[1][2][3] On 21 December 1941, the United States Congress amended the Selective Training and Service Act by passing the Filipino Naturalization Bill to permit enlistment of all citizens and "every other male person residing in the United States" which enabled the recruitment of Filipino-Americans who were previously not able to enlist.

Its recruitment grew until a 2nd Regiment was needed to be formed to properly organize the manpower.

When it was formed in October 1942 it was initially led by Colonel Charles Clifford at Fort Ord.

The regiment stayed at the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation during October 1943.

[3] The newly formed 2nd Battalion then experienced a brief one month long stay at Camp Stoneman in June 1944.