MANSEHRA: Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif has said that army is well aware of its needs and that’s why it has introduced Physical Ability and Combat Efficiency System (Paces) to make its strength more vibrant.

He said that Paces was introduced in the army to successfully face the challenging environment of the future battlefield.

“We have introduced Paces in army for further enhancing the physical fitness of soldiers in peacetime which is the only guarantor of success during war,” he said while addressing the concluding ceremony of Inter-Regimental Centres Paces Championship held here at Junior Leaders Academy (JLA) Shinkiari on Thursday.

The JLA, situated some 18 kilometres north of Mansehra on Karakoram Highway, organised the Paces championship which was participated by 18 teams of different regimental centres.

Says modern techniques to improve capabilities of soldiers

The COAS, who witnessed the final events of the championship, said that army was well aware of future challenges and its needs and that’s why Paces was incorporated to make its strength more vibrant.

Gen Raheel said that such techniques were being introduced in army to further enhance physical fitness standard and successfully face challenging environment of the future battlefield.

“Our force is one of the gallant forces in the world and we are proud of it. We are improving the combating abilities of soldiers to match the international standard,” he said.

The COAS said that although depending on group-based development was a key to success in the battlefield yet Paces relied on modern techniques and focused on individuals rather than group-based development.

Gen Raheel also lauded phenomenal performance and competitive spirit and efforts by both trainers and trainees in achieving those standards.

Stressing the need for physical fitness for a soldier, he said that peacetime training was the only guarantor of success during war. He also lauded the forces for showing unflinching resolve in the ongoing operation Zarb-i-Azb.

Later, the COAS gave away trophies to winner and runner up teams and medals to individuals for showing the best performance. The individual medals were won by sepoy Gulfam in 3.2 kilometres race in 10 minutes and 24 seconds, sepoy Mohammad Zubair in 61 pulls-ups, sepoy Naveed Ashraf for 3624 pushups in one hour and sepoy Babar Ali for 3310 sit-ups in one hour.

On his arrival at Junior Leaders Academy, the chief of army staff was received by Lt Gen Ikramul Haq, the inspector general of training and evaluation.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2014