Mogadishu Battalion has emerged winner of the 2022/2023 Cadets Brigade Inter-Battalion Shooting Competition for Army Cadets of 70 Regular Course, which held on 28 January 2023 at the NDA Open Range, Afaka, Kaduna. The battalion scored 271.6 points, beating it’s closest rival, Burma Battalion, which had a cumulative score of 264.8 points. This is as Dalet Battalion came in 3rd with 264 points and Abysinnia Battalion occupied the 4th position with a total score of 232.4 points.
All four battalions competed across four major practices namely: Physical Effort Shooting, Transition Shooting, Moving Target and Combat Medic Shooting, in addition to Falling Plate shooting. Accordingly, Mogadishu Battalion scored 100 points in the Falling Plate shooting, Burma Battalion 80 points, Dalet 60 points, while Abyssinia Battalion scored 40 points, respectively. The Competition is aimed at testing the ability and proficiency of the cadets on weapon handling and shooting, which are hallmarks of land battles.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Commandant NDA, Maj Gen IM Yusuf, expressed appreciation to the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH) Commander Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Bauchi, Maj Gen MS Ahmed, whom he described as a thorough-bred general.
He therefore, charged the participating cadets to listen and learn from the SGOH’s wealth of experience when he speaks. Maj Gen IM Yusuf further disclosed that the Academy always invites professionals in various fields to attend events, so the cadets can draw from their wealth of professional experiences. He therefore encouraged the cadets to fully utilize the rare privilege.
Maj Gen IM Yusuf also revealed that proficiency in weapon handling and shooting are required skills cadets need to function well as professional soldiers if they must withstand the contemporary security challenges, especially in the battlefield. “All land battles are based on fire and movement known in military parlance as Maneuver warfare; tactical ability, which individual cadets must acquire to combat enemy decisively”, General Yusuf declared.
The Special Guest of Honour, Maj Gen MS Ahmed, while declaring the event closed, thanked the Commandant NDA for the rare opportunity accorded him. He described Maj Gen IM Yusuf as a great mentor and hailed his towering achievements in the area of cadets’ training. The SGOH expressed satisfaction with the level of proficiency displayed by the cadets, which he noted has confirmed the high standard of training in the Academy. While congratulating the Mogadishu Battalion for winning the competition, General Ahmed charged other participants to redouble their efforts, adding that in every contest, there must be a winner. He also described the event as unique, even as he commended the DMT, CBC and the instructors for their unquenchable desire to attain the best in terms of cadets’ training.
The highpoint of the event was the novelty shoot, which the Special Guest of Honour’s team prevailed over the Deputy Commandant’s team.
