In Cebu City, members of the 1901st Ready Reserve Infantry Brigade are currently engaged in a rigorous month-long marksmanship training program, as confirmed by a senior army official on Monday. This training, known as record firing, is designed to assess and enhance the shooting skills of the reservists using 5.56mm rifles.
Col. Edgar Mangabay, who leads the 7th Regional Community Defense Group, emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader strategy by the Philippine Army Reserve Command to sharpen both the combat and non-combat abilities of its reservists. The training sessions are scheduled over three weekends in February, under the command of Brig. Gen. Erik Miguel Espina.
Mangabay highlighted that the reservists are not only trained in marksmanship but are also subjected to various other skill-enhancing programs to ensure they are ready to support the regular forces during emergencies. He stressed the importance of regular record-firing exercises to maintain and improve their combat effectiveness.
The roles of the reserve force extend beyond combat, encompassing disaster relief, participation in military exercises, and providing support during peacetime. Mangabay noted that reservists also play crucial roles in disaster response and rehabilitation, leveraging their training in humanitarian aid and civil-military operations.