TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army’s 586th Armored Brigade recently conducted a combat readiness exercise in Taichung.

The exercise tested the brigade’s rapid response capabilities to respond quickly to changing battlefield conditions, Military News Agency reported.

Troops inspected their equipment before boarding armored personnel carriers and tanks for coordinated operations, including protecting critical targets. Officers were evaluated on their ability to make quick adjustments and delegate orders. 

By refining its joint operations capabilities and conducting cross-unit coordination exercises, the brigade said it strengthened its overall combat effectiveness.

The exercise follows a call by former American Institute in Taiwan naval attache Marvin Park for Taiwan’s military to adopt a more decentralized combat strategy.

Taiwan’s forces are required to wait for orders from top officials, delaying response times, Park said. He recommended that Taiwan adopt the US military’s “shoot and scoot” concept, in which soldiers are trained to understand mission parameters in advance and make decisions in combat.