NDA train cadets to face contemporary threats – Commandant

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), has said the current cadets in training are being equipped to face emerging contemporary threats that are consistently evolving in the country, needing personnel that can match with the times to combat them.

The Commandant of the Academy, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said the academy is aware of the ever evolving security threats in the country, where the military is now full involved to combat, hence an addition of new courses in the curriculum of the academy to equip cadets with the required skills to combat them.

He said the leadership and adventure training package at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Center Shere Hills in Jos, is to sharpen the leadership skills of the young cadets who have been already equipped in the academy to take up challenges.

Speaking on Friday in Jos,during the closing ceremony of the week long leadership and adventure package of the Exercise CAMP HIGHLAND held at the Leadership and Training Center from July 28 – August 2,2024, General Ochai said the training is part of the outdoor field training exercise for Army Cadets of 71 Regular Course and Direct Short Service Course 28.

Represented by the Director, Military Training, Nigeria Defence Academy, Brig. Gen. Olurotimi Azubuike Awolo, the Commandant said all the 418 cadets in camp are fully ready to tackle emerging security threats .

Ochai said that the academy has worked tirelessly to ensure that the cadets meet the requirement and standard expected of them in the various services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“The cadets in training have been exposed to military leadership training in the NDA. We have worked assiduously to ensure that this group of cadets meets the requirements and standard expected of them.

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“We brought them to Shere Hills to ensure that the center inculcates some national values as well as leadership training and group work.

“The tactical phase of  the  exercise will take place at Kachai in Kaduna State.

“I want Nigerians to be rest assured that the civil relationship skills inculcated into the cadets will come in handy when they are fully commissioned as officers to handle emerging threats”, he said.

He added that the exercise is an important military training activity used in ascertaining the preparedness of the Army cadets for commissioning as Officers into the Nigeria Armed Forces.

“It is designed to test the cadets leadership skills, physical fitness, as well as command and control abilities, among other military competencies”, he said.

However the training which is the final outdoor exercise for the cadets, is also designed to build a strong enduring character in them.

Some of the courses drilled into the cadets as they sojourn in Shere Hills, are Drum, Balancing log, crossing log, map reading, Tyre ring, pyramids, swing and ragain, hond transverse, spring jump, stepping, run on beach, barb wire , 12 feet wall”,our correspondent reports.

On his part, the Unit Coordinator, Citizenship and Leadership Training Center, Shere Hills, Mr. Abdulmumuni Maimako, said the skills garnered will help the young cadets’ physical and mental alertness be actively agile to confront any challenge.

Also responding, one of the participants who spoke to journalists, Cadet Bishop Nze, said with the training acquired, they are fully ready and well equipped to defend their fatherland.