CAMP CAPINPIN, Rizal - The 2nd Infantry "Jungle Fighter" Division (2ID) secured a strong second-place finish in the Philippine Army’s (PA) inaugural "Katihan" Patrol competition held at the Headquarters, First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) in Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan from September 25 to 30.
The five-day competition aimed to test the operational readiness of PA units in a rigorous 50-kilometer patrol across Bulacan’s challenging terrain, with the teams evaluated on various tasks including military briefing, close-quarter battle, prisoner of war handling, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 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.
Second only to the FSRR team which garnered an overall rating of 88 percent, the Jungle Fighter team achieved an impressive score of 82.50 percent, beating the 5th Infantry "Star” Division which earned 82.20 percent.
The 2ID Commander Brig. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr. expressed his pride in the team's impressive performance, congratulating the troops for this achievement.
He highlighted how the Jungle Fighters demonstrated not only their tactical expertise but also the grit and resilience that have long been the hallmark of the Division.
Brig. Gen. Balaoro added that this milestone is a clear reflection of the 2ID's continued commitment to excellence and preparedness in safeguarding the nation's security.
The "Katihan" Patrol is designed to sharpen the Army's tactical capabilities and prepare its units to match international standards, drawing inspiration from the United Kingdom’s renowned Exercise Cambrian Patrol.