The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has pledged to remain committed to high discipline and professionalism for trainees under its jurisdiction.
The Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf stated this during the academy’s maiden Cadets Brigade Inter-Battalion Watermanship Competition for Army Regular Course 70, held at the Nigerian Air Force Base Dam, Kaduna, on Saturday.
Yusuf said that the academy will continue to build the capacities of cadets to efficiently conduct military operations in any environment.
This he said was due to the review of the NDA curriculum to ensure more comprehensive training of cadets.
He said before the review, the watermanship training was just for two days, but has now been expanded to two weeks.
The commandant added that the cadets had undergone the basic airborne, amphibious and combat shooting courses.
He explained that the watermanship training was in response to observations that enemies, terrorists, kidnappers and other adversaries “ditch their camps across water obstacles believing that we cannot reach them.
“With the kind of training we have given the cadets, wherever they go, they have the capacity to get there and neutralize the enemies.”
Ibrahim said that with the completion of the training, the cadets would be stepping up to conducting tactical exercises including river crossing operations, as groups.
“Since they now know how to survive and move on water either with boats or rafts, and when none other exist, they would swim across water obstacles, they would now be taught how to fight across water body.”
He commended the cadets for their performance, noting that Mogadishu Battalion was outstanding in all the events they competed.
He also noted that it was clear that Dalet and Burma battalion did not make it easy for the winners, adding that they lost the championship due minor errors.
“What was more important was the competitive and fighting spirit; Mogadishu did not have it easy up till the last moment.
“What we want to see in each and everyone of you is that fighting spirit, display of team work and cooperation,” he said.
To Abyssinia Battalion, the commandant said they fell short of the standard of the academy in the watermanship training.
“You have gotten the basics but we need to sharpen your skills, I want to be sure that you will not allow the tide to take you where you do not intend to go to, and that is what we saw.
“I want to be sure that when you set out to cross water obstacle, you will cross it within the minimum time possible.
“For that reason, the Director of Military Training will create additional time for you by spending two more days training on water and I will come to see if the standard expected is attained,” Yusuf said.
He commend the Nigerian Army School of Engineering, Makurdi who provided the instructors and some equipments for the training.
He also thanked the Nigeria Air Force, and the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre for providing them with instructors from Shere hills.
