Brawner hails Special Forces

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. lauded the Philippine Army’s Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) for its “continued excellence, adaptability, and future-ready posture” during its 63rd founding anniversary celebration on Saturday.

Brawner, a former Special Forces operator himself, reminded troops of the rapidly evolving landscape of modern warfare — and the growing need to stay agile.

“The world is changing rapidly,” he told the troops. “We are now living in an era of multi-domain warfare where threats come not only with bullets but with bytes and broadcasts.”

He stressed that modern threats are no longer confined to traditional battlegrounds, with cyberattacks and information warfare emerging as powerful tools of disruption.

But amid the changing tides, Brawner said the Special Forces remain as vital as ever.

“We were born to be agile and adaptable,” he said. “From unconventional warfare to riverine operations, from intelligence gathering to influence shaping — the Special Forces remain our sharpest edge, our quiet strength.”

The celebration featured a wreath-laying ceremony at the AFP Special Operations Command Memorial to honor fallen comrades, followed by a capability demonstration by the Special Forces School.

Brawner also led the awarding of outstanding officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian partners in recognition of their service and contributions to the unit’s mission.

A drop zone marker was also blessed in honor of retired Major General Jose P. Magno Jr., one of the pioneers of the Special Forces and an early paratrooper leader.

Joining the event were several senior military officials, including Brig. Gen. Rosendo C. Abad Jr., current Special Forces commander; Maj. Gen. Ferdinand B. Napuli, Army Inspector General and former SF commander; and Maj. Gen. Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte, commander of the 7th Infantry Division.

Looking ahead, Brawner also outlined the military’s modernization vision for the Special Forces, including enhanced interoperability with other units and deeper cooperation with international partners.

“We are building future-ready Special Forces — capable of operating on land, at sea, in cyberspace, and beyond,” he said.