New reserve battalion chief takes command

The Army's First Ready Reserve Battalion in Cebu has a new chief in the person of Major Richard "Dick" W. Sison after Lieutenant Colonel Crescencio Rocamora relinquished his command yesterday during a turnover ceremony at the Army Reservist Center in Camp Lapu-Lapu.

Colonel Guillermo Luyao Jr., commander of the 7th Regional Community Defense Group, witnessed the ceremony.

In his speech, Sison announced that training for commissioned officers of the group would be conducted to strengthen their operational capabilities.

Organized 10 years ago, the group has 560 enlisted personnel and nineteen commissioned officers considered to be "battle ready" since they have undergone a series of war training, according to Major Samson Delez of the 701st Community Defense Center.

Aside from military preparedness, the battalion is ready to respond to any calamities and is capable of conducting civic actions.

Rocamora, the battalion commander for 10 years, was given the Military Merit Medal for his exemplary works during his command.

A civil engineer, Rocamora was the former Central Visayas director of the Department of Public Works and Highways. Major activities under his command included security augmentations, civic actions and medical missions.

Sison, a lawyer by profession, joined the service since 1998 and became Rocamora's executive officer. - Edwin Ian Melecio