The Nigerian Defence Academy on Friday successfully completed its outdoor field training exercise for army cadets, providing them with invaluable hands-on experience and practical training in a simulated battlefield environment.

The ‘Battle Inoculation’ phase of Exercise Camp Highland for Army cadets of 72 Regular Course and Short Service Course 48, was conducted at the Table Hill, Nigeria Army Exercise Area, Kachia LGA of Kaduna State.

The Special Guest of Honor at the exercise and Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Maj.-Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, commended the cadets for their performance and expressed pride in their progress.

Mr Ajunwa said, “The exercise entail simulated live battle scenarios to expose the cadets to the sights and sounds of battlefields and prepare them for future challenges.’’

Mr Ajunwa said that the cadets showcased their skills in a firepower display, demonstrating their proficiency in handling various military equipment.

He stressed the importance of training in preparing the cadets for future challenges and emphasized the need for them to remain focused, disciplined, and physically fit

Mr Ajunwa said the battle inoculation exercise was a critical component of the military training programme designed to prepare the cadets for the challenges they would face in their future roles.

He said, “I am convinced that this battle inoculation has truly met the objectives of the exercise. This battle inoculation has given you a foretaste of what you may likely experience as you go into the field as subalterns occupying junior leadership positions in the various theatres of operations within and outside the country. As we are all aware, our nation is currently faced with numerous contemporary security challenges ranging from insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, militancy and violent agitations, amongst others.’’

He stated that the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies, had the constitutional mandate to combat the threats to national security.

Mr Ajunwa added, “You, the passing out cadets, must therefore fall in line with the command philosophy of the chief of army staff. It is to: ‘To consolidate the transformation of the Nigerian Army towards bequeathing a well-motivated and combat-ready force that can effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.’ 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 philosophy. Irrespective of the corps you might be posted after your commissioning, you must all be prepared to be drafted at short notice. This is to perform difficult and sometimes dangerous operations such as counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations, or other operations in aid to civil authority.”

According to him, their hard work, determination and commitment helped them survive the rigorous training up to this point.

Mr Ajunwa said, “However, you must bear in mind that a race is never won until an athlete has crossed the finish line.”

He, therefore, charged them to remain focused, disciplined and level-headed.

Mr Ajunwa appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, for his strategic direction of the army and for the outstanding support he had been providing to Nigerian Army training schools including the NDA.

Earlier, the Commandant, NDA, Maj.-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim, said this year’s camp highland exercise was conducted in line with the academy’s training curriculum, designed to enhance cadets’ capacity to function effectively as junior leaders in the contemporary security environment.

Mr Ibrahim said the exercise begun on July 30 and was conducted in three phases which included map reading phase, conducted from July 30 to 31, at the Nigerian Army Training Area, Kachia.

He said, “Thereafter, the cadets proceeded to the Citizen and Leadership Training Centre, Shere Hills Jos, for the Adventure Training Phase. During the adventure phase, the cadets were exposed to navigation exercises as well as abseiling and rappelling from Shere Hills.

Phase three of the exercise was the Tactical Phase conducted in Kachia from August 5 to 15 and culminated with the battle inoculation and fire power demonstration witnessed today.”

According to him, during the demonstration, the cadets conducted a deliberate attack to take the last enemy camp and commence a victory march to the table hilltop.

He stated, “The battle inoculation and fire power demonstration will signify the victory and total defeat of the adversary.’’

He expressed appreciation to the staff, instructors, and officers from other units and formations for their support and commitment to the training of the cadets.

He noted that the cadets displayed high-level commitment, endurance, and teamwork during the exercise, expressing confidence that they would perform creditably as junior leaders when deployed in the field.

(NAN)