The Tribune

FROM mid-May to present, service members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) have been undergoing their annual base fitness test at the Coral Harbour Base to ensure their physical fitness.

All marines are required to complete a determined amount of push-ups, sit-ups, pull ups, a timed 1.5 mile run followed by a 300-metre swim and dive. There are some officers and marines who aim to max out every score.

“Because these exercises are all completed one after the other, it can be very taxing on the body for the average person. While good health and fitness are extremely important for the officers and marines, a higher level of physical fitness is necessary in order to perform reliably when carrying out their duties,” the RBDF noted.

In addition to this, it promotes better overall health, higher performances and combat readiness with minimal fatigue, the RBDF added.

Because physical fitness is crucial to the overall effectiveness of the RBDF, service members in optimal physical condition play an invaluable role towards the organisation’s mandate.

“However, although we can test and score someone’s physical fitness, it is much more difficult to measure someone’s heart and dedication,” the RBDF noted.