Marines: Special Forces Riverine Companies in the Philippines

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June 3, 2007: The Philippines has organized two Special Forces riverine companies in the last year, each with 120 troops and over a dozen boats of various sizes. A third company is now being formed, with the help of 40 boats being donated by Australia. The three riverine companies also operate along the vast coastlines of the dozens of inhabited islands that comprise the Philippines. Terrorists, and criminals, have increasingly been using speedboats, and more mundane craft, to move along coasts and between islands. The Special Forces companies have well trained troops, good communications, night vision gear and weapons that can stop the night movements of the enemy. The riverine companies have made use of water transport much more difficult for Islamic terrorists and smugglers.

 

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