Retiring Army chief still fit and firm
Army chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart, who will retire at the end of September, on Thursday morning racked up scores of 100 percent on the physical fitness test for young troops.
Chalermchai and Deputy Army Commander-in-Chief General Sasin Thongphakdee joined troops of all levels at the Army headquarters to take the physical fitness test.
Chalermchai managed to do 50 push-ups and 60 sit-ups and then finished a two-kilometre run in 10:39 minutes.
Chalermchai said the test was the last one for his military career.
He added that he wanted to see Army personnel in good health so he had ordered four physical tests a year as part of the “Smart Man Smart Soldier” project.
Chalermchai said the latest test of over 300 battalion commanders found that all of them achieved scores of 100 per cent, which was a good statistic for the Army.
After his mandatory retirement at the age of 60, he will continue to run on a treadmill, swim and play football to remain physically fit, because he believes that good physical health will give him good mental health as well, the Army chief concluded.