PAF Chief Commends Reservists for Interoperability Skills

The commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Saturday said the recently-concluded training exercises given to Army and Air Force reservists in Central Visayas has demonstrated their preparedness to be “interoperable among air and ground forces” in case of disaster or national emergencies.

Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez noted that most of the graduates of the air-to-ground operations seminar (AGOS) given by the Tactical Operations Wing-Central (TOWCEN) and the 5th Air Force Reserve Center (5th ARCEN) were officials of local government units and different government agencies in Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental “who all take to heart their social responsibility of serving the nation.”

“Be proud of yourselves as you finish one of the toughest and most functional and employed operational soldier’s skills set in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” Briguez told the 150 Army and 34 Air Force reservists who graduated from the AGOS training in a ceremony held at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base Theater in Mactan Island, Cebu.

According to Briguez, the training prepared the reservists to be interoperable among air and ground forces, “guiding the helicopters and be deployed anywhere as you egress from our helicopters through your very challenging PLF (parachute landing fall).”

Briguez commended the reservists for enduring the training given by the PAF which he described as “physically demanding”.

“I know how tough it must have been for all of you to remain physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fit throughout this whole exercise,” he said.

Briguez underscored “speed and accuracy” as two principles of execution for both the reserve and regular forces.

“After all, strategy without focused actions is nothing more but moot and academic, while speed without effective and flexible alternatives is a game of luck, where one shall eventually lose in,” he stressed.

“Everything that we do, we must keep moving forward, with thoughtful and adaptable attitude, paired with accuracy and agility to act as fast and as forces, as opportunities and threats arise,” he added.

The drills, Briguez said, enabled the reservists to fully understand and adopt skills to perform the concepts of employment and operation utilization of PAF air assets when engaged either in combat missions and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

Lt. Col. Jose Tadeo Javier II, commanding officer of the 5th ARCEN, said in his welcome message that the training aimed to prepare the reservists in the region for their role as mandated under Republic Act 7077, the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act.

“Air to ground operations seminar would enhance their war-fighting and disaster response capabilities,” Javier said, describing their role in case of any eventualities as “the last line of defense of this country.”

Javier said the training exercises “will serve as a jumpstart for further collaboration among the reservists from major services not only in training but also in socio-economic development activities which is one of the roles of the reservists as mandated by law.”

Col. Jerry Borja, commander of the 7th Regional Community Defense Group (7RCDG) of the Army Reserve Command, said among the notable reservists who joined the AGOS training was Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Raul Barbarona of Bohol, who holds the rank of major. (PNA)