Cebu Army reservists upgrade skills, combat capabilities

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 7, 2023): Cebu Army reservists upgrade skills, combat capabilities (By John Rey Saavedra)

MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING. Photo shows Army reservist, Staff Sgt. Adonis Quitoy, head of the security office of a giant mall in Cebu City, assisting a fellow volunteer during the "Tansan Challenge" marksmanship training at the Visayas Command firing range in Camp Lapu-Lapu on Feb. 5, 2023. Brig. Gen. Erik Miguel Espina on Tuesday (Feb. 7) said the marksmanship is included in the monthly skills training of the 1901st Reader Reserve Infantry Brigade. (Photo courtesy of 1901st Public Affairs Team)

CEBU CITY – Army reservists in Cebu province will undergo monthly skills training to upgrade their capabilities in both humanitarian operations and combat tactics to prepare them for disaster and territorial emergencies, an official said on Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Erik Miguel Espina, head of the 1901st Ready Reserve Infantry Brigade, said the initiative for regular skills advancement activities came up during the recent Assembly Test where the reservists gathered for capabilities inventory as well as records updating.

Apart from being a “force multiplier” for disaster emergencies, Espina said there is also a need to send reservists to continuous training to expose them to different combat capabilities even without actual threats.

“In other countries, they have recruitment centers, one has to fill out a form (and) then become a reservist. If you are a citizen, you are welcome because you are willing to give your time to serve. In our country, it is pure volunteerism, it’s a privilege to serve (the reserve force),” he told the Philippine News Agency.

Espina commended the reservists for attending a one-day marksmanship proficiency training and a lecture on field artillery on Sunday (Feb. 5).

“They are supposed to be with their families because (that) was a Sunday. But because of their love of service to our Inang Bayan as volunteer soldiers, they underwent a crash course on field artillery and hone their skills on rifle shooting,” Espina said.

Reservists Technical Sergeant Andy Chua, a businessman, and Staff Sergeant Adonis Quitoy, head of the security office of SM Seaside, assisted their fellow reservists in marksmanship proficiency training dubbed as "Tansan Challenge" at the Visayas Command’s firing range.

Retired Maj. Gen. Alan Bontuyan gave the reservists an overview of artillery operations, discussing the effective range and lethality of mortars, 105mm and 155mm Howitzers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194567