Air Chief tasks officers on respect, protection of host communities

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar has tasked officers and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to respect and protect members of their host communities.

He stated this during the graduation ceremony of 135 students of the Special Forces Course 11/2023, on Friday in Bauchi.

Represented by Air Vice Marshal Usman Abdullahi, Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Headquarters, Abubakar said the personnel had imbibed the basic skills and techniques required to conduct special operations in achieving the operational objectives of the Service.

He said the feat achieved by the Service in shaping the battle space and neutralising adversary capabilities degraded bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements in different theatre of operations.

“To the graduating students of Special Forces Course 11/2023, I am aware of the rigors of your training on ground, in the air and that’s why you have been decorated with your Special Forces emblem. I say well done.

“I therefore, urge you to exhibit what you have learnt during the course whenever and wherever duty calls.

“This call will require you to exhibit courage, commitment and loyalty in the discharge of your duties.

“Once deployed, you are implored to treat your host communities with utmost respect as your task is to protect them from hostile threats,” he said.

Abubakar lauded President Bola Tinubu for his support and provision of resources to the service to enable it to enhance its operations.

Earlier, Aminu Bello, the Commanding Officer, Regiment Training Centre Annex, NAF, Bauchi, said that 308 personnel of the Regiment Specialty were nominated to undergo medical and physical screening for the 93-day Special Forces Course.

He said that 294 of the 308 nominated personnel reported while 148 trainees scaled through the medical and physical screening tests.

The Commander said that 135 personnel and 130 airmen completed the training exercise which began in September this year.

“Trainees embarked on 10, 15 and 20 km loaded marches respectively with the objective of improving their endurance, even in rugged terrains.

“Several day and night live firing exercises conducted to ensure that trainees were able to acquire and neutralise targets instinctively at short, medium and long distances.

“About 80% of these trainees came with no idea of swimming but at the end of the swimming phase, all of them graduated from basic to intermediate swimmers,” he said.