Editing Phoenix Program (section)

===Training and Equipping===
The CIA trained PRUs in counterinsurgency tactics, including reconnaissance, ambushes, interrogation techniques, and small-unit combat. Training emphasized stealth, intelligence collection, and rapid strikes, often conducted at night to maximize surprise.

PRUs were equipped with advanced U.S.-supplied gear, including M16 rifles, radios, and sometimes silenced weapons, which distinguished them from regular South Vietnamese forces. They also had access to vehicles and helicopters for mobility.

PRUs were taught CIA-developed interrogation methods, which ranged from psychological pressure to, in some cases, brutal techniques like waterboarding or beatings. These methods, often applied in provincial interrogation centers, fueled accusations of human rights abuses.