The Takoradi Air Force Base Commander, Group Captain Maxwell Mantsebi Teye Nagai, on Friday stated that the days when the military brutalized the civilian population are over. He said the Military is there to protect and defend the people and the territorial integrity of the nation at all times. Group Captain Nagai said this at an Inter-Squadron Steeple Chase competition held at the Takoradi Air force Base, to test the endurance and physical fitness of new recruits. It also aimed at inculcating a sense of team spirit, discipline and cooperation among the recruits. In all, 136 recruits took part in the competition made up of 124 males and 10 females after 18 weeks of intensive training. They covered 16-kilometer routes, scaled a 10 foot wall, walked in “water ditch” as well as clearing several obstacles in various terrain before crossing the finishing line. Group Captain Nagai charged the recruits to eschew laziness, indiscipline, idle attitudes so that the Military values of discipline, loyalty to country, dedication to duty and selfless sacrifice to national duties would be firmly imbued in them. “You are being trained physically, mentally and psychologically to be able to protect and defend your brothers and sisters in your communities and the nation at large,” he stressed. At the end of the competition, Falcon Squadron came first followed by Fokker Squadron in second place whiles MI 17 Squadron placed third. Recruit Michael Ndombe was adjudged the overall best recruit while recruit George Asamoah and recruit Dominic Fiabedu came second and third, respectively.