Counter Insurgency: Airforce Trains 30 officers

As part of efforts to prepare for future counter insurgency challenges, thirty officers in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have been trained on staff duty, general service knowledge and insurgency following their graduation from the young Officers Course 7/2016.

The young officers who graduated from the course at the Ground Training Centre (GTC) of the NAF after 12-week training have been equipped with the core values of the Service to take up responsibilities.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony over the weekend in Kaduna, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said the course was reintroduced two years ago to train young officers and lay a very good foundation for them as military officers with core values of the NAF, the military in general and to be able to post them where at their own level can give the best of their service.

Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum said, Sadique said, “Without the training given at the young officer course, the officer will not know what is expected of them because they are trained on service duties, internal security and general knowledge which are core areas an officer is supposed to be very conversant with.”

He implored them to avoid any misconduct that will tarnish the good image of the Service and assured that the NAF will continue to do its best to developed the manpower of its personnel.

While commending ‎the resource persons including Imperial Outcomes and Deep-cover Guards for a job well done, he told the graduating officers that the training has equipped them with the required skills to take up any role they are assigned.

Commenting on the recent capture of Sambisa forest, the Air Chief said, “The military is charged with the responsibility of maintaining the territorial integrity of the nation and we will continue to do that.

 

“You cannot completely say you have defeated insurgency as there will still be pockets here and there which means we have to be vigilant to ensure that we continue to provide security for the nation.”

In his address, Commandant, GTC, Air Commodore Noah Oyibo ‎said “All over the world, military conduct young officers course to improve their knowledge so as to enhance productivity. It is in line with this globally accepted military norm that the current NAF leadership resolved to conduct this course to ensure that officers are prepared to take up young officer’s responsibility.”

He noted that in designing the course, due consideration was given to Service knowledge, staff duties and the increasing role of the NAF in internal security operation under a democratic dispensation where military operations are conducted in strict compliance with the rule of law.

He said the graduating officers are prepared to undertake with confidence any assignment commensurate with their rank and experience.

 

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