By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
No fewer than 295 short service 47 cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna have concluded their outdoor field training which ended in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday.
The final phase of the officers cadets outdoor training was the battle inoculation and fire power demonstration, held at table hill, Nigeria Army area in Kachia.
Also, the tactical drills and battle inoculation drills which took place in Kachia general area lastedfrom 14 – 29 Jan.
While addressing the cadets, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigeria Army, Maj-Gen Stevenson Olabanji , said the battle inoculation is aimed at exposing the cadets to the sights and sounds of battlefields.
Olabanji said the battle inoculation had truly met the objectives of the exercise.
According to him, “This has given us a semblance of actual battlefield experience albeit without actual casualties and chaos associated with the real battlefield.
“Since we can’t possibly replicate actual battle scenario, this firepower demonstration has shown you some of the destructive effects of war.
He told the cadets that battle inoculation has given them a foretaste of what they may likely experience as they go into the field as subalterns occupying junior leadership positions into the various theatres of operations within and outside the country.
“I am very certain that you are now better prepared mentally andy physically for the tasks ahead.
As we are all aware, our nation is currently faced with numerous contemporary security challenges ranging from, insurgency banditry, kidnapping, militancy and violent agitations, among others.
“The Nigerian army in collaboration with the sister services and the other security agencies, has the constitutional mandate to combat these threat to national security security.
“You the passing out cadets therefore fall in line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, which is “To have a Professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Defence Academy has provided you with all the necessary basic military skills, character development and academic prowess that would enable you to fit into this vision.
“What will separate the chaff from the grain would be your attitude and how you would apply yourselves to your chosen career hereafter, “he said.
He added that, irrespective of the corps you might be posted after your commissioning, you must all be prepared to be drafted at short notice fo perform difficult and sometimes dangerous operations such as Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency (CTCOIN), operation , peace enforcement , peacekeeping , or other operations in aid to civil authority.
He said apart from mastering your tactics, techniques and procedures, you also need the requisite physical fitness, mental alertness and stamina to be able to succeed.
“However, watching you here charging through the enemy objective under fire, shows that you are ready for this job.
“I must therefore, applaud the initiative and effort of the commandant in deeming it necessary to extend the training duration for a period of 3 months.
“This initiative was well thought-out and has greatly Improved the training quality, much of which has been replicated in the output of today’s exercise.
“You must continue to indulge yourselves in activities that would enable you to further develop and maintain the desired cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and flexibility to withstand the rigours of military operations,” he urged.
Olabanji congratulate the cadets for successfully completing all stages of military training which culminated today with this battle Inoculation.
“It can only be by dint of hard work determination and commitment that you have been able to survive the rigorous training up to this point.
“However, you must bear in mind that a race is never won until an athlete has crossed the finish line.
“Therefore, you must remain focused, disciplined and levelheaded,” he said.
The Commander appreciated the Chief of Army Staft Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya for his strategic direction of the Army and for all the outstanding support he has been providing to all the NA training schools including the NDA.
“Undoubtedly, the endorsement of the Establishment Order for the creation of 37 NDA Demonstration Battalion coupled with the issue of fighting vehicles to the new unit would enhance the capacity of the academy to deliver realistic training to the cadets.
The Commandant of the Academy ,Maj-Gen Ibrahim Yusuf, advice the cadet to always place the nation above all other interest to take away all the lesson, trainings we have impacted on them.
It would be recalled that other phases of the exercise which took place in Plateau State included map reading exercise at Heipang and adventure training at the citizenship and leadership training centre, Shere Hills, Jos, from January 8 to 14.
