The 710th Special Operations Wing is the rapid deployment force of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), which is divided into ten-man airborne attack teams as most of its members are airborne qualified.

The wing also controls the 772nd Explosives and Ordnance Squadron and the 773rd K-9s Kennels.

Tasks

The mission of the 710th Special Operations Wing include the following:

1. Conduct contingency operations against hostile elements and civilian mass actions.
2. Co-ordination of air strikes
3. Explosive Ordnance Disposal operations; K-9 and handler training on explosives and bomb detection
4. Civil disturbance control
5. Honour/ceremonial functions of the Philippine Air Force.

Having proven its capability during times of crisis, this Villamor-based wing has been recently transferred to Clark Air Base to assist the 600th Air Base Wing in its security requirements.

Overview

The unit serves as the Air Force’s Workhorse in dealing with Special Operations and supports the AFP’s thrust for intensified Internal Security Operations (ISO). In line with its mission, the elite group of combatants has accomplished numerous ISO related tasks for the first quarter of this year. With the occurrence of bomb scares and terrorist attacks heightening in the country, the Wing has conducted a total of 919 K-9 paneling operations to different PAF bases and installations as well as routine paneling to different AFP installations including civilian offices and agencies.

A total of 7 dispatches for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel responded to bomb threats as requested by concerned citizens from Angeles City, to as far as Jolo, Sulu. The wing also conducted Interoperability Operations with the elements from 202nd Bde and 15th Strike Wing last February, in the First District of Batangas. Also in the same month, personnel from the 750th Combat Group conducted a joint ACTAF, NAKTAF, PACER and NCRPO in Cubao,Quezon City which resulted to the rescue of KFR victim Kenshi Yu (also known as Ken-ken), and the apprehension of Mitchelle Gumabao Yap a.k.a. Dennis Roldan. Aside from these operations, the Combat Groups of the 710th SPOW, in an effort to protect the environment, conducted Anti-Illegal Logging Operations within the area of responsibility (AOR) of Batangas, Cavite and Quezon provinces. Strongly driven by the motto, “Train Hard, Fight Easy” the unit continues to upgrade and conduct highly-specialised training for its officers and personnel to better address the pressing problems related to internal security. To date, 29 classes of varied special operation courses have been accomplished.

The humanitarian side of the Wing was once again seen during the 710th SPOW 13th Foundation Anniversary last 2 July 2004 when the Wing conducted Military Civic Action Activities (CIVAC) which included administering anti-polio vaccines which benefited 65 children from Brgy. Calumpang, Mabalacat, Pampanga; bloodletting; medical and dental civic action programme (MEDCAP) which benefited a total of 1,628 residents from Calaca, Batangas. Other civil-military operations which benefited thousands of residents from different areas in the country were also conducted early this year. These operations bring the Wing closer to the people, and helps build trust and confidence and respect for the AFP as a whole.

Recent operations

The 710th SPOW has been recently involved in the Manila Peninsula Mutiny after being called in to rein in renegade soldiers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. It is now being headed by Col. Jesus A. Fajardo.

Units

• 720th Special Operations Group
• 730th Combat Group located at Nasugbu, Batangas is originally composed of BMT Class 2003-A.
• 740th Combat Group located in Fernando airbase Lipa city. It is the first combat group of the Philippine Air force composed of majority graduates of BMT class 2001 A and 2001 B. The original design of the 740th was to be a task group known as balanggay. Later it has been assigned as a combat group.
• 750th Combat Group located in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. It is the main component of NCR Command to subdue any hostile acts in the vicinity of Metro Manila and nearby provinces. With a rapid deployment capability they can be on site within matter of minutes which was proven in the “peninsula siege marines stand off”. They are also capable on civil military operations conducting white area operations and civic actions even in disaster and relief operation during typhoons Milenyo, Glenda, and Undoy.
• 760th Combat Group
• 770th Special Operation Combat Support Group

The 4th Alpini Regiment was a light Infantry regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Today the 4th Alpini Regiment is a special operations unit, it is an elite mountain infantry unit specialized in the airborne assault role. This regiment is a ranger type unit.

