The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna on Tuesday graduated 129 paratroopers of the Basic Airborne Course 7/2022, among its cadets of the 70th Regular Course.

The paratroopers were the pioneer jumpers of the newly-established NDA drop zone.

The paratroopers were also in their fourth year (Tama four) in the academy, undergoing their five years of academic and military training before their commission into the armed forces as officers.

NDA director of military training Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah said the training was in line with the curriculum for cadets training as reviewed by the chief of defence staff.

He said it was also the academy’s commandant training philosophy that emphasised cadets’ physical fitness to meet contemporary security challenges.

Mr Emekah noted that it was in that regard they were training the cadets on specialised warfare courses, of which the airborne course was part and explained that the purpose of the basic airborne course was to qualify the cadets in the use of the parachute as a means of combat deployment.

He added that it was also to develop their leadership, self-confidence, and aggressive spirit through mental and physical conditioning. He also disclosed that the cadets would be taken to Calabar in Cross River for an amphibious course.

According to Mr Emekah, the overall objective is to have military officers that are physically fit, mentally alert and ready to confront the nation’s contemporary security challenges.

Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, restated the academy’s commitment to ensuring disciplined and thorough bred Cadets in both academy and training.

Mr Yusuf urged the paratroopers to be resilient, disciplined, courageous and dedicated to achieving their goals on the path of officership.

(NAN)