The Philippines Constabulary: An Example of American Command of Indigenous Forces

From 1901-1917 the Philippine Constabulary, led by US Army officers, showed that Americans could exercise effective command of indigenous forces. Communicating with and influencing both indigenous and American elites to secure the resources necessary to align ends, ways, and means meant these officers could set a solid political and strategic foundation for an indigenous force. Further, developing an organization that embraced flexibility and mobility at the operational level and exuded esprit de corps at the tactical level ensured development of a force that the Filipinos came to not only be proud of, but also saw as essential to their future.