Friday marked the conclusion of the Field Training Exercise (FTX) for the Direct Short Service (DSSC) Course 26 Army and Course 30 Air Force (NAF) cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy.
The Battle of Inoculation, which took place at Table Hill Nigerian Army (NA) Training Area in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was the cadets’ final outdoor field training exercise, as reported according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). On December 17, 2022, the cadets are anticipated to be commissioned into the Nigerian Armed Forces through a beautiful ceremony of passing out parade.
The Air Secretary, AVM Paul Jemitola, who was the Special Guest of Honour for the Battle Inoculation exercise, praised the NDA for producing competent officers. He said it was very beneficial for the nation, particularly in the battle against insurgency and other types of instability in country.
He added that doing this will increase the combat soldiers’ effectiveness and combat readiness in light of the current demanding security environment. It cannot be overstated how important it is to develop tactical training that simulates actual combat and other complicated operational events that occur on the battlefield.
He then implores the cadets to continue and maintain the pace of (weapon handling proficiency), (mental awareness), (tactical stamina), and other fundamental warfare rudiments they have been forced to go through during the exercise.
“I am quite happy with what I have witnessed here today which emphasizes the general preparation of our military forces, the general commander remarked, adding that he believes these would help you in addressing the problems your future assigned missions will bring”.
War Inoculation, according to him, is a tactical exercise designed to replicate actual battle conditions and other intricate operational scenarios that took place on actual battlefields as witnessed in other armies around the world.
Only well-trained, strong, and resilient people can survive in this fluid, intricate, and nerve-wracking activity. He reiterated. The boom of the cannons and earth’s vibrations from the fight immunization have given us a sense of the true battlefield experience.
Earlier, the Commandant NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, reaffirmed that the Nigerian military is equipped and ready to undertake conventional and unconventional warfare effectively as part of its determination to combat insurgency and uphold the territorial integrity of the nation.
General Yusuf emphasized his happiness with the positive effects of the cadets’ high-quality training. He continued by saying that the country’s investment in defense was paying off in the fight against insurgency and banditry in Nigeria’s North-West and North-East regions.
“As you are aware, the Direct Short Service cadre is intended for professionals like doctors, nurses, engineers, and the like, whose knowledge the military need in order to carry out its duties”. According to Yusuf, the five and eight months of training required for the army and air force are comparable to the training received by regular warriors who have graduated from the Academy. (NAN)
