FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila - The Philippine Army installed on March 26, 2022, the 9th commander of the Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) in a change of command ceremony presided by Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., at the AAR headquarters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
Col. Francis Anthony M. Coronel formally took the helm of the regiment, replacing Maj. Gen. Romulo A. Manuel, Jr., who assumed as the new AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2 on March 16, 2022.
Col. Coronel belongs to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maalab” Class of 1993. He finished the Executive Course in Leadership Decision Making from Harvard University in 2016 and holds three graduate degrees: Master in Public Management, Major in Development and Security from the Development Academy of the Philippines; Master in Public Management from the Ateneo School of Government; and Master in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines. He served as executive officer of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management, OJ10, in Camp Aguinaldo before his assumption as the ninth AAR commander.
Meanwhile, the CGPA lauded Maj. Gen. Manuel, who belongs to PMA "Bigkis Lahi" Class of 1990, for his efforts to modernize the regiment, particularly the institution of electronic computation that resulted in more timely and accurate delivery of fire support to ground units.
Lt. Gen. Brawner likewise lauded AAR troops, known for their moniker “Kings of Battle,” for effectively contributing to the Army’s campaign against state enemies. The Army Chief cited the regiment’s vital role in the campaign against ISIS-inspired terrorists that attacked Marawi in 2017 and in dismantling guerrilla fronts and neutralizing top CTG leaders.
“Col. Coronel, you are given the responsibility to further develop, organize, train, equip, support, and sustain current and upcoming artillery units and ensure the provision of timely, safe, and accurate fire support to our ground units. As such, much is expected of you but I believe that you can do what is required of you,” the CGPA said.
The Army Chief, in his concluding remarks, gave a glimpse of upcoming hardware for the regiment such as the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) that is scheduled to be delivered in June 2022. “These assets will be the ‘showcase’ of the Army and all of these will be under the stewardship of the Army Artillery Regiment,” the CGPA said. #
Photo: Sgt Cesar Lopez PA/ OACPA
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