AFP photo
The Commander of United States Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) met with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff General Ricardo Visaya Monday, July 18.
Major General (US Army) Bryan Fenton, commander of the said US unit, paid a courtesy call on the General Visaya at the Hall of Flags at the General Headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo.
SOCPAC forces are operating in multiple high-priority Pacific Theater countries, increasing partner nation capabilities to defeat international terrorism, improving cultural understanding, and fully prepared to meet emerging threats.
In January 2002, soon after terrorists attacked the United States, SOCPAC deployed to the Southern Philippines as JTF 510, conducting counterterrorist operations with the Philippine Government under Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. JTF 510 redeployed on 1 September 2002, leaving stay-behind elements to form Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) and continue operations with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
In June 2014, JSOTF-P was officially concluded, ending a successful 14-year mission. American forces continued to operate in the Philippines under the name Pacific Command (PACOM) Augmentation Team.