Foot soldiers of the Indian Army deployed along the line of Control (loC) are ‘battle ready’ and fighting fit on towering peaks to defend the frontiers of the nation.
Braving inclement weather conditions, undulating terrain and dense forest area these soldiers have been tracking long miles under the shadow of guns to perform their 24x7 duty of maintaining the sanctity of the line of Control.
Since these soldiers don’t enjoy the luxury of attending morning PT drill they have been maintaining their fitness levels by moving up and down the forward posts and dropping supplies and ration for fellow soldiers.
Some of those who are inclined towards triggering spiritual thoughts also perform breathing exercises and yoga to stay alert and healthy. More sporty ones prefer jogging ,trekking and weight training to stay healthy in make shift gyms.
According to a commanding officer of a unit posted along the line of Control, “On an average 30-40 patrols are launched to man forward locations along the border fence in their area of domination”. Then some of the observation posts located on different hill features are also occupied by the soldiers to maintain tight vigil on mountain passes and prevent small groups of infiltrators to sneak inside the Indian territory”.
The commanding officer said these soldiers trek to their forward locations and return after completing their duty hours. “The daily routine keeps them fit and healthy. Others stand guard inside bunkers manning gun positions and observation posts and burn calories”, he added.
Pollution free environment in the forward areas also boost their immune system.
During regular health check ups the fitness level of ageing soldiers are monitored and those who are found falling short of optimum fitness levels are directed to improve their fitness levels, commanding officer told The Pioneer.
In times of heightened border tension no commanding officer can afford to have ‘unhealthy’ soldiers in the unit. He said, the Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) have been instructed to ensure fitness levels of all soldiers. The medical officers of the unit have been tasked to monitor the different parameters during routine health check ups of soldiers to prevent any major health issue.
Those responsible for cooking food in the mess are also given specific instructions to chalk out a healthy menu and give healthy and tasty diet to soldiers to boost their metabolism rate.
A JCO posted along the line of Control in Nowshera sector told The Pioneer, “majority of soldiers are healthy and battle ready in our unit”.
He said every day each soldier tracks 5-7 km of distance on foot and participate in routine tactical drills and follow fitness regime to maintain their skill set.
JCO claimed since diet plays an important role in maintaining fitness we lay extra emphasis on preparing healthy diet for the soldiers.
“It is only during festivals and national days we offer special feast to soldiers and allow them to splurge on food else we follow a strict diet chart and look after their basic needs,” JCO said.