Aleke Aleke in Abuja
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, yesterday said that physical fitness and mental alertness of military personnel is a critical component of military operational effectiveness.
He also noted that as the military and other security agencies confront the evolving security threats confronting the nation, they must continuously sharpen their readiness for the task ahead.
Abubakar said this during the fourth quarter route march exercise, organized for NAF personnel serving in Abuja.
This route march, he said is not just a routine activity, but an integral part of military tradition, designed to maintain physical fitness, mental alertness and camaraderie among personnel.
“From another perspective, it is also designed as a show of force, to remind everyone of our readiness as a military force. As such, the exercise we just undertook is a demonstration of the dedication, resilience and discipline that define the Nigerian Air Force. It is a reminder of the importance of physical and mental readiness in our line of duty.
“Unfortunately, today’s route march is coming on the heels of a sad event that affected the Nigerian Air Force. In line with showcasing Physical Fitness, five of our personnel recently embarked on a journey from Yola to represent the country at the African Military Games 2024 holding in Abuja. Sadly, their journey was cut short by a fatal accident that left us in shock,” he said.
He assured that the NAF will not forget these gallant athletes nor the families they left behind.
He averred that the achievements of the quarterly route march reinstated the need for all personnel to imbibe an attitude of keeping fit, if they are to keep pace with the demands of their jobs.
This, he said is in line with one of the key enablers of his Command Philosophy, which is “Deliberate training and mission-oriented force development”.
He concluded that the Nigerian Air Force remain committed to improving the standard of sporting facilities and providing the enabling environment necessary to maintain physical and mental readiness of personnel.
