The STORMTROOPERS accomplishments: A fitting tribute to a leader who believes in teamwork

By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
August 8, 2011

The 8th Infantry (STORMTROOPERS) Division has been recognized as the best division in the entire Philippine Army based on its performance within the first six months of 2011. In 2010, it was the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division; this year, the STROMTROOPERS.

Moreover, two of the 8IDs Infantry Brigades are in the top 5 from among the 31 Brigades of the Philippine Army while four of its battalions are in the top ten out of the 75 battalions of the Army.

Of course, a major element to this accomplishment is the brand of leadership and management style of the Division Commander. It was under his leadership that the 4th Infantry (DIAMOND) Division was adjudged the best division in the entire Philippine Army. And under him, the 8th Infantry Division (STORMTROOPERs) Division has accomplished many things, earning for itself the best division in the entire army.

Major Gen. Mario F Chan AFP has steered the division with vigor and dedication, thus raising the unit to a level fit to be called as the best. But asking him on this accomplishment, he would always say, “this is teamwork and cooperation in action”.

What propelled the Storm Troopers Division to become the best division in the entire Philippine Army?

The Division commander is quick enough to say that any major accomplishment cannot be attributed to one person alone. Such accomplishment can only be the result of effective teamwork. Quoting the famous French aviator and author, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, MGen. Chan then said that “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” This is similar to what he quoted from Dwight Eisenhower when he emphasized during his assumption speech, that “leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

MGen. Chan insisted further that the success of the 8th Infantry Division is not entirely due to his own efforts alone. So much has been contributed by the other stakeholders who have also been very supportive of Oplan Bayanihan’s objectives. In fact, the accomplishment is the result of good teamwork with the Local Government Units of Cebu, Bohol, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Western Samar. Equally important are the contributions of the national government agencies and the civil society organizations and institutions.

In the practical experience of the 8th Infantry Division, teamwork works inside and out. This dedication of the troopers to pursue its mission is as important as the dedication of the broad stakeholders to realize peace, thus, the need to work together as one.

Building Peace through Solidarity

The Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) of the government also known as Oplan Bayanihan puts emphasis on winning the peace as the fundamental objective. The defeat of the enemy does not necessarily come secondary, but that it should be brought about by rendering it irrelevant in the eyes of the people and the whole society. This entails that more efforts would be unleashed towards bringing development into the lies of many impoveri8shed rural communities even as combat operations are still being conducted against the New People’s Army.

This strategy requires the mobilization of stakeholders aside from the Armed Forces. The local government units, government line agencies, the private and business sector and civil society organizations are forces whose participation is crucial to the delivery of services and programs that will bring about development in the different rural communities affected by the insurgency problem.

But gathering different stakeholders together is one thing. Enabling them to work together is another. This is the challenge.

Nurturing Unity

Oplan Bayanihan follows the “whole-of-nation” approach, which presupposes shared understanding and shared responsibilities between and among government security forces, members of the civilian bureaucracy and the communities. The approach highlights he need for different stakeholders to work together in order to build peace and promote security.

Of course, the whole concept is not something alien to the Filipi8no. In fact, it is rooted in the Bayanihan tradition where everyone lends a helping hand in order to address or to resolve a community need or a community problem. The bayanihan spirit, however, was gradually swept into oblivion by the culture of consumerism and crab mentality. Oplan Bayanihan, therefore, has to reinvent the spirit of bayanihan by promoting common understanding among different stakeholders relative to the desire for peace and the quest for development.

In the pursuit of peace, everyone’s participation is not only important. It is in itself the means to achieve peace. Bringing everyone on board is the first step in building solidarity which is a critical element of peace.

This was precisely the parameter that guided the whole Storm Troopers Division and compelled them to participate actively in the different forum and avenues where LGUs, line agencies and civil society organizations converge in order to address pressing social concerns. Thus, the 8th Infantry Division officials, led by MGen. Mario F. Chan, would participate in all the meetings of the Regional and Provincial Development Council as well as the Regional and Provincial Peace and Order Councils within its Area of Responsibility. The Division also participated in the meetings and conferences organized and initiated by the Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD).

MGen. Mario F Chan and the other Officers of the Division would strive hard to make meaningful representation in all these avenues with the end view of unifying with the other stakeholders relative to the internal security plan of the government. In these forums, the call to promote development in the communities as a means to improve the peace and security situation reverberated and the means to do it was their solidarity.

And their voices did not fall on deaf ears.

Promoting Cooperation

One of the monumental accomplishments in the drive to promote solidarity and cooperation among the different stakeho9lders is the proposed road construction project towards the interior municipalities of Samar. The whole project costs P4.6 Billion, covering a total span of 265.8 kilometers.  And if not for the support of the Regional Development Council and the other stakeholders including the provincial governments and line agencies, the project would not have reached first base.

The proposed road project will traverse 16 municipalities and is expected to contribute significantly to the economic development of these municipalities. The road will not simply make travel more comfortable, it will usher in economic opportunities for the communities and it will broaden their market access. With more opportunities for livelihood and with easier market access, residents are expected to have increased their household income.

Aside from this monumental project, the Storm Troopers Division has also forged partnership with the public and private sector in the conduct of development interventions and delivery of social services.

From August 2010 to June 2011, the Storm Troopers has implemented and undertaken several projects such as medical and dental missions, literacy projects through the Army Literacy Patrol System, livelihood support, improvement of educational facilities through active participation in the Brigada Eskuwela and road rehabilitation and construction.

Through these projects and initiatives, different stakeholders have found avenues by which they can work together and manifest heir commitment to the government’s internal peace and security objectives.

In support to the government’s internal security campaign, local government units in Samar have initiated their localized version of the Social Integration Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). With this program, LGUs are able to provide assistance to those who surrender and return to the fold of the law.

Unity is easier said than done, but when concrete and tangible initiatives are used to bring different stakeholders together, unity becomes the thread that binds them and enables them to pool resources towards the accomplishment of development targets. The active cooperation of the different stakeholders to promote and achieve peace within the AOR of the 8th Infantry (Storm Troopers) Division is the best proof of the unity of the stakeholders.

Winning the Peace

When communities begin to denounce violence as a means to correct societal defects, and when they begin to work with government institutions to address the poverty that characterize their situation, [peace becomes possible and visible. Of course, peace and security as a result of social development cannot happen overnight. But peace is not just an end. It is also the means to it.

Oplan Bayanihan drive to win the peace is more than just an objective that is attainable in the near future. “Winning the Peace” means building it in the here-and-now through concrete and tangible measures such as the implementation of development projects that improve the life and well-being of the people.