When not in training at Fort Bonifacio, they rescue stranded residents in flooded areas, build homes for victims of natural disasters, plant trees in denuded areas, conduct medical and dental missions in depressed communities, and stand as honor guard for deceased military personnel.
The men and women of the 9th Infantry Division (Ready Reserve) of the Philippine Army are executives, doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs and employees on weekdays and citizen-soldiers on weekends.
Embedded in the unit are regular Army officers and enlisted personnel. To ensure proper training, the officers are all bemedalled combat veterans, including a young captain, Capt Ronald Clemente, with twelve Gold Crosses to his name. The Gold Cross is the third highest award for bravery in combat.
Salvare Servimus or "We serve to save" is the hardy lot’s motto. Activated two years ago by the Philippine Army as a Light Infantry Division, the 9IDRR’s primary mission is Operations Other Than War (OOTW).
It trains for search-rescue, disaster relief, civic action and environmental protection within its area of responsibility. Its secondary mission is to assist the Army in the conduct of internal security operations particularly in the fields of anti-terror and anti-insurgency.
"The 9IDRR is a force multiplier for the regular Army. By taking over their OOTW missions, the line units are able to concentrate on combat and stability operations," explains 9IDRR Commanding Officer Col. Rafael M. Alunan III, a graduate of the Army’s General Staff College.
Col. Alunan wants to see the Reserve Force Development Program–shaped during the time of the Ramos Administration where he served as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government–succeed over time.
"The 9IDRR is a good vehicle for concerned citizens imbued with a keen sense of duty and service," he stresses. Indeed, there are many men and women whose energies can be harnessed to augment the efforts of military and civilian agencies to alleviate the plight of many Filipinos afflicted by poverty and disasters.
Col. Carlos Leano, the Assistant Division Commander, is especially enthused by the support that the Division has been receiving from Army headquarters, including the designation of a cantonment area within the Fort Bonifacio reservation for small unit training purposes.
Col. Alunan agrees, adding that Lt. Gen. Efren Abu, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, has spearheaded the effort to "equip, train, command and control" the Division in consonance with the November 2002 policy directive of the Department of National Defense then headed by Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.
In the Army’s Modernization Plan, the 9IDRR’s area of operations covers the National Capital Region and Region 3 (Metro Manila and Central Luzon). If the Division meets expectations, more Ready Reserve Divisions will be created as the situation warrants.
When fully constituted as a Light Infantry Division with 12 line battalions organized into four brigades, in addition to its three battalion-sized base units and other support elements, it will have over 9,200 officers and enlisted personnel. In the reduced mode, the authorized strength is around 7,800 men and women.
When it was activated, the 9IDRR had a little over 300 men and women volunteers, mostly from the 131st Standby Reserve Division. At present, the Division is 2,300 strong, beefed up by five Ready Reserve (RR) battalions based in the NCR and the Bulacan RR Battalion recently transferred to the 9IDRR.
It is expected to jump to at least 3,500 when the RR battalions of Region 3 are transferred to it in the near future. These are presently organized and deployed in the provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan and Zambales.
"While the Division is still in its formative years, and despite the Army’s resource limitations, the unit has accomplished a lot without much fanfare," Col. Alunan says. "We sought the help of patriotic individuals and companies to provide the Division with much needed cash, donations in kind, and free services. Everyone we approached rose to the occasion. To us, they are genuine sons and daughters of the Republic."
Among its partners are leading Triple A contractors (First Philippine Balfour Beatty, Inc., J. Manalo, J.V. Angeles, Engineering Equipment, Inc., FF Cruz, and DM Consunji, Inc.), PHAP Cares, ABS-CBN, and volunteer doctors and nurses from various clinics and hospitals. The 9IDRR has also received office equipment and furnishings from private companies and concerned citizens who prefer to remain anonymous. Moreover, it has formed a Foundation to receive cash donations and undertake fund-raising events such as shoot fests, fun runs and movie premieres.
In early 2003, the 9IDRR initiated a five-way partnership with the Department of National Defense, the United States Embassy, the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija and the National Historical Institute to honor the American and Filipino heroes who staged the only successful rescue mission of over 500 prisoners-of-war in the Second World War.
In stirring rites, they unveiled the historical marker "Memorare" during the 2003 Araw ng Kagitingan and Philippine Veterans Week, where the POW camp once stood in Pangatian on the outskirts of Cabanatuan. "The Filipino guerrillas wiped out over 1,000 Japanese troops and their armored assets without losing a single man. This feat enabled the U.S. Rangers to pull off the spectacular rescue," Col. Alunan points out.
The success of that partnership prompted Defense Undersecretary Edgardo Batenga to henceforth include the rites of remembrance in succeeding annual commemo-rations of National Heroes Week and Araw ng Kagitingan.
Since the start of the year, the Division has devoted the last Sunday of each month to medical and dental missions. It has served or will soon serve poor communities like Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; Baranggay Western Bicutan and Maharlika Village, Taguig; Barang-gay Payatas, Quezon City; Baranggays Dama-yang Lagi and Valencia, New Manila; Baranggay Don Bosco, Parañaque; Baranggay Pulang Lupa, Las Piñas; Baranggay Commonwealth, Quezon City; Baranggay Sta Juliana, Capas, Tarlac.
It has also shed blood for the Red Cross, built temporary shelters for the informal settlers at the Baseco Compound, and planted trees at the La Mesa watershed.
Stamina, skill and spirit are not the only requirements for qualifying as a Rainbow Warrior of the 9IDRR. Commitment and patriotism are essential prerequisites. Ordinary persons leading extraordinary lives –they are citizen-soldiers who are proud to serve and save.