Philippine Marine Corps
In the case of protecting Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea, and given the archipelagic nature of the country, the Philippine Marine Corps plays a special role. The Philippine Marines (PM) operational and fighting concept dubbed Archipelagic Coastal Defense (ACD) is the first line of action and strategy in defending the country’s territory in case of war and armed conflict. The ACD, which is part of the Philippine Navy’s Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy (AADS), was conceived by the Marines under its commandant Major Gen. Ariel Caculitan and would become the new operating concept of the PM after it was approved by Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo in April 2021. The ACD defined the tasks of the Marines and how they should operate and adapt to the current and future operational environment, while spelling out how they should be integrated into the naval, joint and inter-agency operations.
Under the ACD, Marine operating forces (MOFs) would execute the strategy through its “seaward, landward, and supporting maneuvers.”
“This concept requires the combination of sensors; command and control; mixed-fires composed of shore-based anti-ship missile system [SBASMS], shore-based air defense system [SBADS], Man Portable Air Defense System [MANPADS], Multi-launched Rocket System [MLRS], and howitzers; coastal maneuver forces; force protection and sustainment capabilities,” the Marines said in explaining the new concept.
The Philippines is an archipelago. It is listed by the World Atlas as the country having the fifth longest coastline in the world — 36,289 kilometers, longer than that of the United States. Our waters contain vast aquatic, mineral and other resources that if explored and developed properly will bring immense wealth to the country and greatly improve the lives of the people. Given this geography, the AFP has formulated an archipelagic defense strategy. A key factor in this strategy is the defense of shores and coastlines. It is here where the Marines play a critical role.
Defending the shores is not merely protecting it from foreign invaders. It is protecting it from terrorists, criminal elements and the like who would enter the country through the very long coastline. It is deterring and countering the theft of aquatic resources through military and other operations launched from the shores. It is providing protection for Filipino entities and citizens through operations from coastal bases.
The Philippine Marine Corps was conceived in 1950 by President Ramon Magsaysay when he was the Secretary of the National Defense. He envisioned a Marine force that was light, hard hitting, highly mobile, and composed of disciplined and dedicated officers and men capable of aggressively and persistently pursing seagoing smugglers, pirates and other lawless elements throughout the archipelago. The Philippine Marine Corps has always measured up to the standard of professional excellence set by President Magsaysay. In its almost five decades of dedicated service to the country, it has served as an effective and indispensable tool of the government for nation building.
The order creating the Philippine Marine Corps was AFP General Order No. 319 dated November 2, 1950. Pursuant to this order, "A" company of the authorized Marine Battalion was activated that same day at Cavite Naval Base, Cavite City. The company consisted of six volunteer officers and eight NCO's from the Philippine Navy, as well as 230 new civilian recruits. Most of the original officers and NCO's who served as drill instructors in the fledgling Marine Corps were veterans of World War II and were former members of the famed Philippine Scouts.
Lt. Manuel A. Gomez, an outstanding member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1941, served as the first Commanding Officer of the Marine "A" Company. In his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the first batch of Marine recruits, Lt. Gomez prophesied this regarding the future role of the Marine Corps in the Armed Forces of the Philippines: "The task of turning these young men into Marines rests upon us. Today as we start the training of these 230 volunteers, we will be striking the first hammer blow in forging the Cutting Edge of the Armed Forces "
Through the years, the Philippine Marine Corps has remained the nation's true force-in-readiness. Today, the corps consists of Headquarters and Headquarters Service Group, Combat Service Support Brigade (CSSB), Marine Corps Training Center (MCTC), three Marine Brigade Headquarters with eleven Marine Battalions under their operational control. To meet the growing combat support requirements of the unit, the Combat Service Support Brigade has absorbed the Assault Armored Battalion (AAB) and Field Artillery Battalion composed of three howitzer batteries placed under the operational control of the three Marine Brigades deployed in operational areas. The Corps also activated the Inshore Boat Company and upgraded the Reconnaissance Company into a Force Reconnaissance Battalion. In 1990, the Marine Guard Battalion was activated to perform security duties at the Senate and the House of Representatives.
