Major General Jonathan C Martir AFP (RET) is the Government Arsenal Director pursuant to the Department Order No. 176 dated July 26, 2010 signed by DND Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin.
Director Martir was born in Manila, on March 5, 1954. He took up his elementary years from 1st to 5th grade at the San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila while his 6th to 9th grade from the George Dewey High, US Naval Base, Subic, Zambales. After completing his 3rd and 4th year high school from the San Beda College, he took up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) from the Mapua Institute of Technology in Intramuros, Manila for two years before he decided to join the Philippine Military Academy and graduated as a member of Class of 1979.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Philippine Navy and volunteered to join the Marine Corps in February 1979. His subsequent assignments as an Infantry Officer includes Platoon Commander, 26th Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 6; Commanding Officer, 29th Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 9; Battalion Operations Officer, Marine Battalion Landing Team 4; Battalion Executive Officer, Marine Battalion Landing Team 2; Commanding Officer, Marine Battalions Landing Team 6; Philippine Marine Corps; Deputy, Marine Forces South; Deputy Brigade Commander, 1st Marine Brigade; Commanding General, Combat and Service Support Brigade; and Deputy Commandant, Philippine Marine Corps. He also served as Tactical Officer and Course Director, Dept of Military Science, Philippine Military Academy; Operations and Training Officer, Philippine Marine Training Center; Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, MC5, Philippine Marine Corps.
With his gained knowledge and skills on signal operations and weaponry, Director Martir served as the Chief, Weapons Branch, N-11, HQs Philippine Navy, Weapons, Communications and Electronics Officer, Philippine Marine Corps; Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Weapons, Communications, Electronics and Information Systems, N11, Philippine Navy. As additional duties, he served as the Vice Chairman of Tactical Communications Working Committee, Joint Communications – Electronics Board and Vice Chairman, Joint Communications – Electronics Board. And; Project Manager of Project Management Teams for the Acquisition of Marine Equipment, Special Operations Doctrine and Fleet-Marine Operational Doctrine, Chairman, PMC Web Site Development Committee, Director, Marine Corps Modernization Office, Chairman Weapons Board Philippine Marine Corps and Director, Marine Corps Modernization Office.
In 1996, Director Martir then a Major developed the first Marine Scout Sniper Rifle (MSSR) out of necessity to replace the long-worn out Garands M1C and M-14s that the Marines have in service for almost 30 years. He utilized a Standard M-16 Rifle as the platform, as a Weapons officer of the Navy, he developed the capability of the Philippine Marine Corps to produced small arms ammunition for special purposes like sniping, night fighting and for shooting competition. He also upgraded and developed various small arms into a special capable weapon like the suppress M3 sub-machine gun (grease gun) for special operations and the Philippine Navy- Night Fighting Weapons System for night operations.
As the Commanding General, Combat and Service Support Brigade, he spearheaded the repair and rehabilitation of various armored vehicles, Field Artillery, Anti-Air Guns and Amphibious Vehicles of the Marine Corps using only available resources. He also developed the fighting capability of the Force Reconnaissance Battalion and the Inshore Boat Battalion through weapons and equipment upgrade again using only available resources of the Brigade.
His military education includes Basic Ranger Course, Naval Qualification Course, Marine Basic Airborne Course, Naval Intelligence Officer Course, Marine Jump Master Course, Naval Command and General Staff Course, Bids and Awards Committee Preparation Training, Major General Martir is also a graduate of Amphibious Warfare Course in Quantico, Virginia, USA and International Joint Operations Planning Course in HMS Dryad, Southwick, Portsmout, United Kingdom.
Director Martir’s garnered several awards and decorations in his military service, namely; 2009 Outstanding Alumni for Military Service San Beda College, Mendiola, Manila; 3 – Distinguished Service Star, 3 - Outstanding Achievement Medal, Distinguished Navy Cross, 13 - Military Merit Medal, 6 - Military Commendation Medal, 2 - Long Service Medals, Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal, 2 Luzon Campaign Medals, Visayas Campaign Medal, Mindanao-Sulu Campaign Medal, Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Ribbon, Military Civic Action Medal, Kagitingan Badge with 4 Gold Stripes and 3rd Bronze Star, Combat Commanders Kagitingan Badge with 2 Battle Stars, Philippine Military Academy “Military Instructor of the Year” Award for 1987, 3 - Marine Bronze Command Badges, Naval Command, and General Staff Course Badge, Philippine Marine Corps Sniper Badge and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Badge.
Director Martir is a top AFP shooter and a sniper who received various trophies and awards in the fields of combat and precision shooting. He further served as Coach of the Marine and Navy Shooting team for 15 years and the Philippine Shooting Team from 2005-2007 for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and Singapore Open Competitions. With his contribution in weapons and Sniper Doctrine development, he was named as the modern father of the Marine Scout Sniper by the Marine Scout Sniper School.
Before his military retirement, Director Martir was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics and Information Systems, J6, AFP which is the office primary responsible for formulating policies and management of Communications, Electronics and Information Systems, and Command and Control resources of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.