By: Joy OPdor/Kaduna
The Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Satff College, Jaji, Air Vice Marshal SA Dambo has said that the continuous evaluation and development of the College curriculum, remains the pillars of the College foundation for achieving its training objectives as ex-copulated in its mission statement.
Air vice Marshal Dambo stated this in his welcome address at the graduation ceremony of 171 officers of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Junior Course 84 and the commissioning of new constructed projects among others, held in Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria on Saturday.
They include newly constructed Buratai Hall, constructed AFCSC Armoury, inspection of 3 officers and 225 purely female solders undergoing various training on counter insurgency and counter terrorist and unscheduled visit to Nigerian Army Wounded in Action Soldiers from the north east on hospital admission at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna.
The Commandant lamented that in view of the current situation in the country, and its attendant to its asymmetric nature, the counter-terrorism and counter insurgent package in the junior courses curriculum was expanded to include lectures, seminar and exercise named Ofor Obodo which is a joint service based on insurgency and involved the conduct of tactical exempt as well as electrical and manual war gaming.
He said the objective of the of the exercise is to strengthen joint conduct of operations at tactical level and consolidate the students’ knowledge on counter-terrorism and counter insurgent operations which is the current focus operation in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“The course which assembled on 3rd July, 2107 was initially, made up of 173 students, regrettably only 171 students will be graduating today.
“This is because one student was withdrawn on compassionate medical ground and the other found not worthy in character based on indiscipline.
“The Junior Course 84 is a 23 weeks course of intense field training and academic activities designed to build the capacity of officers with appropriate skills to function as grade 3 staff officers and to prepared function effectively as junior commanders in their various military services and organizations.
“The Course is also aimed at developing command, electrical and communication skills of the students to equip them efficiently operate during single service, combined, joint and milt-agency operations” he said.
Air vice Marshal Dambo however stressed that the College in its fulfillment of its mission striveed to keep pace with the developments in the defense and security environments by tailoring its training curriculum to address treats by dynamics, global, regional and domestic security environment.
The Commandant therefore commanded the graduates for the effort they have put in to ensure that they qualify for the prestigious award of past junior staff course to curb with most challenges that they are bound to meet as they progress in their careers.
“As you go back to the field you will be required to combine practical experience with the staff and leadership skills that you have taught.
“It is now up to you to build the knowledge gained through self-development efforts to further position yourselves for the tasked ahead SA Dambo noted.
Speaking with newsmen in an interviews shortly after the graduation, commissioning and inspection of projects, The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukuru Buratai affirmed that Nigerian Army is very responsive in line with its vision to have a professionally responsive Army in the discharged of constitutional roles.
The Director Army Public Relations, Headquarters, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman who spoke on behalf of COAS, said the as the emerging security challenges keep on involving, Nigeria Army will continue to keep up coming up with solutions.
“Again, we are signatories to many conventions as such we are gender sensitive in whatever we do minding the fact the abilities and capabilities and the essences of having mainstream engaging the female into the mainstream military training is to give them adequate training and that it what you are see now” he expressed.