Formation

The 4th Alpini Regiment was formed on November 1, 1882. It consisted of the three battalions: Val Pellice, Val Chisone and Val Brenta, named after the valleys from which the battalions soldiers were recruited. In 1886 the battalions were renamed, taking their new names from the location of their main logistic depot: Pinerolo, Aosta and Ivrea. In 1888 the Pinerolo was subordinated to the 3rd Alpini Regiment and in exchange theSusa 2° battalion was transferred from the 3rd to the 4th Alpini. In 1908 the Susa returned to the 3rd Alpini and in the city of Intra the Pallanzabattalion was raised as substitute, with existing companies from other Alpini battalions. In 1909 the Pallanza was renamed Intra battalion. Thus the regiments structure in 1910 was:

• Ivrea with the Alpini companies: 38, 39, 40
• Aosta with the Alpini companies: 41, 42, 43
• Intra with the Alpini companies: 7 (former Aosta company), 24 (former Pinerolo company), 37 (former Ivrea company)

On September 25, 2004 the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed as 4° Alpini Paracadutisti (Alpini Parachutist) Regiment in the city of Bolzano. The existing Alpini Parachutist Monte Cervino battalion was placed under the command of the reformed regiment. Today the 4th regiment is one of three Special Forces regiments of the Italian Army. The Alpini Paracadutisti have recently served in Iraq and one company is constantly deployed in Afghanistan.

The Heckler & Koch MP5 is currently one of the most widely used submachine guns in the world, having been adopted by numerous law enforcement agencies and special forces groups due to the reliability of the sub-machine gun. In the 1990s, Heckler & Koch developed the Heckler & Koch UMP, the MP5′s successor, though both remain in production.

Heckler & Koch, after the success of the G3 automatic rifle, developed a family of small arms consisting of four types of firearms (all based on a common G3 design layout and operating principle), where the first type was chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, the second—using the 7.62x39mm M43 round, third—the intermediate 5.56x45mm NATO caliber and the fourth type—chambering the 9x19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge. The MP5 was created within the fourth group of firearms and was initially known as the HK54.

Development on the new sub-machine gun began in 1964 and scarcely two years later the MP5 was adopted by the German Federal Police, border guard and army special forces.

The MP5 is manufactured under license in several nations including Greece (formerly at EBO – Hellenic Arms Industry, currently at EAS – Hellenic Defense Systems), Iran (Defense Industries Organization), Mexico (SEDENA), Pakistan (Pakistan Ordnance Factories), Saudi Arabia, Sudan (Military Industry Corporation), Turkey (MKEK), and the United Kingdom (initially at Royal Ordnance, later diverted to Heckler & Koch Great Britain).

The primary version of the Heckler & Koch MP5 family is the MP5A2, which is a lightweight, air-cooled, selective fire delayed blowback operated 9x19mm Parabellum weapon with a roller-delayed bolt. It fires from a closed bolt (bolt forward) position.

The fixed, free floating, cold hammer-forged barrel has 6 right-hand grooves with a 1 in 250 mm (1:10 in) rifling twist rate and is pressed and pinned into the receiver.

Variants

The MP5A2 has a fixed stock (made of a synthetic polymer), whereas the compact MP5A3 has a retractable metal stock.
In the early 1970s HK introduced a conversion kit for the MP5 that enables it to use sporting ammunition (.22 LR). This unit consists of a barrel insert, a bolt group and two 20-round magazines. This modification reduces the cyclic rate to 650 rounds/min.

The MP5A2 and MP5A3 are available with optional 4-position trigger groups; these are known as the MP5A4 and MP5A5 respectively. The trigger groups are marked with bullet pictograms rather than letters or numbers (each symbol represents the number of bullets that will be fired when the trigger is pulled and held rearward with a full magazine inserted in the weapon) and are fully ambidextrous (the selector lever is present on each side of the trigger housing). The additional setting of the fire selector, one place before the fully automatic setting, enables a two or three-shot burst firing mode.

H&K offers dedicated training variants of these weapons, designated MP5A4PT and MP5A5PT (PT – Plastic Training), modified to fire a plastic 9x19mm PT training cartridge produced by Dynamit Nobel of Germany. These weapons operate like the standard MP5 but have a floating chamber and the bolt lacks both rollers to function properly when firing the lighter plastic projectiles. To help identify these weapons blue dots were painted on their cocking handles and additional lettering provided. The PT variant can be configured with various buttstocks and trigger groups and was developed for the West German Police and Border Guard.

The modular design of the MP5 offers multiple trigger groups: three-position “SEF” fire selector (positions: “S”-safe, “E”-semi automatic, “F” fully automatic. Located on left of receiver only); three-position fire selector (positions: safe, semiautomatic and a 2 or 3-round burst; selector lever is ambidextrous and its settings are marked with pictograms); four-position fire selector (positions: weapon safe, single fire, 2 or 3-round burst, full auto; ambidextrous selector; selector settings marked with pictograms); two-position fire control group (positions: weapon safe, single fire only; ambidextrous selector lever with pictograms) and a three-position fire selector group – the so called “Navy” trigger (settings: weapon safe, semi-automatic, fully automatic fire; ambidextrous selector lever; selector settings marked with bullet symbols again).

