ABOUT THE FLEET-MARINE READY FORCE

Before the creation of Fleet-Marine Ready Force (FMRF), the Ready Force was provisionally organized on 16 November 1964 under the operational and administrative control of the naval operating force and its headquarters located at port area, manila. The following year, it was officially activated as a unit of the AFP, with CAPT ALCARAZ PN designated as its 1 st commander. In the closing years of the 60’s, the 1 st SEATO exercise was conducted and awarded with commendation by no less than the CSAFP with CAPT PASTOR VIADO PN at the helm. Headquarters Ready Force then transferred to manila naval station with CAPT DIOSCORO PAPA PN in command. HRF was again transferred to Fort Santiago Manila in June 1971.

Two years later; it was re-designated as a special unit of the Philippine Navy and renamed Fleet Readiness Command. After the term of RADM OGBINAR AFP as FOIC PN, Ready Force was eventually deactivated. However, on 06 april 1990, Ready Force was again activated as a unit of the Philippine Fleet and subsequently became a force of the fleet with its home base at Fort Santiago, Manila with CAPT PABLO P PEREZ PN as commander. Then, Hqs Ready Force was transferred to Naval Base Cavite in May 1996 and the helm of command was handed over to several senior officers.

On August 01, 2001, Ready Force was re-designated as the new ready force under the operational control of the FOIC, PN with COMMO MARIO SONTILLANOSA AFP as its commander.

A year later, it was again returned to the administrative and operational control of Philippine Fleet.

Then, on 12 January 2009 Ready Force was separated from Philippine Fleet and reconstituted on 15 January 2009 as an operating command of the Philippine Navy under the Flag Officer-In-Command and renamed as FLEET-MARINE READY FORCE.

Rationale for FMRF activation: the AFP requires the establishment of a “national maneuver force” which can be deployed immediately for contingencies and emergencies of strategic importance. This was evident when rogue elements of the MILF conducted series of terrorist acts following the Supreme Court rejection of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). At that time, the AFP was required to field an appropriate force to contain the threat posed by the lawless MILF groups. FMRF was activated to address the same nature of threats.

Vision: we shall be the navy’s competent, responsive, and dynamic force ready to respond to any contingency in support of the Philippine Navy mission.

Its present mission is to conduct naval operations in designated area of operations in order to accomplish the AFP mission.

Moreover, the following is our recommended mission statement: to organize, train, maintain and deploy naval forces for prompt naval and maritime operations in the designated area of operations in order to accomplish the AFP mission

To realized this mission the following are the FLEET-MARINE READY FORCE functions:

To provide command and control, communications, and intelligence (c3i) to operational control units. To conduct internal security operations in support to the UC campaign plan. To conduct territorial defense operations in maritime area of interest. To conduct limited disaster response/humanitarian assistance operations. To conduct international defense and security engagement activities. To conduct training activities to enhance operational readiness of staff and operational control units To evaluate naval doctrines formulated for the fleet through conduct of exercises or study of actual naval operations. To plan and conduct of unilateral, bilateral, & multilateral naval exercises.

Fleet-marine Ready Force area of responsibility is primarily the National Capital Region. Moreover, as a national maneuver force, it could be deployed in troubled areas while the territorial forces are consolidating.

ADDRESSING ISO

FACILITIES

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

PN – PAF interoperability exercise participated by PF units and the 15 th Strike Wing of Philippine Air Force The RP – US Balikatan 2008 The PN – RMN EX MALPHI LAUT 11/08 held at Sandakan and Labuan Malaysia with the different training conducted. The Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training 2008 or CARAT 2008 The Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) that saw the participation of the AFPCC

Also, we conduct preparation for the participation of fleet units by providing the conduct of training support activities such as:

PMA Navy Group and NOCC officers preparatory training which include sea phase and on the job training aboard fleet vessels The synthetic exercises as part of pre – exercise training for the units afloat participating in unilateral and bilateral exercises.

Human resources are the most valuable investment of the fleet. To take care of this asset, we conduct the following activities in order to enhance interpersonal relationship, work efficiency and effectiveness of its manpower:

The force focuses its resources to support command activities and core competencies enhancement by conducting:

Stability and support operations Conduct of ore to fleet units afloat in order to enhance and hone the skills of its personnel on different shipboard evolutions. A total of 21 ships assigned to different naval task forces were subjected to Operational Readiness Evaluation (ORE). Participate in ship’s visit on foreign vessel calling on philippine ports.

The force also extended its arm by contributing to national effort through support to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation thru:

Transport of relief goods to disaster area. Conduct of rescue and retrieval to calamity stricken region. Initiated collection for contributions of relief goods such canned goods, bottled water and noodles to typhoon victims. Also, the force is constantly on the go by inspecting readiness and preparation of pf disaster response unit to react during times of emergency in the PNRTU 90.5.8 area of responsibility. The force ensures the promotion of goodwill and cooperation by hosting for reception visiting foreign navies. Moreover, the force ensures that the fleet – marine tandem of the navy is well prepared by providing training and exercises that enhance the interoperability of the sailors and the marines.