Philippine Scout Mutiny

The Philippine Scout Mutiny was a mutiny by the Philippine Scouts of the Philippine Division which occurred in July 1924.

The Philippine Scouts were raised by the US Army during the Philippine American War (1899-1902). They served as auxiliaries to the US units and assisted in various duties such as navigation and combat. In the early 1920s, these scouts began to function as American units. They made up the core of the American military rule in the Philippines. However, they were not given the same benefits as their American soldier counterparts. With growing discontent, a mutiny was staged on July 7, 1924 at Fort William McKinley but was quickly quelled.

Many of the scouts who staged the mutiny were sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The US Army made no changes in the Scouts' pay, recruitment policies or leadership promotions. The indifference by American authorities in refusing to acknowledge the disparities would mirror the lasting struggle of Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II for equal benefits.