After 20 years of military service, hundreds of reservists return to firing range for MOBEX OT-GR-TR-25 exercise

Hundreds of reservists from Olt county, most of them people who finished their military training more than 20 years ago, returned for a day to the firing range and handled the gun again, at the mobilization exercise. The reservists expressed their excitement at being reunited with the military, the military coat, the weapon, the range and described the experience as pleasant and positive.The reservists participating in the exercise will be reimbursed for transportation, paid for activity hours and provided with a hot meal, said the exercise leader, Major General Iulian Daniliuc, head of the Personnel and Mobilisation Directorate of General Staff."It is one of the main exercises we are conducting this year (...) During this exercise we will bring more than 5,000 reservists provided for in the mobilisation plan from all structures of the National System of Defence, Public Order and National Security, mainly, of course, the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, of these more than 3,000 are only from the Ministry of National Defence in all three counties. It is an opportunity for them to refresh all their knowledge and skills, tactical techniques and necessary procedures, as far as time allows, because we can bring them only 12 hours each day, hours that are paid, their travel is paid, they are provided with a hot meal," explained Iulian Daniliuc.In addition to reminding reservists how to use weapons, participating in such exercises means the opportunity to observe the new equipment endowing the Army, the exercise leader said."It's useful to introduce them to the new categories that have entered the Army's endowment, new categories of equipment, and to hold a shooting session to remind them how to handle the weapons in their equipment. For us it is very important, given that the average age of reservists in the operational reserve is increasing, some are mature and even in their 50s. Legally, we can keep in the mobilisation activities the ranks and soldiers up to 55 years of age and the military personnel up to 63 years of age," Daniliuc said.Reservists from the counties of Olt and Teleorman were present Wednesday at the Redea firing range for a practical training sequence, according to another official among the organizers. He mentioned that practical training sequences will also take place in Giurgiu county, where information about the Patriot missile defense system will be presented.Iulian Daniliuc emphasized that the attendance at the exercise exceeded 90%, the only people missing where those who left the country or have health problems."Over 5,000 reservists are expected to be brought to the exercise. For everyone it is a mobilisation exercise, we are just checking the Army's mobilisation reserve, as required by law. (...) Attendance so far is over 90%," said Daniliuc.The prefect of Olt County, Cosmin Floreanu, said that such exercises allow both to test the reservists; reaction power in a special situation, and to have them rediscover the ability to use weapons."These things are normal, they are good for us, because we can see, test the power of reaction when a special situation arises and, why not, correct some things that are not as they should be. So the message to the population is not to get worried and to treat things as a simple exercise that helps us to improve certain things. The last exercise took place in 2017, they take place every 7-8 years. (...) I think it's a normal thing and it's a good thing, because many of those who served in the army today have rediscovered their shooting skills," said the prefect.Among the new equipment shown at Redea were the anti-drone weapon, presented by a military officer from the 99th Military Base Deveselu, the Chiron anti-aircraft weapon, for combating low-altitude aerial targets, especially drones and helicopters, as well as several Piranha armored vehicles.The military said that the reservists, even though they did their military training more than 20 or even 30 years ago, have a very good understanding of how the new technologies work and are easy to use.The MOBEX OT-GR-TR-25 exercise, which aims to evaluate the mobilization reserve is taking place from 26 to 30 May, in the counties of Olt, Giurgiu and Teleorman."Exercises of this type are planned and carried out periodically and are aimed at verifying the ability of military units to supplement with personnel and technical, as well as strengthening cohesion between active servicemen and reservists," MApN indicated.According to the prefect of Olt County, the exercise is organized and conducted by the Ministry of National Defence, in cooperation with the National Administration of State Reserves and Special Problems, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration.