The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated 769 airmen/airwomen that have successfully completed various courses in the Service.
The personnel including 626 regiment officers, 134 Air Police and nine Intelligence specialties graduated in various courses including the Basic Regiment Officers Course 13/2018, Advance Regiment Airmen Course 1/2018 and Basic Regiment Airmen Course 26/2018 at Regiment Training Centre, Kaduna.
Addressing the graduands at the combined graduation ceremony on Thursday, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, noted that the Regiment Training Centre has remained a centre of excellence in the pursuit of ground combat skills training for the Nigerian Air Force.
According to the CAS, “It is our deliberate policy to train personnel of regiment, air police and intelligence specialties together for complimentary roles in the Base Defence Architecture.
“In this light, let me acknowledge the contributions of our training partners – British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) and the Four Troop Team for the great jobs that they are doing.
“Since the NAF entered into partnership with these training teams, particularly BMATT in 2015 to train our personnel in Force Protection in Complex Air and Ground Environment (FP-CAGE), we have so far trained 2,251 personnel in this regard. I am therefore happy to note that the collaboration between our organisations have been mutually beneficial.
“Since my assumption of office, the Nigerian Air Force has continued to build a sustainable and functional air force that will be highly responsive to our contemporary security challenges. We have continued to invest in capacity building aimed at generating combat forces capable of securing own bases against all forms of hostile elements.
“The desire to make the Nigeria Air Force the best in the sub region necessitates new platforms, equipment and specialized training.
“On our part, we will continue to support Federal Government policies and continue to conduct operations ranging from humanitarian services, peace enforcement to counter insurgency operations in furtherance of our national security and developmental objectives,” he said.
He urged the graduands to “submit yourselves to the civil authority and protect our democracy. In addition, you must avoid acts capable of denting the image of the Nigerian Air Force. Always remember that your duty is to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic background or religious inclination.”
On his part, WG CDR Phil Wilkinson of the SO1 Command Staff and Leadership Training BMATT said the United Kingdom will continue to support Nigeria in any way possible to enhance her security.
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