The Minister of National Defense, Javier García, together with military authorities, participated, this Friday the 30th, in the act for a new anniversary of the creation of the Army General Reserve. The ceremony took place at the headquarters of that dependency, located on Casavalle 4320 road, department of Montevideo. On the occasion, a recognition was made to the troops whose attitude was outstanding in the last year.
Also participating in the ceremony were the undersecretary of the portfolio, Rivera Elgue; the commander in chief of the Army, Gerardo Fregossi; that of the Army General Reserve, Luis González, and other military authorities.
García highlighted the importance of the unit due to the diversity of services it provides and the number of troops that comprise it. He added that this, like the rest of the Army units, combines the military function with the social one, through support for the educational system, health, social organizations, among others.
On the other hand, he reported that in the first week of October the salary increase for the members of this force will be consolidated in the Senate of the Republic, with a 7.8% recovery. He also remarked that in this period the 1,700 million pesos allocated to salary increases have already been exceeded, which implies a greater amount than that of the previous five-year period.
In addition, he explained that as of January 2023, the troops will receive compensation for night shifts, which will represent a historic event for the country. He also pointed out that efforts are being made to modify the regulations to create highly dedicated positions and increase the salary of the technical and medical personnel of the Armed Forces health service, in order to retain them in the system.
González, meanwhile, indicated that the reserve is made up of 172 officers and 1,446 soldiers. It is made up of the General Command and five units that correspond to the same number of Army weapons, with national jurisdiction. These departments have specificities in various areas, such as special operations and counterterrorism parachute infantry, escort and protocol cavalry of the President of the Republic, longer-range artillery fire and the necessary link in Army communications, inside and outside borders in missions of peace, among others.