BY ODILI CHRISTEL
The British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), has trained 209 Regiment personnel of the Nigerian Air Force in key combat fields to
sharpening their skills in carrying out regiment tasks in support of the air operations. BMATT in conjunction with the NAF Regiment Training Centre (RTC) in Kaduna conducted the first Rigger course for Paratrooper Instructors and Rappelling Course for the NAF regiment. The team conducted a Basic Regiment course for the officers, airmen and airwomen alongside rappelling course for the Defence Special Force Rappellers.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar in his address during the combined graduation ceremony for the courses mentioned that the training effort marked another milestone in building professional, competent and robust Service that is capable of containing the current security challenges facing the Nation. This, no doubt, demonstrates our unwavering commitment and determination to build, equip and sustain a force that is efficient, effective, highly mobile and capable of an immediate and timely response to any security challenge anywhere in the country and the sub-region, the CAS said.
Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar expressed his delight at the brilliant demonstration by the rapellers, paratroopers as well as the expertise demonstrated in weapon handling as witnessed during the graduation ceremony. This he said underscored the high quality training offered by the RTC in collaboration with BMATT and by extension the Armed Forces of Nigeria. While congratulating the participant on successful completion of the courses, the CAS said that he has no doubt that they are fully equipped for deployment to any theatre of operation in the country and beyond.
The Commandant of the RTC, Air Commodore Danladi Bausa said that the Centre has so far trained 254 personnel from the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Navy and Air Force since the school was upgraded about six months ago. The Commandant reiterated that the mandate of the Centre was in line with the CAS vision of Human capacity development through robust and result oriented training for enhanced professional performance, which he said informed the commitment of his team to deliver quality training to the NAF Regiment and other sister services.
In his own words, the Commandant of the BMATT, Wg Cdr Rees said that the United Kingdom places priority in supporting the Nigerian Military through capacity building to protect not only Nigeria territorial integrity but also the sub-region. The BMATT leader who expressed delight at the level of discipline and fitness exhibited by the NAF personnel was quite optimistic that the skills they acquired would go a long way to add positive impact to the on-going military operations in the country.