The whole brouhaha around the recruitment of 1 500 cadets for the Namibia Defence Force again reminded us of the destructive power of the keyboard activists who would not last a day as a soldier.

There is a lot of entitlement around wanting things done your way – on your terms – but that does not work in an institution, where you start as a cog in a greater machine.

If you want to join a certain sphere, you must comply with the set standards of that field. 

They are there for a reason. 

Without professional standards, no one will trust the uniformed forces or respect them. 

Discipline is central to a professional armed force.  

All professions have standards.

You cannot be a journalist and not be able to write – just as you cannot be a spokesperson of a large, important institution and be unable to communicate or work with people. 

No severely colour-blind person can become a pilot, and you need to be able to tolerate children if you want to become a teacher.

Soldiers need to be able to go through regular rigorous physical exertion and be in tiptop shape. 

Members will operate sophisticated equipment and should be trainable.

They also need to follow orders.

Those bemoaning the requirements must ask themselves if they want to lower the standards for their selfish reasons.

Also, no one was forced to apply or vaccinate but you want to give yourself the best chance possible – just like you get a licence even if you do not have a car. 

The proximity recruits will work and train to mean that a single Covid-19 infection becomes a super spreader. 

Weakened immune systems are not ideal for our national defence, so it makes sense that recruits are required to have a whole array of shots. 

Crying on social media will not help. 

The very people who want the NDF to lower the standards are the same people who used to poke fun at the NDF’s rag-tag image. 

The armed forces have made great strides in shaking that label – and to further professionalise the force, they would need fit and proper trainable individuals to join its ranks.

While rampant unemployment undoubtedly fuels the overwhelming interest in NDF recruitment, prospective recruits should realise uniformed service is not for everyone. 

If the decision-makers resolved to have the vaccination card, HIV test, physical fitness and good marks as requirements, you better join the queue at your nearest vaccination centre and put your exercise gear on if you want to join the NDF. 

Otherwise, march on.