Navy Adm. Robert Willard, head of U.S. forces in the Pacific, will offer the keynote address tonight at the Hawaii Foodbank’s 16th annual Patriots Celebration, which will salute special operations forces in the Pacific.

Special Operations Command Pacific has more than 300 personnel headquartered in Hawaii from Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Air Force special operations and support personnel.

The command also has units in Japan and Guam, and with Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, which has 500 to 600 personnel.

Willard said commandos "have always been critically important to Pacific Command’s mission."

"Right now, in the Asia-Pacific region, our special forces are focused on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, mainly in the area of helping foreign militaries and security forces cope with this," Willard said.

SOCPAC has been assisting the Philippines for seven years in its fight against extremist groups Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah, and has been successful in controlling both.

"(Those groups) were out of control at the time that we went in to help the armed forces of the Philippines," Willard said.

Pacific special ops forces also provide humanitarian assistance and work with India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries to counter extremism.

The Patriots Celebration will be held at 6 tonight at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Reservations are still being accepted at 836-3600, ext. 244.