Call for reservists to be made

Another call for volunteers to join the Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force is to be issued soon, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said yesterday.

The prime minister was speaking during a visit to the volunteers who were on an exercise at Pembroke Ranges during which live ammunition was used as part of the EVRF's annual camp.

Dr Fenech Adami thanked the volunteers, some of whom have been in the force since its launching five years ago.

He said that time had proved that setting up the force had been a good step. He hoped the country would not need to use the reserves but they were well trained should they be required in a crisis.

He said that 13 of the personnel had been promoted to lance bombardier and other promotions would be made soon.

To join the EVRF, one has to be between 18 and 35. They can only serve until they are 41.

One of the volunteers said the exercise had been very intense, and reflected the professionalism and dedication of the C Company which was managing to train the reserves in addition to its normal duties.

The exercise, he said, was particularly taxing as live ammunition was being used in an infantry "attack" where friends were just one metre away.

"We do this once a month. These guys (the regular soldiers) do this day in day out. This is pretty impressive and something to be respected," he said.

Four of the reserves also dismantled and put up their weapons blindfolded.

Capt. Albert Brincat, officer commanding of the C Special Duties Company, said the EVRF provided a force of part-time, voluntary sub-units capable of providing back-up support to the regular Armed Forces of Malta in four specific military tasks for service in Malta.

The volunteers undergo 10 training periods of eight hours each and an eight-day camp each year.

The force was formed in 1998 with an intake of 60 volunteers - 53 men and seven women that August.

In May 1999 there was a second recruitment of 27 volunteers - 23 men and four women, and in January last year there was another of 19 volunteers - 16 men and three women.

The current strength of the force is 40: 37 men and three women.

The EVRF tasks include emergency support in disaster relief or in other major civil emergencies, key point protection, infantry patrolling and surveillance and air defence manning.

The camp's programme of training included skill at arms, individual infantry training, deliberate platoon live fire attack and a two-day infantry exercise.

The aim of the exercise was to train volunteers in personal camouflage, day and night land navigation, patrolling, setting up of a patrol base, conduct of surveillance from observation posts and deliberate blank fire attack.

EVRF personnel this year received weapons training, radio procedure infantry training, life saving at sea, route marches, pistol and sub-machine gun classification and abseiling.