MINSK, 23 February (BelTA) – In the near future, all people in uniform will undergo testing and pass a physical fitness exam, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a ceremony to present general’s shoulder straps and state awards in Minsk on 23 February, BelTA has learned.
“The situation is not easy. You feel it. I do even more so as I receive extensive reports about the situation around our country. This is what drives my strictest demand to enhance the security and defense of our homeland,” the president said. “I want you to understand that in the near future, all people in uniform will undergo testing and pass a professional competence exam. We have enough forces and means for this. Take this as a given.”
In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he sees the situation developing during military operations near Belarus and knows all the shortcomings. “I do not want these shortcomings to be characteristic of our army. Particular attention and demands are placed on officers,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.
“I am a down-to-earth person who served quite a bit in the army, and I understand: we have different people, a new generation, you know what it is like. You know very well the kind of people who join the Armed Forces. It will be the same in war. It’s already like that on the front right next to us. People are very different,” the head of state stated. “But those who are skilled and physically strong (we were warned about this by those who fought in Ukraine) they will survive. Those who are weak, including officers, will be dead within hours. So physical fitness and the weapons you will be given are what matters most for saving your own life, and by extension, our country.”
“You must master this weapon. And it all depends on you officers. As I said, people are different. Some will be good at handling weapons and physically fit. Some will be not so good. But if the officer is prepared, the platoon, company, battalion, division, brigade will always accomplish the overall task set before them. You understand what I’m talking about. Therefore, we need to pay the most serious attention to the training of officers. I feel deep down that we underperform precisely there. We see flaws among those we inspect. But we will talk about this more,” the Belarusian leader added.
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