The Nigerian Air Force has announced that 1,190 recruits will pass out on Saturday.

The commandant of the Military Training Centre, Hadi Ahmed, disclosed this at the Beating of the Retreat in honour of Basic Military Training Course 44/2023, on Thursday at NAF Base, Kaduna.

According to Mr Ahmed, the training is prioritised with emphasis on six key objectives: physical fitness, mental alertness, weapon handling, field training, discipline, regimentation and teamwork through intensive drills.

Mr Ahmed appreciated the Chief of Air Staff, Hasan Abubakar, for timely intervention in providing the resources to meet our training efforts and aspirations.

The Air Officer Commanding of Ground Training Command, Usman Abdullahi, said the ‘beating of retreat’ marked the end of formal training for the course recruits.

He said, “This tradition dates back to the 16th century in England, where it signalled the end of the day’s fighting and called troops back to the castle. The Nigerian military uses the occasion to reward trainees who distinguished themselves during the training session.

”Your training has been rigorous and challenging, covering both academics and outdoor tactical exercises. The Nigerian Air Force has incorporated contemporary asymmetric warfare into its training syllabus, preparing you for the complexities of modern warfare.”

Mr Abdullahi urged the recruits to move forward, remembering that loyalty to the Constitution and subordination to civil authority were paramount.

(NAN)