The Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. attended the closing ceremony of the week-long 30th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM) at the National Military Training Center 4, Hanoi, Vietnam on November 11, 2022.
Among the Philippine Army Delegates who accompanied the Army chief during the culmination activity of the rifle competition were the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command Commander Maj. Gen. Peter Angelo L. Ramos, Assistant Chief of Staff for Education & Training Col. Arsenio D. Sadural, International Military Affairs Chief Col. Von Albert Sumergido, Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to Vietnam Col. Ulysses S. Mancao PAF, and Army Sergeant Major, Chief Master Sgt. Rogelio P. Caacbay.
Lt. Gen. Brawner congratulated the 42 Army shooters led by Col. William Victorino F. Upano who have shown their best in the pistol, rifle, and machine gun matches of the AARM, “I am proud of your achievements and your professionalism which earned the respect of our neighboring ASEAN countries.” The Philippine Army Shooting Contingent bagged a total of three trophies, 12 gold medals, 13 silver medals, and 8 bronze medals landing them in 3rd place overall following Vietnam and Indonesia, Champion and 2nd place respectively. “The Army leadership will provide the necessary resources you need for the succeeding competition, especially in 2024, where we will host the 32nd AARM,” the Army chief added.
More than 400 pistol and rifle experts compete annually during the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet which is established to foster professional goodwill, cooperation, and friendly competition between ten ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The competition returned after a two-year hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Thailand will be the host for next year’s AARM with the Philippines to host in 2024.
Lt. Gen. Brawner also attended the 23rd ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) while Chief Master Sgt. Caacbay participated the 10th ASEAN Sergeant Major Annual Meeting (ASMAM), both hosted in Vietnam.
Photos: PASCON and OACPA, Philippine Army