NAF Trains Special
NAF Trains Special Forces in Bauchi
In continuation of its capacity building initiatives to
effectively tackle various security challenges confronting the
Nation, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the training of
another batch of Special Forces (SF) personnel. The SF Course
5/2019 was inaugurated today, 9 October 2019, at the Regiment
Training Centre (RTC) Annex in Bauchi. The Course, which is the
seventh of such training programmes by the current NAF
administration, is the first to be conducted at the newly
established RTC Annex in Bauchi. The choice of Bauchi is to enable
the trainees acclimatize to the arid conditions prevalent in the
North East, as well as decongest the RTC’s main training facility
in Kaduna.
Inaugurating the Course, the Air Officer Commanding Ground
Training Command (AOC GTC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Idi Amin, stated
that the training programme was yet another glowing demonstration
of the realization of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar’s, vision of repositioning the NAF into a highly
professional and disciplined force through capacity building
initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air
power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives. He
stated that the building of capacity of NAF SF was borne out of the
need to ensure the robust defence of NAF Bases and air assets to
enable the Service continue to project air power effectively,
thereby bridging the gap between Air Power projection and force
protection. “The robust capacity built has also enabled the Service
to more effectively contribute to the protection of critical
national assets, like our Airports, as well as provide support to
sister Services and other security agencies in internal security
operations across the Country”, he added.
The AOC GTC stated further that SF capabilities hold great
importance to military operations worldwide. According to him, the
SF are highly trained and motivated forces who possess an array of
skills and are capable of operating in all types of terrain and
weather conditions in order to achieve favourable resolution of
security threats. He noted that the CAS has made the development of
SF capability a priority to ensure that the NAF Quick Response
Groups (QRGs) and Wings (QRWs) as well as Forward Operating Bases
at Gusau in Zamafara State, Agatu in Benue State, Brinin Gwari in
Kaduna State, Ipetu-Ijesha in Osun State and Gembu in Taraba State,
amongst others, are properly manned. These units, he said have
continued to contribute significantly to security efforts at the
various locations, working in synergy with personnel of other
security agencies, to ensure the protection of lives and properties
of Nigerians.
AVM Amin emphasized that the need to further expand the NAF’s
capacity to train more Regiment and SF personnel as well as reduce
the strain on facilities at the RTC, Kaduna, had informed the
establishment of the RTC Annex in Bauchi. He further disclosed that
an Annex had also been established at Ipetu-Ijesha in Osun State,
which would commence training activities in the First Quarter of
2020, while another Annex would soon be established in Owerri, Imo
State. He highlighted that, apart from conducting the normal
Regiment and SF courses, the Annexes would also conduct specialized
terrain training for desert warfare, jungle warfare and amphibious
operations.
While congratulating the 200 trainees for scaling through the
rigorous screening and selection process that qualified them to
attend the course, the AOC GTC charged them to be prepared to put
in their best and draw on every ounce of determination and
resilience in them to excel. He equally lauded the CAS for his
exceptional sense of purpose and dedication to capacity building
and unflinching support towards providing highly skilled and
professional manpower to meet the NAF’s operational
requirements.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant RTC Annex Bauchi,
Wing Commander Kehinde Akinyosade, thanked the CAS for convening
the Course and for his tremendous strides in the areas of
infrastructural development at the NAF Base Bauchi. He noted
further that the Course curriculum entails intensive training in
shooting skills, unarmed combat, navigation, field tactics,
communications, endurance and swimming, amongst others. These
areas, he said, were intended to ensure that only the fittest
complete the Course and graduate to join the NAF SF, also known as
the “Panthers”. He therefore tasked the trainees to work hard,
endure the rigours and present the right attitude in order to
successfully graduate from the Course. One of the highlights of the
ceremony was the live small arms firing exercise executed by the
AOC SOC, Director Regiment Headquarters NAF as well as the
Commandant RTC Annex and his SF instructors to mark the
commencement of the training.
Under the current NAF leadership, the Regiment/SF specialty has
witnessed tremendous boost in capacity with increased manpower as
well as robust training and provision of modern equipment. Since
2015, the number of SF personnel has more than tripled to a
1,000-strong well-trained, well-kitted and well-motivated force
capable of conducting specialized operations, either independently
or in concert with other Services. The overall strength of NAF
Regiment personnel has also been increased from less than 1,000 as
at 2015 to over 4,000, with about 2,500 of them trained in Force
Protection in Complex Air Ground Environment (FPCAGE) by the
British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT).
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force