For its reserve component, the Corps in 1996 activated the 4th Marine Brigade (reserve), the 202nd and 602nd Marine Reserve Battalions and Marine Mobile Medical and Surgical Company, manned by Marine Reservists from all over the country.
At present, about 87 percent of the total strength of the officers and men of the Philippine Marine Corps are deployed in the Luzon, Mindanao, Sulu and the Palawan regions. These Marines are actively participating in the government's effort to maintain National Security and to assist the local governments in these areas with development.
Today as the Philippine Marine Corps forges its almost five decades of service to country and people its officers and men have constantly time-honored motto of "KARANGALAN, KATUNGKULAN AND KABAYANIHAN." Marines in every assignment have always strived to live up to the renowned standard of excellence of the Corps and have proven their effectiveness in any mission they are tasked to perform.
In recognition of the Organization's faithfulness to its mission, the Philippine Marine Corps today proudly bears the following on its standard: five Presidential Unit Citation Streamers: an AFP Chief of Staff Streamer: The Anti-Dissidence Campaign, Luzon Campaign, Jolo Campaign, Mindanao-Sulo Campaign, Visayas Campaign Streamer; COMELEC Citation Streamer; and the Disaster, Relief and Rehabilitation Operation Streamer.
On 30 September 2012, the Philippine Marine Corps deployed 800 personnel comprising 2 battalions to Palawan Province facing the South China Sea. The mission of the Marines, controlled by a brigade headquarters established in Palawan, would be to patrol and otherwise enforce Filipino claims in the Spratly island chain.
The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) conducted its first-ever coastal defense exercise with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in Cagayan province from October 1 to 4, 2021. “Experts in coastal defense from USMC’s 3rd Marine Division based in Okinawa, Japan trained the PMC on the establishment of strategic coastal defense and deployment of shore-based weapons and combat service support assets to control waterways and sea lines of communications,” PMC said. “This is good start of the training phase in the future execution of the PMC’s archipelagic coastal defense,” it added. The coastal exercise was part of the bilateral military exercises dubbed "Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat” (Kamandag), which commenced on 28 September 2021.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) commenced construction of the Philippine Marine Corps’ (PMC) headquarters and operational facilities at a 100-hectare lot in the BCDA-administered Bataan Technology Park (BTP) in Morong town, with the Php 7.5-billion first phase of the project targeted for completion in 2024. BCDA Officer-in-Charge Office of the President and CEO Atty. Aristotle B. Batuhan, PMC Commandant MGen. Ariel Caculitan and Philippine Navy Vice Commander MGen. Nestor Herico on 05 November 2021 led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Php 28-billion development inside the Bataan industrial complex. The event formed part of pre-anniversary celebrations of the Philippine Marine Corps, which reached its 71st year on November 7. It also highlights the anticipated transfer of the Marines to its new home.
Batuhan said “As part of its relocation and replication program, BCDA is giving up 100 hectares of its land here in Bataan Technology Park for the Philippine Marines Headquarters, which covers only about 12 hectares in Fort Bonifacio. The total replication cost for this development is Php 28 billion and we trust that this will go a long way in enhancing the operational effectiveness and responsiveness of the Marine Corps.”
Unlike its current headquarters in Metro Manila, where operations are hindered by traffic and congestion, the Bataan location was deemed ideal for the Marines as it would help expedite emergency response and ease deployment of troops. The new headquarters will also feature modern, state-of-the-art facilities to ensure more efficient operations.
“The Philippine Marine Corps is excited for this much-awaited groundbreaking ceremony and looks forward to building our new headquarters at the Bataan Technology Park. We see the strategic value of this area and confirm that it offers a conducive place especially that we are in the midst of strengthening our Archipelagic Coastal Defense strategy. We thank the BCDA, the local government, and the people of Bataan for accommodating us here,” Caculitan said.
Phase 1 of the replication project is composed of three site development and construction packages, which are now under various stages of procurement through competitive bidding. The first package of the development mainly involves security and utility facilities, while package 2 consists of a detention facility, a retraining battalion facility, liaison office, billeting, and other operations and support structures for the Marines. The last package includes the PMC headquarters, a communication tower, residential areas and other support facilities.
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