Zamboanga del Sur – The Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) continues to ‘sharpen the saw’ as it concluded the 3 classes of its Squad Sustained Warfighting Enhancement and Evaluation Program (SWEEP) Training in a simple ceremony held at 53IB’s Bravo Company Headquarters in Barangay Upper Landing, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur last Friday, October 22.
Congresswoman Divina Grace Yu, the Deputy House Speaker and Representative of ZamboSur’s 1st District, was the keynote speaker during the said closing ceremony.
During the SWEEP Training, the Matapat Tropers and small-unit leaders are trained to provide effective Command and Control (C2). They are also trained to be physically fit and mentally tough, because they cannot function effectively if they are not physically ready to “keep up.”
In his remarks, 53rd IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera congratulated the troops for completing the said training, reiterating that the best weapon against the enemy is a well-trained and well-motivated soldier.
“Your training and your high state of morale are critical in maintaining the peace and order in Zamboanga del Sur, as those are your best weapons our enemy,” said Lt. Col. Herrera.
Meanwhile, Congw. Yu expressed her gratitude for the troops’ commitment and dedication to keep the province safe.
“We are forever grateful for your service. Thank you for maintaining our province insurgency free,” said Congw. Yu.
This training is part of the 53IB’s drive to strategically communicate the Army’s transformation to become world class that is a source of national pride by 2028 in line with the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR).
(Source: 53rd Infantry Battalion, photo courtesy of Army transformation roadmap)