The Nigerian Air Force has on Friday graduated 126 Special Forces and Combat Search and Rescue Personnel in Bauchi.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar during the graduation ceremony in Bauchi, stated that the forces were made up of Special Force and Combat Search Rescue Personnel for safe conduct of air operations in Nigeria.
“This graduation ceremony is the second of its kind being held at the Regiment Training Centre Annex, Bauchi.
“It is evident that the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command and his team have done a good job considering the professional execution of demonstration that I earlier witnessed from both courses”, the Chief of Air Staff stated during the graduation ceremony.
Air Marshal Sadiqque Abubakar said the use of Special Forces operatives by armed forces around the world dated back to the First World War when the Royal Naval Air Service used armored cars to rescue drowned air crew.
“Accordingly, realising our capability gap in Special Forces and Combat Search and Rescue operations, the Nigerian Air Force established the Special Operations Command with its headquarters here in Bauchi and Quick Response Groups and Wings in Gusau, Owerri, Ipetu-Ijesa, Katsina, Birnin-Gwari, Agatu, Nguroge and Doma as well as the Combat Search and Rescue Group in Kerang, Plateau State”, he added.
He said air forces around the world have deployed well trained Special Forces to provide situational awareness for air crew with a view to reducing collateral damage and enhancing the safe conduct of air operations.
The Chief of Air Staff said the Nigerian Air Force has trained over 1,060 personnel both overseas and locally in its efforts to generate special operations forces that will meet the current demands in the aspect of security.
“You are graduating at a time when the nation is in dire need of your skills to give impetus to operations being conducted to restore normalcy in restive parts of the country”, he said
Abubakar said added that; “your job will not be an easy one as you will be required to operate in hostile environments to ensure that the NAF achieves its objectives.
He urged the graduates to exhibit dexterity, honesty, courage, perseverance and adaptability as the only qualities that would help them excel in the military.
On his part, the Air Officer Commanding, AOC Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, said the combined graduation of the Special Forces Course was completed following the rigors of training at the centre.
Idi Amin said the curriculum of the Special Force course entailed intensive training in shooting skills, unarmed combat, navigation, field tactics, communications, endurance and combat swimming, in addition to other useful skills.
”Although the Combat Search and Rescue course have earlier had other training sessions in Ipetu-Ijesa and RTC Kaduna, they only underwent the concluding part of their training here in Bauchi,” he added.
The AOC thanked the Chief of Air Staff for giving the required leadership support especially in the aspect of infrastructural development and capacity enhancement of all the NAF Bases in the country.