A variant with the last trigger group designated the MP5-N (N – Navy) was developed in 1986 for the United States Navy. This model has a collapsible stock, a tritium-illuminated front sight post and a 225 mm (8.9 in) threaded barrel for use with a stainless steel sound suppressor made by Knight’s Armament Company together with suppressed subsonic ammunition.

The 707th Special Missions Battalion is part of the Republic of Korea’s Army Special Warfare Command (ROKA SOCOM). The unit is South Korea’s primary counter terrorist and quick reaction force. The unit’s soldiers – distinguished by their black berets – are tasked with conducting urban counter terrorist missions, and constitute the Army’s quick-reaction force for emergencies

Support and demolitions teams also exist to sit along side the main teams. They are headquartered in Songham, southeast of Seoul. Counter-terrorism training for the 707th is specialist. Training for the 707th Special Mission Battalion requires that all operators must be members of before selection to the 707th is a full year long, including six months of basic infantry combat skills and another six months of special warfare training.

All members of the 707th are SCUBA and parachute qualified. It is reported that members frequently perform daily calisthenics in the snow and sub-zero temperatures and will swim in freezing lakes without any thermal protection. It is also reported that the 707th maintains a group of combat qualified female operators for use in situations where a woman would not be suspected of posing a risk, such as an airline hijacking where food and medicine might be allowed to be taken on board.

The 707th uses a wide variety of foreign and locally produced weapons. Pistols that they use include the Colt .45 and the Daewoo 9mm, Berretta M9 9mm. The HK MP-5 is now used as a submachine gun for assaults. Both the Daewoo K1 and K2 assault rifles are used, mostly modified for assaults with the addition of forward pistol grips and in some cases low-light and night vision devices. Modified M- 60E3’s and and K3 Beltfed are used for machine gun support. For rearguards a Tactical a Benelli Super-90 shotgun with pistol grips is used For light sniping the HK PSG-1 and M-24 7.62mm rifles have been used, heavier sniping needs are cause for the M-40 .50 and RAI .50 caliber weapon to be broken out.

The 707th Special Mission Battalion provided security for VIPs and for key facilities during the 1986 Asian Games and during the 1988 Olympics. At both events, terrorist attacks were considered to be a real danger. The 707th’s soldiers are assigned urban counterterrorist missions. They also constitute a quick-reaction unit for other kinds of emergencies and special-warfare requirements in wartime.

The 707th Special Mission Battalion also trains with foreign special forces partners, such as U.S. Army’s Delta Force, British Special Air Service, Russian FSB, Alpha Group, French GIGN, FBI HRT, Hong Kong SDU, and Singapore Police Force STAR. The purpose is to experience and increase relationships and exchanges with international Special Forces communities

The Benelli M3 is an updated version of the Benelli M1 shotgun. M3 uses same inertia recoil semi-automatic Benelli M1 before. The Benelli M3 has a maximum of seven rounds and uses the patented Benelli semiautomatic first presented in the M1. M3 is known to allow the user the option of semi-automatic or pump operation. It is reliable and versatile, and popular with police and civilian athletes.

Pump-action operation of the pump-action is used when shooting less powerful shells, such as rubber bullets, which do not generate enough recoil to use semi-automatic mechanism. By contrast, semi-automatic mode to be used with more powerful shells, absorbing some of the decline. Switching between the two modes is done by manipulating the lever on the front of the front handle.

Benelli M3 also features a removable stock allows the user to select one of the two styles, the traditional population of values or a shotgun pistol.

The Benelli M3 is an updated version of the Benelli M1 shotgun. M3 uses same inertia recoil semi-automatic Benelli M1 before, but adds another Benelli patented feature, which allows the shooter to lock the semi-automatic action and switch to manually operated pump action and back during the seconds. The action type switch is in the front of the forearm, and is configured as an annular knurled ring. The rotation of this ring is the action involves pumping system closes and locks the recoil system semi-automatic, or loosening of action bars, locks the forearm and allows the inertia recoil system to operate the action automatically . This improves the versatility of the shotgun to shoot a low-powered ammunition (mostly of special purpose, such as less-lethal rubber bullets or tear gas) in the operating mode manually pumping and fire fighting full loads against power with slugs or buck shot in the semi-fast mode. Underbarrel tubular magazine usually has eight rounds of the police or military versions, or less in some civilian models.

The M3 Super 90 is available with different barrel lengths and stock options, with fixed butt and semi-pistol or pistol grip, or with high folding butts and pistol grip. Vista comes with open sights shotgun, rifle type open sights, ghost ring (diopter) sights and various supports for the red dot or low magnification telescopic sights or tactical lights and laser pointers.

