From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Nigerian Army on Friday graduated 1,182 troops from the 10th batch of its Advanced Infantry Training Programme in Kachia, Kaduna State.
The troops graduated under Exercise Restore Hope X at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATC), Kachia.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, said the training was aimed at improving the troops’ combat proficiency and preparing them for contemporary military operations.
He said the Advanced Infantry Training Programme had become a key component of the Nigerian Army’s post-basic training framework.
According to him, the programme was designed to instil warrior ethos, sharpen combat skills and prepare soldiers to confront emerging security threats.
The COAS said the graduation came at a time the Nigerian Army was undergoing force expansion and capability enhancement.
He said the restructuring of the Army, recently approved by President Bola Tinubu, had resulted in the establishment of additional divisions, formations and units.
Shaibu said many of the graduates would form the nucleus of the newly established formations and units.
He charged them to justify the resources invested in their training through professionalism, sound judgment and commitment to assigned missions.
The COAS urged the troops to remain adaptable and innovative in confronting increasingly sophisticated adversaries.
He said the training was consistent with his command philosophy of developing a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army remained committed to continuous training to enhance the skills and operational capacity of its personnel.
He identified terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist agitations and transnational organised crime among the security challenges confronting the country.
He urged the graduates to remain physically fit, mentally alert, technologically proficient and morally upright.
The COAS also charged them to respect the rule of law, protect human rights and comply with rules of engagement in their operations.
He assured the troops of the Army’s continued support in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Shaibu also urged personnel selected as instructors to perform their new responsibilities with commitment and professionalism.
Earlier, Chief of Training (Army), Maj.General Valentine Okoro, said the graduation marked the successful completion of another cycle of the Army’s post-basic training programme.
Okoro said the six-month exercise was designed to equip the troops with skills and knowledge required to operate effectively in contemporary military environments.
He said the training, initially conducted by foreign partners, was later taken over by indigenous instructors who had continued to improve its scope and efficiency.
According to him, graduates of previous editions had contributed significantly to operations across the various theatres of operation.
Okoro said the trainees were exposed to tactical operations, marksmanship, weapon proficiency, field craft, endurance, combat medicine, leadership development and counter-insurgency operations.
He said the training methodology emphasised realism, teamwork, discipline and mission-oriented objectives.
The Chief of Training said improvements recorded in the trainees’ physical fitness, tactical competence, confidence and decision-making ability demonstrated the effectiveness of the programme.
He said Exercise RESTORE HOPE had become the Army’s primary counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism training model and had been adapted across its training depots and tactical training centres.
Okoro disclosed that the COAS had approved Basic Infantry Course certificates and trade certifications for the graduates.
He said the exercise had also helped to standardise post-basic training, improve instructional methodologies and identify personnel with potential to serve as instructors.
Okoro said lessons from the latest training cycle would be used to review the training curriculum for subsequent editions.
He commended the COAS, instructors, training partners, administrative personnel and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful conduct of the exercise.
The ceremony featured a demonstration of selected combat skills acquired by the troops during the training.
(The Sun)
