ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
No fewer than 203 Special Forces (SF) and Combat Search and Rescue Personnel have been graduated by the Nigerian Air Force in order to tackle the growing insecurity in the country.
This was disclosed by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Ground training Command, Air Vice Marshall (AVM), Idi Amin, made this known at the combined graduation ceremony of course 7/2020 of special forces and course 3/2020 of combat search and rescue personals on Saturday in Bauchi.
Amin who explained that 357 Regiment personnels were nominated for the Special Forces screening, but only 219 were inaugurated adding that but only 162 comprising of 9 officers and 153 airmen/airwomen met the requirements of the Course and are therefore graduating.
He further added that out of the 60 personnels inaugurated for Combat Search and Rescue Course, only 41 were graduating today.
The AOC said: “So far, the Command has trained over 1,200 personnel by conducting 7 Special Forces Course, 2 Special Forces Instructors Course and 3 Combat Search and Rescue Course.
“As a Command, we are happy to report that the feedback on the performance of our trainees in the field are very good comparable to any trainee from similar military institutions across the world.”
He commended the Chief of Air staff for his tremendous support to the Command for landmark Infrastructural and welfare facilities within the Command across the country.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Mashal Saddique Abubakar, in his speech, expressed satisfaction with the quality of the training.
He noted that NAF Special Forces personnel were making huge impacts in the fight against terrorism and armed banditry across the country.
He urged the graduates to be prepared and put their best in all circumstances as their future assignments would require courage, good judgement and commitment.
Abubakar stated that to meet NAF’s capability gap in Special Forces and Combat Search and Rescue operations, the Nigerian Air Force established the Special Operations Command with its headquarters in Bauchi and Quick Response Groups/Wings in Gusau, Owerri, Ipetu – Ijesha, Daura, Birnin Gwari, Agatu, Nguroge and Doma.
He said that though these are not yet adequate, “this gives us the desired spread across the country” adiing that it is also in addition to the Combat Search and Rescue Group in Kerang, Plateau State.
Consolidating on the grains made, he further stated, the Service recently activated the 203 Combat Reconnaissance Group Gombe and 215 Forward Operating Base Funtua for enhanced capability in providing timely and actionable intelligence to further contain insecurity.
He said: “Since its inception, the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces has been used effectively for force protection, force projection as well as Base Defence amongst others.
“I am happy to note here today that our Special Forces personnel have performed commendably well when deployed in conjunction with other security agencies in various operations, thus, returning sanctity to distressed areas in the North West, North East and North Central.
“Their performance has proven that enhancing the capacity and capability of our personnel is the best way of ensuring the attainment of our operational goals and objectives.
“My administration considered it necessary to train our Combat Search and Rescue operatives locally due to high cost of foreign training coupled with lack of available training slots.
“Accordingly, the Directorate of Regiment developed a training curriculum with the objective of ensuring that we have personnel capable of rescuing downed aircrew in all terrains and weather conditions anywhere in Nigeria. It is indeed gratifying to note that their training here is yielding the expected benefits.”
He added that: “It is evident that there is a remarkable improvement in the quality of training with the demonstration I earlier witnessed from both courses. I therefore use this opportunity to commend the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command and his team for a job well done.
Abubakar thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the priority attention given to the requirements of the NAF.
“The support provided by the Federal Government has no doubt positively impacted on the NAF and led to increased aircraft serviceability and availability as well as improved training and enhanced facilities,” he said.
The Chief Air Staff promised to sustain the training of SF personnel to enhance NAF force projection posture, while also improving its base defence/force protection capability.
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