ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet

Kusumo · Dec 14, 2016

Background of AARM (ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet)

AARM firstly hosted by Malaysia Army in 1991 according to the vision of the Commander in Chief of Malaysia’s Army who suggested Commanders in Chief of ASEAN member countries that their armies should participated in a military activity together. AARM, therefore, was the conclusion with agreement as following:

1. Shooters from each member country participated in 2 competitions of AARM (Rifle and pistol) with their own weapons. Malaysia organized the 1st AARM.

2. The next host was arranged as the order as following
2.1 Malaysia AARM 1991
2.2 Indonesia AARM 1992
2.3 Brunei Darussalam AARM 1993
2.4 Thailand AARM 1994
2.5 Philippines AARM 1995
2.6 Singapore AARM 1996

Note: There were 6 ASEAN member countries at that time so that was AARM first round.

3. The host of AARM has to specify disciplines of the AARM competitions and organized the meeting over such disciplines including be responsible of accommodations, 3 daily meals, facilitators, weapons and amnunitions. In AARM 1997 which was the starting of 2nd round, there was a discussion among 6 ASEAN member countries. It concluded that they should have neutral rules and regulations with international standard in AARM. As a result, each member has to create competitions of each weapon before considering the correctness and appropriateness for finalizing the AARM rules and regulations that we have taken until now. The AARM 2nd round host was as following:

3.1 Malaysia AARM 1997
3.2 Indonesia AARM 1998
3.3 Brunei Darussalam AARM 1999
3.4 Thailand AARM 2000
3.5 Philippines AARM 2001
3.6 Singapore AARM 2002

Note: In AARM 2000 which was hosted by Royal Thai Army, there was some intuitiveness:

1. 10 ASEAN member countries participated in AARM.

2. Royal Thai Army firstly proposed ACAMM (ASEAN Chief of Armies Multilateral Meeting) since that every member which has been AARM host, at the same time, has organized ACAMM.

AARM 2003 was the start of 3rd round of AARM. The host was as follow:

3.1 Malaysia AARM 2003
3.2 Indonesia AARM 2004
3.3 Brunei Darussalam AARM 2005
3.4 Vietnam AARM 2006
3.5 Thailand AARM 2007
3.6 Philippines AARM 2008
3.7 Singapore AARM 2009

Note: In 3rd round of AARM, Vietnam was the new ASEAN member who asked to be the host of AARM 2006.

4th round of AARM was in 2010, its host was as following:

1. Malaysia AARM 2010
2. Indonesia AARM 2011
3. Brunei Darussalam AARM 2012
4. Myanmar AARM 2013
5. Vietnam AARM 2014
6. Thailand AARM 2015 latest

Since AARM in 1991 to AARM 1999, there was not ACAMM until in 2000, Thailand hosted 10th AARM and 1st ACAMM. After that, we organized AARM at the same time of ACAMM every year until nowadays. In 2011, Indonesian Army hosted 21st AARM and created another meeting which was 1st ASMAM (1st ASEAN Sergeant Major Annual Meeting). Its objective was giving opportunity for noncommissioned officers of ASEAN armies to know one another and exchange experiences among them. The 3 military activities have been so useful for ASEAN armies.

Army Tactical Shooting Team and staff

1. Pistol (Ladies) 5 shooters, 4 matches
2. Pistol (Men) 5 shooters, 5 matches
3. Carbine 5 shooters, 5 matches
4. Rifle 10 shooters, 5 matches
5. Machine Gun 6 shooters, 3 matches

Shooters in total 31 shooters, 22 matches

Staff 24 staff

Team in total 55 people

AARM 2015 is 25th time and the 4th time that Royal Thai Army has been the host. Among 4 new ASEAN member countries which are Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, there are only 2 countries which get honor to be AARM host (Vietnam for AARM 13th in 2006 and Myanmar in 2013), while the other is not ready. However, we hope 2 other countries will get such honor soon according to the AARM objective which was specified in 1991 that armies of ASEAN member countries should have an opportunity to be AARM host.

AARM Competitions Rewards

3 types of AARM Rewards

- Individual match
- Team match
- Team Falling Plates match

Classify as follow:

1. Individual match 5 rewards 1 reward per weapon (trophy)
2. Team match 5 rewards 1 reward per weapon (trophy)
3. Team Falling Plates match 5 rewards 1 reward per weapon (trophy)

Total 15 rewards

Championship Statistics since AARM 1991 to AARM 2015

Summary: Indonesia won 11 times (1992/2004/2006/2008-2014/2016)

Royal Thai Army won 8 times (1994/1998-2001/2003/2007/2015)

Malaysia won 3 times (1991/1993/1997)

Singapore won 3 times (1995/1996/2002)

Philippines won 1 time (2005)

Brunei Darussalam/Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos won 0 time

Feel the heat..

Kusumo · Dec 14, 2016

Indonesia proves it has best shooters among ASEAN armies

It's a close fight between the Royal Thai Army and the Philippine Army for the 2nd place overall at the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The Indonesian Army retakes the championship title at the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet 2016, proving it has the best shooters among armies in Southeast Asia.

The Indonesian Army bagged 44 gold, 35 silver, and 30 bronze medals, according to Captain Alberto Caber, public affairs chief of the Philippine Army Training and Doctrine Command.

The Indonesian Army bested the Royal Thai Army, who grabbed the championship title last year. They also won overall team and individual championship titles in the carbine match, pistol ladies match, and machine gun match categories.

It was a close fight between the Royal Thai Army and the Philippine Army for the 2nd place overall. The Filipino shooters bagged more gold medals, but the Thais prevailed because they won a significant number of silver medals.

The Royal Thai Army bagged 19 gold, 36 silver, 18 bronze medals. It also won overall team and individual championship titles in the pistol men match category.

The Philippine Army ranked 3rd overall with 23 gold, 22 silver and 26 bronze. It won the overall team championship title in the rifle match category. Filipino Staff Sergeant Rodney Rizana was the champion in the individual men's rifle match.

The 10-day event hosted by the Philippine Army was held at Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac from November 28 to December 7.

Learning from each other

There were 5 categories: pistol for men, pistol for ladies, carbine, rifle, and machine gun. The overall team and individual champions in the categories are the following:

Rifle match – Philippines
Carbine match – Indonesia
Pistol men match – Thailand
Pistol ladies match – Indonesia
Machine gun match – Indonesia

The marksmanship contest that started in 1991 allows the armies to learn techniques from each other. Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Benjamin Hao said the shooters were particularly impressed with Indonesians' skills in firing the machine guns.

"In this competition, we saw how armies develop their shooting skills and technology. You see how seriously they play the game without losing unity and friendship among each other," said Hao.

"You also see how their guns improve every year. They share new techniques on how to shoot the firearms. You learn a lot in firing the machine guns. The Indonesians were really good in the machine guns," added Hao.

Notable improvement

The Indonesians have won the most number of overall championship titles – 11 times – since the start of the contest. The Thais have won 8.

The Philippine Army only bagged the overall championship title once, in 2005, when the contest was held in Brunei.

But Philippine Army Task Force AARM Commander Brigadier General Herminigildo Francisco Aquino noted the improvement of the Filipino shooters.

“We bagged more gold than expected, always at the top 3 competing for the the top spot. Always slugging it out with ASEAN’s heavyweights, Indonesia and Thailand. All contenders having a good time competing nonetheless, with mutual respect and friendship," Aquino said.

The next ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet 2017 will be hosted in Singapore.

http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/155167-asean-armies-rifles-meet-philippines