Taipei's first 14-day civilian service reservist call-up begins

Taipei, June 7 (CNA) The Taipei City Reserve Command on Saturday initiated its first ever 14-day recall of some of the city's civilian service reservists, who will undergo additional training on top of participating in refresher courses.

According to the command, it has rented out various sites in the capital's Neihu District, including the Taipei Tennis Center, for the duration of the camp to optimize tactical positioning and accommodate the size of the single battalion of reservists.

A battalion is made up of four individual companies that include over 200 reserved servicemen, the command said.

Aside from engaging in shooting drills that will be conducted at a shooting range in New Taipei's Linkou, the remainder of the training will be done at locations in Neihu, the command said.

Specifically, tents and makeshift field bathrooms were set up at the center for the reservists.

On Saturday, reserve servicemen who were called to participate in the two-week-long camp began reporting to the command's active duty officers at the tennis center even before 10 a.m.

Besides receiving instructions from active duty officers as part of their initial briefing, the reservists also had to be evaluated to determine if they are still proficient with weapons and the protocols of the military exercises that they will engage in over the next 14 days.

Aside from the regular firearms refresher courses, the reservists will also take part in new classes such as field combat, rapid return firing, and field medical training.

The camp that began in Taipei on Saturday is longer than the traditional program, which lasted between five to seven days.

The increase in the duration was initiated by the government in recent years in line with the incumbent administration's national security goals.

The Armed Forces Reserve Command said Taipei is one of 18 municipalities that have reservists brigades.