NAF Trains 707
NAF Trains 707 Personnel for Internal Security
The need for continuous capacity development to meet the evolving
imperatives for specialist skillsets, such as Force Protection,
required in the ongoing counterinsurgency and anti-armed banditry
operations cannot be overemphasized. In line with these
imperatives, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 15 June 2019,
graduated 707 Regiment and Air Police personnel trained in Force
Protection in Complex Air-Ground Environment (FP-CAGE). In addition
to the FP-CAGE Course 8/2019, the combined graduation ceremony,
which took place at the Regiment Training Centre (RTC) Kaduna, also
marked the completion of the Basic Regiment Officers’ Course
14/2019, Advanced Regiment Airmen’s Course 3/201 as well as the
Basic Regiment Airmen’s Course 27/2019.
The ceremony, which featured simulation demonstrations by the
graduating students, brings the total number of personnel trained
in FP-CAGE, since the NAF entered into partnership with the British
Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) in 2015, to 2,872.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the Guest of Honour,
the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
stated that the graduation marked another milestone in the progress
made towards revitalizing the NAF Regiment and repositioning the
Specialty to play its roles of Force Protection and security of NAF
assets.
He noted that the inclusion of some Air Police personnel in the
FP-CAGE training was another initiative aimed at improving the
security of bases and especially the personnel. The CAS further
noted that the current security environment, with its attendant
threats and challenges to NAF bases and infrastructure, had brought
to the fore the need for the NAF to be able to not just project air
power but also adequately ensure the protection of NAF air assets
in furtherance of national security imperatives.
According to him, “Our pragmatic approach to training has
improved our capacity to secure our Bases as well as critical
national assets and infrastructure while at the same time improving
the capacity of the NAF to respond to national emergencies and
crisis situations”.
While congratulating the graduands for the successful completion
of the training programme, the CAS reminded them of the need to
remain disciplined and vigilant, whilst always guarding their
utterances and ensuring they avoid any acts capable of denting the
image of the NAF. The CAS also charged them to abide by rules of
engagement when deployed and submit themselves to civil authority
as they would be operating at a time when the nation is facing
numerous security challenges. He further urged the graduands to
keep giving their best in the service of the Nation. “Always
remember that your duty is to protect all Nigerians irrespective of
their ethnic background or religious inclination”, he added.
Air Marshal Abubakar also expressed gratitude to the President,
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari,
for the priority attention given to the requirements of the NAF.
The support provided by the Federal Government, he said, had
positively impacted on the NAF especially in the areas of training,
enhanced operational efficiency as well as improved provision of
welfare and other services. He also commended the efforts of the
Chief of Training and Operations Headquarters NAF and Director of
Regiment as well as the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training
Command (AOC GTC) and the Commandant and staff of RTC for their
efforts towards ensuring that the aims for which the Centre was
established were being achieved. While also commending the BMATT
instructors for their dedication, hard work and commitment to the
training package in the RTC, the CAS noted that the seamless
execution of the force protection exercise demonstrations by the
graduands were a testimony to the collaborative efforts and synergy
that has been achieved in partnership with NAF instructors.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Commandant RTC, Wing
Commander Kehinde Akinyosade, stated that the commendable
achievements recorded by the RTC were made possible due to the
unwavering support of the CAS and the commitment of the AOCs of GTC
and the Air Training Command (ATC). He therefore expressed his
profound gratitude and appreciation to the CAS for his keen
interest in capacity development of NAF personnel, which, he said,
had ensured an enabling environment for the timely, qualitative
turn out of well-trained Regiment personnel.
As part of the ceremony, the graduating students conducted an
exercise simulating the countering of an insurgent threat to the
Base by an FPCAGE Team supported by an Intelligence Surveillance
and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform. Another highlight of the
graduation ceremony was the presentation of awards to students who
distinguished themselves during the various courses. Dignitaries
that graced the occasion included the Commandant Armed Forces
Command and Staff College, AOCs ATC and GTC, Commander Nigerian
Army Infantry Corp, Commanders of co-located NAF Units in Kaduna as
well as other serving and retired senior officers.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force