All uniformed personnel will soon be vetted and undergo a professional aptitude test. This was stated by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, at a ceremony marking the presentation of general's shoulder straps and state awards, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
"The situation is not simple. You feel it. I feel it even more so, receiving extensive information about the situation around our country. This dictates my most stringent demand for enhancing the security and defence of our Motherland," the President said. "I want you to understand that in the near future, all uniformed personnel will be vetted and will undergo a professional aptitude test. We have sufficient forces and means for this. I ask you to take this as a given."
Alexander Lukashenko noted in this regard that he sees the situation unfolding during military operations near Belarus and is aware of all shortcomings. "I do not want these shortcomings to be characteristic of our army. Special attention and demands are placed on officers," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
"I am an earthly person, having served in the army for a considerable time, and I understand that people are different. The new generation, you know what it's like. And you know well the quality of those who join the Armed Forces. It will be the same in war. It is the same on the front line near us. People are very different," the head of state stated. "But those who know how, who are physically strong (those who fought in Ukraine warned us about this) – they will live. Those who are indecisive, including officers – they will perish in the coming hours. Therefore, physical fitness and the weapon that will be issued to you are paramount for preserving your life, and consequently, our country."
"You must master this weapon. And it all depends on you – the officers. As I said, people are different. Some will be proficient with weapons and physically prepared. Some will not be so much. But if the officer is prepared – a platoon, company, battalion, division, brigade will always, as a whole, accomplish the task set before them. You understand what this is about. Therefore, we must pay the most serious attention to the training of officers. I feel deep down that we are not working hard enough precisely there. Therefore, somewhere, as we see in our checks, we have flaws among those we are checking. But we will discuss this further," the Belarusian leader added.