MARINE CORPS SQUAD FIGHTER PROGRAM

BACKGROUND he Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) Squad Fighter Program (SFP) was conceptualized in March 2005 as a response to numerous complaints and criticisms from Marine Battalions (MBn) that the capabilities of combat organizations at different levels have degenerated after almost four decades of fighting the Philippine Insurgency War. This degeneration was revealed in a research conducted, and is indicated in: low troop fill-up of combat organizations; low quality of/ deteriorated combat equipment, low level of confidence in combat leadership at different levels of combat organizations; and poor combat skills inventory of different combat elemental tasks/functions. To arrest the further degeneration of combat capabilities, the Marine Corps leadership has launched a robust program to address the root causes of and provide a systematic long-term solution to the problem. The SFP aims to enhance the Marine Corps combat capabilities by focusing on the development of the basic combat formation THE SQUAD, through an integrated approach. The SFP is an umbrella program; it integrates existing projects and crafts needed projects to provide focal point for a single objective of enabling the units to be mission capable. The SFP is not a stray endeavor. This is also an upshot of efforts by the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to upgrade its capabilities to deal with the different threats to national security. The SFP is conceptualized with the Agenda of the Philippine Defense Reform (PDR) as one of its baselines. Under priority program nr 2 of PDR is the Battalion of Excellence (BOE); SFP is one of the focus programs to achieve the goals of BOE. Likewise, this is integrated with the over-all development plan of the PMC as stipulated in the PMC Road Map 2024, and one of the principal agenda of the 22nd Commandant Major General Ben D Dolorfino AFP.

THE SQUAD FIGHTER. he Squad Fighter is based on the principle that the over-all strength of an organization is derived from the potency of its smallest units. If the fire-teams and squads are strong, the platoons and companies will be strong, and the battalions will be strong. As MGEN DOLORFINO stated, if we strengthen our squads everything else will follow. At present, our lowest maneuvering unit is the Marine Company. When was the last time that a Commander has dispatched a Marine Platoon during combat situation (except for the SOP)? Every time that there is a combat mission we always send in at least a Marine Company. The reasons for these are many: poor combat leadership, poor communication capability, low firepower and low fill-up among others. This will have to end. The Squad Fighter will enhance the operational effectiveness of the Marines by strengthening their fighting capability at lowest level of combat organization. This will further breakdown our tactical maneuvering units from companies to platoons and further down to squads. This will create a multiplier effect during tactical situations. Instead of engaging the enemy as a company, we will engage them as squads, thereby creating multiple contact points during encounters. Squad Fighter will increase the combat capability of the Marines by empowering the small units squads and fire-teams during combat situations Likewise, the Squad Fighter, as a program, shall endeavor to make the Marine Squads mission capable now and in the future, and usher it through the long-term development in line with the intents of the PDR and Roadmap 2024. From the present to the future, the goal of the SFP is to restore and transform the Marine Squads and make it as the foundation. Throughout the 1990's, the unit was intensely engaged against several kidnap-for-ransom (KFRC) gangs in Central Mindanao. One of the most celebrated accomplishments of the unit during this period was the rescue of Father BLANCO and Anthony BIEL from the Abu Sayyaf. The encounters by the unit which preceded this rescue, together with other Marine units operating in Basilan were the first ever series of encounters by the AFP against the ASG. The successful operation and rescue in Camp Almadina, Basilan earned for the unit not only national prestige but the second Medal for Valor for the Marine Corps in the person of 1LT CUSTODIO PARCON PN(M), who led the assault. This operation soon led to several intense but nonetheless successful combat operations against the ASG and the MNLF Lost Command in Basilan and Jolo, which unfortunately escalated to alarming heights with the arrival of the Philippine Army in the area. COMPONENTS OFTHE SQUAD FIGHTER PROGRAM. A. Doctrines. The very basic foundation of the SFP is the tenet by which all Marines base their

