Air Force Boosts Personnel Combat Readiness to Battle Insurgency, Militancy

Chiemelie Ezeobi

To battle the twin monsters of terrorism and militancy currently
facing the nation in the North-east and in the Niger Delta region, the
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday boosted the combat readiness of
its personnel by engaging them in a 7km physical fitness route march.

The Air Officer Commanding, Air Vice Marshal Sani Ahmed, led the
troops alongside other senior officers of all units under NAF
Logistics Command to walk from the Sam Ethan Base to the annex of
National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and back to the base again.

However, the troops had first mustered at 4am where the medical team
administered some tests, especially that of High Blood Pressure,
before before the third quarter route march,kicked off at 6am.

Ahmed, while charging the troops to be battle-ready always, said the
essence of the exercise was to ensure that the personnel are fit for
duty, especially when deployed to the North-east.

In his speech afterwards he said, “I congratulate you for coming out
in large number to participate in this exercise. The essence of the
exercise is to foster all round physical fitness of the personnel
through active participation in group exercises for team spirit.

“We must not relent in our effort at ensuring that physical fitness
occupies and enviable place in the service training programme.

“This will enhance combat readiness, especially at this time when the
Armed Forces of Nigeria are confronted with security challenges in the
North East.

“The best way in which we can serve the cause of peace and defend the
territorial integrity of this nation is by making ourselves physically
and psychologically fit so that no power may dare harbour any
aggressive designs against us.

“For sound minds, we should have sound bodies and that is why the
military, world over attaches so much importance to the physical
fitness exercises and fitness exercises and body building culture.