THE culmination of the 36th National Reservist Week on September 5 coincided with the retirement of AFP Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM) chief Brigadier General Johnny Macanas and turnover of command to Brigadier General Leoncio A. Cirunay, Jr.
In accepting responsibility for the command, BGen. Cirunay said: “This is a dream come true for me. Ang Reserve Command po and unang bumuhay ng dugong makabayan sa akin noong ako ay isang ROTC Cadet pa lang ng Univerisity of Mindanao.”
This year’s theme, “Laang Kawal: Kaakibat sa Patuloy na Pagbubuklod Tungo sa Kapayapaan, Kasaganahan at Kaunlaran ng Bayan,” was showcased during the anniversary celebration at Camp Aguinaldo where a capability demonstration and awarding ceremonies was held and attended by reserve soldiers from different units nationwide coming from the AFP Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM), Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM), Navy Reserve Command (NAVRESCOM) and the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command (PAFRESCOM).
Demonstrations of the different capabilities of individual units were displayed, such as medical, rescue, and other logistical capabilities used in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response operations.
One of the new attractions this year is the remote-controlled aerial drone of the Civil Military Affairs Brigade Reserve (CMAB) capable of taking video footages while being controlled by a pilot 8 clicks away.
The unit also now owns a man-portable cell site TMAS (Text Messaging Alert System) which can send emergency broadcast messages to cellphone users within a 5-kilometer radius.
“These modern capabilities are part of our unit’s efforts in adhering to the mandate of becoming a world-class armed forces and a source of national pride,” Lt. Col. Nathaniel Marquez PA (Res), CMAB head of operations, said.
In the afternoon, Chief-of-Staff Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri and Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin honored the best reserve units and reserve soldiers of the year at the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club. The Plaque of Merit was awarded to 1st (AFP) Arsenal (ARMSCOR) Battalion for being AFP’s “Affiliated Reserve Unit of the Year CY 2015.”
The country’s reserve forces are citizen soldiers, both men and women, who maintain full-time careers in the civilian sector yet are ready to defend the country’s sovereignty if the need arises.
They are enlisted or commissioned to devote their specialized skills, time and services to AFP projects such as national development, community relations, medical missions, and disaster response. BEEN THERE DONE THAT/JOSEPHINE JARON-CODILLA