accepted practices; the body of principles that governs Marine behavior on and off combat. Doctrines are both written and unwritten. It is driven by rules or established by precedence. To a certain degree, it is archaic something that is being taught and practiced for quite a long time. B. Small-Unit Leadership. The first pillar of the SFP is small-unit leadership. As the old leadership tenet says there are no bad units, only bad leaders. As such, the SFP shall endeavor to build a strong leadership foundation for the Marines who shall lead the squads. The Marine Corps Training Center (MCTC) has already indulged itself in focusing some of its career courses to develop leadership in specific positions at different levels of combat organization. The Marine Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Course (MBNCOLC) has been redesigned to focus on the leadership of squad. Additionally, to prepare Corporals to handle small leadership positions such as fire-teams the Junior NCO Course (Corporal Course) has been introduced. The Squad and fire-team leadership training shall be done in a continuing manner. There will be formal leadership training conducted at the Marine Corps level (MCTC) such as career courses, and informal trainings that are inclined in tactics conducted at the MBN and MBDE levels. C. Functional Skill Sets. The Second pillar of SFP is the functional skill sets which are the Individual Combat Tasks of squad members and the Squad Collective Task. Prolonged exposure to ISO has, in one way or another, confined Marines to isolated detachments and restrained them from continuously honing their individual skills and teamwork. Sustained combat operations have increased their adaptability to realities that resulted to a high degree of complacency and degeneration of individual proficiencies. SFP shall restore the full manning of the Marine Squads and FireTeams in every Marine Platoon, and once again perfect the functional skill sets so that every member of the squad can outstandingly perform their individual combat task. It shall ensure that every squad shall be restored and composed of the squad leader and two fire-teams. Each fire-team shall be composed of the Fire-Team Leader, Scout Rifleman, Grenadier and Automatic-Rifleman. Two additional skills and responsibilities were added. One of the Scout Riflemen in the squad will be the Designated Marksman, and one of the Grenadiers will be the Designated Combat Lifesaver.

SFP shall not only enhance the individual functional skill sets of squad members but shall drive it towards a synergy. Teamwork shall be maintained through a continuing team building and training conducted at the MBN level. Company Commanders shall ensure that squad-work will be maintained through continuous team building activities. D. Equipment and Technology. The third pillar of the SFP is the equipment and technology. The Squad Fighting System (SFS) Acquisition Project is composed of several projects under. different acquisition phases of the AFPCUP that were approved for procurement by the President on 15 May 06; these are funded. The following projects are under the SFS: 1. Squad Inter-related Weapon System (SIWS) - This is an undertaking to acquire the standard weapons of a fire team. In addition to the current inventory, more 40mm Grenade Launchers (M203s) and Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) are being procured. The old M16s will be upgraded to M16A2/A4 and M4. The Squad Designated Marksman Rifles are also in the pipeline. 2. Squad/Team Inter/Intra Communication System Personal Role Radio (STICS-PRR) - is a low powered intercom radio that provides command and control for the direction of movement and fire. It also allows shared situational awareness through conversations among the squad this is squad chatter. This radio can interface with our existing Harris handhelds (HH)/manpacks (MP) (Combat Net Radio) and PRC77 through a double switch thereby giving squad leaders/platoon commanders with option to talk to subordinates and higher units in different nets using one radio. STICS is basically aimed to enhance the overall fighting capability of PMC fighting forces at squad level. It involves equipping the squad with capabilities for C2 of the fire team and individual elements necessary to deliver a coordinated fire and maneuver for close combat. This equipment is especially and ergonomically designed to allow and maintain fighting while consistently communicating with each element in a squad. 3. Combat Net Radio (CNR) System. CNR is the PMCs over-all C2 system. It provides the architecture for the C2 from HPMC down to all levels of combat organization and up to other higher echelons of command. Relatedly, STICS is critically interoperable with CNR system. CNR will compliment the requirement of the squad to securely communicate to adjacent and higher echelons of command. The present CNR of the PMC, the RF-5800H (HF/VHF) and RF5800V (VHF), has adequately met the short medium long range secure communications requirement of the PMC. 4. Amphibious Night Fighting System (ANFS). The Amphibious Night Fighting System is a systems and comprehensive approach to night fighting capability enhancement. This will transform our squads from the current seeing at night to fighting at night. Simply put, we will be able to see and kill the enemy at night using available technologies. Standardization and modularization are the approach used in building this system. The following equipments and peripherals are being acquired: Night Vision Device Monocular with peripheral equipment Close Combat Optic, IR Lasers, Tactical Illuminator, Picatinny Rails, etc., Thermal Imager, Motion Sensor and Beacon IR.

5. Combat Navigation and Observation System. Also in the pipeline are standard infantry navigational equipments such as Global Positioning System (GPS) and Compass. Binoculars will also be procured to enable combat leaders to observe distant object through magnification. 6. Squad Survival and Protection System. We do not only intend to raise our capability to neutralize the enemy but we also intend to increase our combat survival. Force protection gears are continuously being acquired: 1) Headgear/Helmet, 2) Body Armor Vest, 3) Battle Dress Attire, 4) Gloves, 5) Knee and Elbow Protector, 5) Eye Protector, 6) Combat Boots, and 7) Gas Mask. Likewise, the Marine Combat Life Saver Kit is being procured to extend the survival time of battle casualties before higher level medical attention is obtained. In summary, The Squad Fighter Program shall restore and transform the capabilities of our squads through an integrated effort by all Marines at different levels of the organization supervised from the Headquarters of the Philippine Marine Corps. This will be achieved by strengthening our doctrinal foundations, enhancing small unit leadership, filling-up the squads and rebuilding functional skill sets, and acquiring needed equipment.