| Philippine Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) | |
|---|---|
 NAVSOCOM Insignia | |
| Active | November 5, 1956 - Present |
| Country | Philippines |
| Branch | Philippine Navy |
| Type | Special Operations Forces |
| Part of | AFP Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite City, Province of Cavite |
| Nicknames | Palaka (Frog) (stands forPAndagat, LAngit, at KAti; Sea, Air, Land) |
| Mascots | Shark, Frog |
| Anniversaries | November 5 |
| Engagements |
|
| Decorations | _Streamer.png) Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge Presidential Streamer Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | COMMO DWIGHT STEVEN M DULNOAN PN |
| Notable commanders | COMMO AP TUMANDA JR PN-NAVSOCOM CAPT DSM DULNOAN PN-NAVSOG CAPT AVP ABAYON PN-NAVSOG CAPT AP TUMANDA JR PN(COMMO)-NAVSOG CAPT RB FAJARDO JR PN(COMMO-RET)-NAVSOG CAPT RJ GALANG PN(RADM-RET)-NAVSOG CDR EC RAMOS PN-NAVSOG CDR RP DAVID PN(RADM)-NAVSOG CDR SZ FELIX PN(RADM-RET)-NSWG LCDR RM SARMIENTO JR. PN-NSWG CAPT PR ACACIO PN-NSWG CDR RF NAPILIAN PN-SWG CAPT JL ADVINCULA PN-SWG LCDR PI FILIO PN-SWG CDR RS REYES PN-SWG LCDR BM GEMPIS PN-UOU LCDR LG DEL MUNDO PN-UOU LTJG RV NAVARRO PN-UOT-UOU LTJG RN BALUYOT PN-UOT |
| Insignia | |
| US-RP Navy SEAL Team Badges |  |
| Naval SCUBA Diver Badges |  |
| RP-US Airborne Badges |  |
| EOD Badges |  |
TheNaval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM)[1] is a separate command of thePhilippine Navy trained inspecial operations,sabotage,psychological andunconventional warfare and is heavily influenced by theUnited States Navy SEALs. NAVSOCOM is headquartered at Naval Base Heracleo AlanoSangley Point,Cavite City.[2] It has eleven units located across thePhilippines, from Naval Operating Base San Vicente atSanta Ana, Cagayan in the north to Naval StationZamboanga in the south.
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.
The predecessor unit to the NAVSOCOM, the Underwater Operations Team or UOT was activated on 5 November 1956 as a special operations unit of thePhilippine Navy.[3] Patterned after theUS NavyUnderwater Demolition Teams and theItalianDecima 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 underwaterexplosive disposal,mine countermeasures,salvage andsearch 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]
On 7 July 2020, the unit became the Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) when it was separated from the Philippine Fleet.[2] 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.[7]
On June 19, 2024, a NAVSOCOM commando lost his thumb during fights with Chinese Coast Guard officers after their ships conducted an interception operation at the Second Thomas Shoal.[8]
The unit specializes inSea,Air,Land(SEAL) operations ranging from reconnaissance, close combat, demolition, intelligence and underwater operations in support of overall naval operations.[9] The unit gained prominence in a number ofcounter-terrorism operations, most notably against theAbu Sayyaf Group, and is known for its highly-demanding physical training program which is based on the United States Navy SEAL program.[10]
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 toSangley Point,Cavite City without any rest. They also undergo "Hell Week", considered as the most demanding week of BNSOC training.[5][11] 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 throughBUD/S, which lasts for four months and can often stretch into six with breaks between phases.[12]
There are similarities between the Philippines Naval Special Operations Command and theU.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. NAVSOCOM operators are trained and operate in a manner similar to theU.S. Navy SEALs. They also wear a trident similar to their U.S. Navy counterparts.
The Filipino counterpart of the U.S. counterterroristUnited States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) is the Philippine Naval Special Reaction Group (SRG), which operates under the direction of Naval Intelligence.[13]
They frequently train with their American counterparts and operate alongside the Philippine Marines and the Philippine Army's Special Operations Command (SOCOM).[14][15]
NAVSOCOM is composed of the following units as of 2020:[16]
Each unit is made up of 3 to 6 special operations and support teams, each of which have 8 sailors (1 officer, 7 enlisted).
NAVSOCOM is known to use the HK416, M4 assault rifles, M60E5/E6 GPMG and M110A2 sniper rifle and night vision PVS-14s and PVS-31s, while some SEALs have been seen with Elbit Systems XACT NVGs.[17]
10 fast boats were acquired by the unit in December 2020.[18]
