Physical tests get tougher

The SVK Armed Forces will get tough on checking the results of physical tests of service personnel as part of their physical readiness. This follows from the task assigned by Minister of Defence of Martin Glváč, who gave orders to Chief of the Defence Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim to ensure thorough compliance with respective guidelines in this field. The head of the defence establishment thus responded to the initiatives of SVK Armed Forces members. "The soldier´s profession is exceptionally demanding and requires physical readiness at the highest level. To keep oneself in good physical condition is one of the basic duties of each professional soldier. In the military, we wish to have personnel who are up to the job," said the Minister of Defence. Physical readiness is one of the conditions for being admitted to the state service of professional soldiers. SVK MOD officials seek to create the best conditions for service in the armed forces. The new Professional Soldiers' State Service Act, which is in the legislative review process, guarantees several benefits to soldiers. On the other hand, soldiers must reckon with increased requirements on physical readiness levels. "The physical readiness standards equally apply to all, ranging from the 1st grade soldier to the general. Therefore, I consider it necessary to supervise the standards more thoroughly," said Chief of the Defence Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim.