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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》 Army conducts full brigade mobilization ahead of Han Kuang
A reservist, right, undergoes a specialty qualification assessment after reporting to the army’s 137th Infantry Brigade yesterday for its first full-brigade mobilization. Photo: Fang Wei-li, Taipei Times
By Fan Wei-li and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
The 8th Army Corps yesterday initiated the full mobilization of the 137th Infantry Brigade to the southern region, integrating more than 1,000 reservists into the Han Kuang military exercises.
The field training phase of the drills is to run from Wednesday next week to Aug. 14.
Reservists were issued US-made M4A1 rifles at the brigade’s mustering points, the first time the army has issued US rifles across an entire brigade.
The 137th Infantry Brigade are to conduct live-fire training with the M4A1 rifles, a source familiar with the matter said, adding that the reserve unit’s use of the weapons underscored the importance of US support to the nation’s self-defense capabilities.
Former US president Joe Biden approved the inclusion of rifles in defense aid packages earmarked for Taiwan during his tenure, the source said.
In January, the Marine Corps’ guard battalions became the first Taiwanese units to receive the weapons. One month later, the 66th Marine Brigade were seen conducting urban combat drills with optical-sight-equipped M4A1 rifles.
The bulk of the army’s fighting forces are in the process of replacing the T91 with the T112, a new rifle designed by the 205 Arsenal, they said.
The military plans to produce 86,000 T112 rifles from this year to 2028 to equip the army, military police and the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency, the source said.
The 8th Army Command said the 137th Infantry Brigade would engage in a two-week refresher training and field maneuvers in the 4th Operational Theater, an area encompassing Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung.
The brigade had mustered 1,000 of its 2,000 reservists as of yesterday morning, the command said.
The speed with which a reserve unit can complete its mobilization and reach combat readiness is a key capability being tested in this year’s drills, it said.
Previously, the Ministry of National Defense said the field maneuver component of the Han Kuang exercises this year would consist of four phases: preparatory deployment, force protection and preservation, counter-amphibious assault and in-depth defense.
The Han Kuang exercises’ field maneuver component would be combined with the Tong Hsin 36 exercises, and would feature the full mobilization and deployment of one reserve brigade each in northern and southern Taiwan, the ministry said.
The Taipei Reserve Brigade would be stationed in the north, it said, adding that more than 5,000 reservists are being called up to participate in the drills.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
