TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Army’s Taitung Area Command has reorganized its mechanized infantry battalions into combined arms battalions (CABs).
The two mechanized infantry battalions are now the first and second CABs, Liberty Times reported. They are the first units in eastern Taiwan to be restructured this way.
The Army has not confirmed whether the Lanyang Area Command in Yilan and the Huadong Defense Command in Hualien will follow suit.
The transition to CABs originated in 2019 under the Reliable Combat Force Project, an initiative launched during former Defense Minister Yen Teh-fa’s (嚴德發) tenure, per Liberty Times. Implementation began with priority units such as those under the Guandu Area Command.
By integrating different military branches into a single battalion-level formation, the units can improve combat capabilities, Liberty Times reported.
CAB commanders can deploy forces based on specific missions to carry out operations such as defense or counterattacks. The time needed to coordinate between military branches is also shortened, enhancing mobility and firepower.
The Army has also launched a more intensive training program designed to better prepare troops for combat. The program, called Combat Training Center rotation 2.0, extends traditional combat exercises from five days to 10 days of continuous 24-hour operations.
The new training uses a “scriptless” format, meaning troops do not follow a fixed scenario. Instead, they must respond to rapidly changing situations similar to battlefield conditions.
