The Philippine Marine Battalionshe Philippine MarineBattalion is the maneuverelement of the PhilippineMarine Corps. The

Battalion, when attached withsupporting elements, it isdesignated as a MarineBattalion Landing Team. It isthe operational element that"projects the force, carriesout the mission, fires theweapons, sheds the blood, landson enemy beaches and takes thehigh ground."(Gallant Warriorsfrom the Sea; p.30)

Composed of three rifleCompanies and a Headquarters and Service Company the battalion isaugmented with supporting units for its specific mission. These can beadditional vehicles for transport, wheeled armored vehicles, amphibiousassault vehicles, artillery, watercraft, etc.

An MBLT is a combined arms force of the Fleet-Marine Team that willproject power from the sea, through amphibious operations inland fromthe coastline. The Combined Arms concept integrates infantry, armor,artillery, CSS and more recently special operations capability into thebattalion making it able for independent action on ground operations.

The MBLT and its components in 48 hours can be ready to move by Land,Air or Sea to the objective area and carry out operations depending onavailable shipping and aircraft.

There are ten Marine infantry Battalions in the Philippine MarineCorps. They are organized as 3 Battalions in a Marine Brigade. OneBattalion is usually rotated to Headquarters Philippine Marine Corpsfor refitting and retraining for about six months or more and thendeployed to the field.

Three Brigades are deployed in their area of responsibility; theydirect the operations of the Battalions under them while providinglogistical and administrative support.

In 1997 the 6th Marine Battalion organized a Special OperationsPlatoon. It was composed of Scout Sniper Squad and Hostage Rescue Teamfor urban and counter terrorist operations that were expected to beencountered in their up coming deployment in Jolo, Sulu, well known forhostage taking and urban conflict by rebels and lawless elements.

With the success of the 6th Battalion's innovation, other Battalionsbegan to organize their Special Operation Teams. The 6th Battalionconducted the second Scout Sniper Course in Bud Dato, Sulu that trainedMarines from the different Battalions of the 3rd Marine Brigade onJolo. This has led to standardizing the training and procedures forMarine Battalion Landing Teams that are Special Operations CapableMBLT(SOC) in 2001.

The addition of this limited Special Operations capability allows theFleet-Marine Force Commander to respond to a threat in any part of thePhilippines. The task of the MBLT(SOC) is quoted as "To Shoot, Move andCommunicate. To take that hill and hold it. Find, Fix and Finish theenemy. To be a force in readiness equipped and trained to handle a widespectrum of tactical operations in present and perceived internal andexternal threats."