The Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment, is a special operations forces of the Philippine Army (PA) that specialized in combat patrol and scouting behind enemy lines with special operations forces (SOF) style. This unit is similar to the 75th Ranger Regiment of the United States Army (USA). Their headquarters is based at Camp Pablo Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan. The regiment is also known as Musangs (in English, Scout Rangers).

History

The First Scout Ranger Regiment was formed on November 25, 1950, under the command of former AFP Vice Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary Rafael M. Ileto The unit was modelled after the Alamo Scouts and the US Army Rangers. The FSSR was created due to a growing need to counter the Hukbalahap guerrillas with a force trained in small unit actions. Initially known as the Scout Ranger Training Unit (SRTU), they were made up of 5 man teams, made up of one officer and 4 enlisted men. SRTU teams used deep penetration tactics to infiltrate Huk-held territory and take out their units. In 1954, the Army decided to combine all active SRTU units into the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment. During the Cold War, the FSRR provided training for prospective commandos of the Royal Laotian Army. The Scout Rangers participated in the December 1989 coup attempt against the administration of Corazon Aquino. Led by then Captain Danilo Lim, Major Abraham Purugganan and Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Galvez, some 2500 Rangers took over Makati in the most destructive coup attempt against the Aquino administration which left hundreds of civilians and soldiers dead, and hundreds more injured. The Scout Rangers played a major role in capturing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebel camp during the 2000 all-out war against the MILF. During the Battle of Marawi of 2017, Scout Rangers were the first elite units deployed with the 1st Infantry Division to neutralize the Islamic State-inspired groups the Maute and Abu Sayyaf and their leaders Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers. During the battle, the Rangers incurred many casualties including a veteran Captain of the battle of Zamboanga city. A Scout Ranger is credited with killing Hapilon during the final stages of battle. President Duterte was awarded the SR badge in 2017.

Training

Scout Ranger training has made the distinction that a graduating class must undergo an actual combat mission. In November 2021, the Scout Rangers have conducted joint training with Kopassus operators.