The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality. The M4 has selective fire options including semi-automatic and three-round burst (like the M16A2), while the M4A1 has a “full auto” option along with three-round burst.

The M4 and variants fire 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition (or .223 Remington ammunition) and are gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire firearms with a multi-position telescoping stock. Original M4 models had a flat-ended telescoping stock, but newer models are now equipped with a redesigned telescoping stock that is slightly larger with curvature at the end. The M4 is similar to much earlier compact M16 versions, such as the 1960s-era XM177 family. Some of those visual designs are obvious in both weapons, however most of the similarities are not very noticeable.

As with many carbines, the M4 is handy and more convenient to carry than a full-length rifle. The price is slightly inferior ballistic performance compared to the full-size M16, with its nearly 6″ (15 cm) longer barrel. This becomes most apparent at ranges of 300 yards and beyond. Statistically, however, most small-arms engagements occur within 100 yards.[citation needed] This means that the M4 is very much an adequate weapon for the majority of troops. The marginal sacrifice in terminal ballistics and range, in exchange for greatly improved handling characteristics, is usually thought to be a worthwhile compromise.

While the M4′s maneuverability makes it a candidate for non-infantry troops (vehicle crews, clerks and staff officers), it also makes it ideal for close quarters battle (CQB). The M4 was developed and produced for the United States government by Colt Firearms, which had an exclusive contract to produce the M4 family of weapons through 2009;[citation needed] however, a number of other manufacturers offer M4-like firearms. The M4A1, along with the M16A4, have mostly replaced the M16A2; the U.S. Air Force, for example, plans to transition completely to the M4. The M4 is also the standard rifle for U.S. Air Force Security Forces members whether at home station or deployed abroad. They maintain a yearly qualification on it.

The United States Marine Corps has ordered its officers (up to the rank of lieutenant colonel) and Staff Non-commissioned officers to carry the M4A1 carbine instead of the M9 handgun. This is in keeping with the Marine Corps motto, “Every Marine is a rifleman.” United States Navy corpsmen will also be issued M4A1s instead of the M9.

Variants of the M4

M4A1

The M4A1 carbine is a fully-automatic variant of the basic M4 carbine intended for special operations use. The M4A1 has a “S-1-3-F” (safe/semi-automatic/3-round burst/fully automatic) trigger group, while the M4 has a “S-1-3″ (safe/semi-automatic/3-round burst) trigger group. The M4A1 is used by almost all U.S special operation units. The M4A1 is especially favored by counter-terrorist and special forces units for close quarters combat because of the carbine’s compactness and firepower. These features are also very useful in urban warfare. Although the M4 has less effective range than the longer M16, many military analysts consider engagement with a non-specialized small arm above a range of 300 meters (330 yd) to be unnecessary. It is effective at ranges of 150 meters (160 yd) or less and has a maximum effective range of about 500 to 600 meters (550–660 yd).

In the last few years, M4A1 carbines have been refit or received straight from factory with barrels with a thicker profile under the handguard. This is for a variety of reasons such as heat dissipation, which is useful due to the complaints of high-heat production from test soldiers, which occurs during full-auto and accuracy as a byproduct of barrel weight. These heavier barrel weapons are also fitted with a heavier buffer known as the H2. Out of three sliding weights inside the buffer, the H2 possesses two tungsten weights and one steel weight, versus the standard H buffer, which uses one tungsten weight and two steel weights. These weapons, known by Colt as the Model 921HB (for Heavy Barrel), have also been designated M4A1, and as far as the government is concerned the M4A1 represents both the 921 and 921HB.

SOPMOD Block I

USSOCOM developed the Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) Block I kit for the carbines used by units under its jurisdiction. The kit features an M4A1, a Rail Interface System (RIS) handguard developed by Knight’s Armament Company, a shortened quick-detachable M203 grenade launcher and leaf sight, a KAC sound suppressor, a KAC back-up rear sight, an Insight Technologies AN/PEQ-2A visible laser/infrared designator, along with Trijicon’s ACOG and Reflex sights, and a night vision sight. This kit was designed to be configurable (modular) for various missions, and the kit is currently in service with special operations units.

SOPMOD Block II

A second-generation SOPMOD kit (now known as SOPMOD II) is currently under development, with many different manufacturers competing for the contract. Notable bidders include Knight’s Armament Company, Atlantic Research Marketing Systems (ARMS), and Lewis Machine & Tools. Daniel Defense has won the contract for the RIS-II, the next generation of rail handguards.