The Army Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, joined personnel of the 503 Brigade under the RDF 2nd Division in a 26-kilometer route march in Kinigi, Musanze District, emphasizing the importance of total readiness for mission success.
The endurance exercise was conducted in line with the directives of the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency President Paul Kagame, who consistently urges RDF personnel to maintain peak fitness through regular physical training.
Maj Gen Nyakarundi stated that a professional soldier must uphold physical fitness, mental resilience, and moral strength to operate effectively and defend the nation under all circumstances.
“A soldier of the RDF is not only defined by strength in arms but by total well-being—body, mind, and spirit. Only then can he or she operate in harmony with comrades and defend the nation with precision, discipline, and honor,” he said.
He stressed that route marches are not ceremonial but essential combat exercises that enhance operational endurance, sharpen decision-making under fatigue, and build unit cohesion.
“Every kilometer strengthens our ability to operate effectively in any theater,” he added.
The RDF conducts such physical readiness programs as part of its military doctrine to maintain combat effectiveness.
These include long-distance marches, tactical drills, and live-fire exercises to ensure troops remain agile, disciplined, and capable of rapid deployment.
The march through Kinigi’s rugged terrain reflects RDF’s adaptability to diverse environments while honoring a tradition rooted in Rwanda’s liberation struggle, when endurance and resilience were keys to survival.
The 26-kilometer march underscores RDF’s commitment to the Commander-in-Chief’s guidance and its core mission: defending Rwanda’s sovereignty with professionalism and unwavering readiness.
