Elite unit's 'students' in Basilan clash now graduates - Marine chief

The Marine commandant declared as graduates Force Reconnaissance class number 13, which fought Abu Sayyaf bandits in Ungkaya Pukan town in the island-province of Basilan last Saturday that left dead 15 “students," including five young lieutenants. “They are already graduates of that course. The remaining officers and men will distributed to the regular companies of the Force Recon," said Philippine Marines Corps commandant Major General Nelson Allaga. The Force Recon Battalion is the Philippine Marine Corps’ main special forces unit and is comprised of four companies, each with about a hundred men. Those who want to join the unit undergo an intensive six-month training that culminates in a "test mission." The assault on the Abu Sayyaf camp was Force Recon class no. 13’s test mission. Only 29 of the 44-man class survived the clash. Allaga commended the class for Saturday’s operation that resulted in the death of at least 42 Abu Sayyaf members, including brothers Furuji and Umair Indama. The military said the Indamas were recognized Abu Sayyaf leaders who among those who beheaded 10 of 14 Marines killed in an earlier clash in Al-Barkah town in Basilan last July 10. "These fallen Marine heroes have accomplished their mission. They got the Abu Sayayf camp. Unfortunately, we really paid a dear price, we paid a price here, but many of them (Abu Sayyaf) got killed also," said Allaga. He said that those in the Force Recon class are not neophyte soldiers, noting that these have completed the Marine Officers Basic Course for officers, and the Marine Basic Warrior Course for enlisted personnel. The Marine commandant said the corps would still review their training doctrine because of the high number of casualties. But Allaga maintained that there will still be a test mission after training. “That will remain because that’s the test, that is the final test. They should engage (enemies)…This is the culmination (of their training)," he said. The Force Recon class was accompanied by elements of the 64th Force Recon Company in the bloody firefight that started early in the morning and lasted through the evening. Some 40 Abu Sayyaf members are believed to have fled after Marines overran their camp. Ten members of Force Recon class no. 13 were also wounded in the clash. -GMANews.TV