Tacloban City–The First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) team topped the first-ever edition of Katihan Patrol during the competition’s closing ceremony at Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on September 30, 2024.
“The diverse activities that transpired in our Katihan Patrol were not only integral to the development of our soldiers but have also served as a platform to test, evaluate and enhance the operational capabilities of our tactical units in various competencies. With the Katihan Patrol’s constructive simulation of scenarios, we aimed to determine the teams’ readiness in support of our Land Defense Concept,” Army Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Leodevic B. Guinid said in his remarks on behalf of Army Chief Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido.
The FSRR Team tallied an overall rating of 88% followed by the 2nd Infantry Division Team which scored 82.50% and the 5th Infantry Division Team which garnered 82.20%. The three teams received the Silver Medal Award bestowed on units that earned overall scores of 80% to 89% and no less than 55% in any single assessed task.
Katihan Patrol 2024 assessed the operational capabilities of 153 personnel from various Philippine Army units through a demanding 50-kilometer patrol exercise covering Bulacan’s rugged terrain. Patterned after the UK’s Exercise Cambrian Patrol, the said competition also prepared the Army’s tactical units to be at par with allied forces worldwide that participate in international military training activities and exercises.
The six-day Katihan Patrol tested the participants’ skills in military briefing, close-quarter battle (CQB), prisoner of war (POW) handling, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense, reconnaissance patrol, river crossing, patrol base operations, call for fire procedures, land mine breaching and explosive identification, tactical combat casualty care, jungle raid and marksmanship skills.
