The Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN) and the Philippine Naval Reserve Centers of Eastern Visayas (NRCEV), as well as Western Visayas (NRCWV), conducted the unilateral exercise with reservists on August 16-20, 2021.
The activity is dubbed Exercise Pagsasama 2021, carrying the theme “Strengthening Integration, Cooperation and Interoperability of the Philippine Navy Reserve Force to the Regular Force.” The exercise is part of the command’s thrust to strategically and operationally utilize the naval reservists and the Philippine Navy Affiliated Reserve Unit (PNARU) in maritime security and interagency operations. Its objective is to continuously evaluate and assess reservists’ and PNARU’s readiness when the call of duty arises.
The scope includes organizational, operational, and strategic concepts; rapid response planning process; shipboard evolution and naval maneuvering tactics; maritime security operations; search and rescue; conduct of amphibious raid and withdrawal; and civil-military operations.
The preparation phase began on 12-April-2021. Prior to the exercise at sea, the command spearheaded 4-day lectures on maritime operations at the University of Cebu-Maritime Education and Training Center, with participants from Ormoc City Philippine National Police and the 802nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, attending remotely via Zoom. Over 100 reservists participated in the week-long drill which was aimed at boosting interoperability and integration among regular and reserve forces. Capt. Raul Regis PN (GSC), Deputy Commander and Exercise Director, led the event.
In the early morning of August 17, the reservists boarded BRP Batak, BRP Abraham Campo, BRP Alfredo Peckson, BRP Enrique Jurado, BRP Filipino Flojo, and the 5th Patrol Boat Division. Ship maneuvers and shipboard drills were completed off the waters of Camotes Islands, Cebu Province. The Gun Exercise (GUNNEX) included testing and firing of naval surface assets, along with a sortie out, maritime surveillance, division tactics, and search and seizure. The simulation exercise of an amphibious raid held on Aug. 19 at the Ormoc City Park was among the highlights of the exercise.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act called the Republic Act 7077 states the need of the State to maintain a standing force or regular military force in times of peace in consonance with its adequate and actual needs, for the security of the State but which can be rapidly expanded by the well-disciplined
Citizen Armed Force, in the event of war, invasion or rebellion. Reserve forces of the Army, Coast Guard, Police, and the Navy Reserve Component under the Naval Warfare branch, duly participated in the Exercise Pagsasama 2021.
Source: https://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippine-navy-conducts-exercisepanagsama-030200941.html