Nomadic Warriors

As the country’s best small unit strike force, especially in jungle warfare, the Scout Rangers are the ‘Kings of the Jungle.’ Give them a mission and it will be accomplished at all costs.

A typical Scout Ranger operation, however, is difficult to describe. It is normally a mixture of various operation types all rolled into one. One thing is sure: Scout Ranger operations come with endless preparation.

Whether or not in actual combat, Scout Rangers love competition and extreme challenges. They are primed to be physically fit and mentally tough at all times so that they are up to task when called upon. The spirit of a winner always shows in the way they accomplish their multi-faceted missions.

Scout Rangers are nomadic warriors. They go where they are ordered to go. They can operate in Luzon today and in Sulu the next day or in any remote area their mission takes them. They have that peculiar privilege of moving around the entire Philippine archipelago in an instant.

Scout Rangers get to places that other soldiers can only dream of – uncharted areas in isolated islands, unspoiled beaches, and mountain forests with bubbling brooks that calm the spirit and evoke memories of long-ago innocence. They meet kind- hearted folk who offer succor and welcome, and occasionally, in dangerous circumstances, face up to hostile elements in life-and- death battles. 

The life of a Scout Ranger is physically, emotionally, and mentally strenuous. It is full of sacrifices which can sometimes tax personal relationships to the point of breaking. One Scout Ranger line unit even got the distinction of being teasingly called the “No time for love” company. Many vied, or are still vying for the title, “Hard to get.” They are real troopers: fun to be with but fearless in battle.

Unlikely, Unwavering Faith

Scout Rangers are undaunted by challenges. Tough lives they may lead from the personal to the professional but Rangers never back out from any challenge. Every day they toughen up and prepare for any obstacle. Being a Scout Ranger is a way of life.

It is common to see troops reading verses from their pocket bibles or other religious reference books before and after combat operations, and during their spare time inside the camp or in their Tactical Command Posts (TCP). Next to being physically prepared and psychologically fit for battle is a Scout Ranger’s commitment to spirituality. They believe that everything they do will fail without the blessing and guidance of God.

One item that is surely found in the backpack of a Scout Ranger is the Bible or a similar Holy Book, whether he or she is in the jungles of Mount Sinumaan in Sulu, the hinterlands of the Sierra Madre in Luzon, the breathtaking terrain of Mount Kitanglad in Northern Mindanao or the treacherous Liguasan Marsh in Central Mindanao.

Faith in the goodness and justice of God binds all Scout Rangers, regardless of religion. Everyone in the team recites in unison Psalm 91 before jump off. To them, the verses in the Psalm is a holy mantra that says the mission is for the people and for God – the Supreme Being which has given them His blessing to fight for good.

Team Cohesion

Scout Rangers always work as one fighting team. The basic seven-man team is the heart and soul of all Scout Ranger units. It is a cohesive team; a product of the countless adversaries they have prevailed over, as well as the fun and adventures they have shared through the years. 

Within the team, a Scout Ranger helps determine each member’s limitations and capabilities, including his or her own. A judicious assessment of each other is paramount to the success of a team since it will be operating on its own for long periods of time.

When a new member joins a team, his teammates treat him like a kid brother who needs utmost attention and guidance. A senior team member is assigned to be a mentor-buddy in order to help the new member adjust to the team.

The newbie is quickly taught basic Scout Ranger tactics and the team’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The mentor- buddy takes the newbie to a number of real patrols to hasten the integration process. The end goal is always to enable the new member to get fully assimilated into the team at the soonest possible time.

After a few weeks, the mentor-buddy will brief his team leader and platoon sergeant on the progress of the new member. From there, the platoon sergeant either puts the newbie into the team or recommends that the new member be sent to another, more suitable team. In most instances, however, the newbie blends easily with his original team’s fighting style.

The Scout Ranger team has an irregular set up. It may be the only group in the AFP which recognizes the philosophy that the person with the highest rank in the team is not necessarily the person- in-charge. The teams can be run by anyone regardless of rank, if deemed capable by the platoon leader.

Fielding an experienced and capable, lower ranking Scout Ranger as team leader is a decision that is always respected by all teams. This viewpoint is grounded in the axiom: Only the team matters, not any individual. Everyone is judged based on performance. The so-called “prima donna syndrome” is rightfully shunned in Scout Ranger teams.

In between missions, Scout Ranger teams remain under the control of their team leaders. The chain of command is kept intact until a re-organization is directed by competent authority. This concept is intended to maintain and enhance teamwork. 

Whatever lull period the team gets is not entirely spent on hibernation. This is usually allotted for training and planning for the next mission. This is a built-in activity and labor of love among Scout Rangers.

--NO MAN LEFT BEHIND (2018)