SOME 28 reservists are ready to answer anytime, even if the call for serving in the front line in the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, military officials said Sunday.

"They are and they will be," said Army's 4th Infantry Division assistant division commander for reservists and retirees affairs Colonel Michele Anayron.

Anayron said they will make sure that the reservists are capable when they are needed as it is already anticipated by the division’s commander.

An earlier report said the plan of the national government to tap reservists as “relievers” for the regular personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and medical front-liners has now become “a necessity”, considering the exhausting fight against the viral disease.

"They are all ready," said Anayron if they have been called to help to prevent further contagion of the coronavirus in the Filipino communities since the onset of public health.

Anayron said he is looking forward to some future exciting and benefitting activities like the Heliborne training operation and FTX for them to experience what it is like to be a soldier in the field of combat operation.

4ID public affairs chief Major Rodulfo Cordero said that the reservists can perform multi-roles subject to real limitations.

"That's a possibility, kaya laging hinahanda ang mga reservists for possible mobilization," Cordero said.

President Duterte speaking partly in Filipino, in his speech aired earlier this month said he might call for mobilization [of the reservists]. All of them.

"Preparation ang training nila in case ma-mobilize ang reservists," said Cordero.

Cordero also cited the capabilities of Army reservists to manage town-wide medical and civic action missions.

"If mobilized, they will undergo mobilization training again, sort of refresher and organizational training prior to deployment," said Cordero.

The mobilization will depend on the order from higher headquarters, according to Cordero.

Reservists who will undergo 30-day active duty training while CAD is issued to reservists who are called to render active duty in certain period, mostly two years.

Meanwhile, 8th Infantry Battalion civil-military operation officer 2nd Lieutenant Camille Bumatay said fundamentals of marksmanship and record firing, weapons training, signal operation, and lecture on knowing the enemy and information gathering were conducted at 8IB headquarters in Impasugong, Bukidnon with strict observance of COVID-19 protocols.

Bumatay said the program that they prepared for them would help learn the basics, the peculiarity of the unit’s mission and how to lead troops.

Bumatay said reservists are under the Alfa Company, 1003rd Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion (RRIBn), 1003rd Community Defense Center (CDC), 10th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG), Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM).

She said the training activity intends to develop their competencies for future operation base expansion as force multiplier in times of insurgency, emergencies, and calamities.

1003rd CDC director Major Mark Lester Cabumoc expressed his deep appreciation for the series of activities prepared by the 8IB.

“Kini na aktibidad ang gusto namo na mahitabo aron nga mahimong masaligan nga kaabag sa pag palig-on sa nasod ug aron makatabang sa pag serbisyo panahon sa pandimya ug kalamidad,"said Cabunoc.

8IB commander Lt. Colonel Edgardo Talaroc expressed his appreciation the importance of the reserve force  

"Dili lang kay ka-usa kini nga aktibidad.  Taas kini nga pasalig, mao nga damha ninyo nga daghan pa ang mga aktibidadis o mga pagbansay nga moabot," said Talaroc. (Ben Balce)