ASEAN Armies Combat Shooting Competition in Capas, Tarlac

The ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM) 2016 kicked off after the joint flag raising ceremony of combat shooting contingents from (10) ASEAN countries at the AARM Grandstand in Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac at 7:30 a.m., November 21, 2016. The competing contingents are Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunie, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. After the flag raising ceremony, the army shooters started their controlled practice at the machine gun and pistol ranges. This international combat shooting event will culminate on December 7, 2016.

Commanding General Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Eduardo M. Año was the guest of honor and speaker during the ceremony. Gen. Año, was accompanied by the Task Force AARM Commander Brig. Gen.Herminigildo Franciso C. Aquino and members of the Executive Committee. The contingents were led by respective contingent commanders in honoring the flag of the member-state.

During the speech, Gen. Año said that champions are not born but they are made. “To be a champion, one must have the dream and the will”, Gen. Año said.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Aquino who is also the Commander of the Philippine Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), highlighted that this international event will help improve the capabilities of the soldiers as they are exposed in an international shooting match against the best armies in Asia. “Aside from promoting the goodwill and cooperation, the Philippine army soldiers will be able to showcase their marksmanship skills”. Brig. Gen. Aquino said.

The AARM is an annual combat shooting competition of ASEAN armies.

★ dwdd