
A Philippine Navy SEAL Team demonstrates their capabilities to the 74th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference in Manila, Nov. 8, 2007
They frequently train with their American counterparts and operate alongside the Philippine Marines and the Philippine Army's Special Operations Command (SOCOM).[12][13]
Units
NAVSOCOM is composed of the following units as of 2020:[14]
Type Groups
Headquarters, NAVSOCOM
SEAL Group (SEALG)
Special Boat Group (SBG)
Naval Diving Group (NDG)
Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (NEODG)
Combat Service Support Group (CSSG)
NAVSPECOPNS Training and Doctrine Center (NSOTDC)
Naval Special Operations Units (NAVSOUs)
Each unit is made up of 3 to 6 special operations and support teams, each of which have 8 sailors (1 officer, 7 enlisted).
Naval Special Operations Unit 1
Naval Special Operations Unit 2
Naval Special Operations Unit 3
Naval Special Operations Unit 4
Naval Special Operations Unit 5
Naval Special Operations Unit 6
Naval Special Operations Unit 7
Naval Special Operations Unit 8
Naval Special Operations Unit 9
Naval Special Operations Unit 10
Naval Special Operations Unit 11
Equipment
NAVSOCOM is known to use the hk 416 M4 assault rifles, M60 GPMG and M110 sniper rifle and night vision pvs 14s some may use pvs 31s.[15]
10 fast boats were acquired by the unit in December 2020.[16]
^Military balance : the annual assessment of global military capabilities and defence economics 2017. Arundel House, Temple Place, London, UK: Routledge, Taylor & Francis for The International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2017. ISBN978-1857439007. OCLC960838207.
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