From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
19 Officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, on Friday, at the Officers Mess of the Nigeria Air Force Base, Makurdi, Benue State, were conferred with the Fellowship of Air Force War College Nigeria (AFWC).
The 19 comprised 16 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officers (11 Group Captains and five Wing Commanders), two Commanders from Nigerian Navy and one Colonel from Nigerian Army having completed training as Course 2/2017 of the College in Makurdi.
Speaking at the event, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar said professional military education is required to provide officers with an in-depth understanding of linking national strategic aims to tactical and operational combat and noncombat operations that the
Nigerian Air Force requires to perform in fulfillment of its mandates.
Air Marshal Abubakar who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Nuradeen Abiodum Balogun disclosed that the
Air Force War College was established to bridge the “Incremental gap in the quality of workforce that transit from the tactical to the operational and strategic levels
of operation in the Nigerian Air Force.”
He explained that given the posture and cognizance of NAF to preserve
Nigeria’s territorial integrity, his leadership has placed premium on
capacity building initiatives to reposition the force into a highly
professional and disciplined force capable of effectively and timely
employing air power to meet Nigeria’s security imperatives.
To build upon power overmatch, the Chief of Air Staff noted that 300
Special Forces have been trained for defence of NAF mission critical
essential areas, four Pilots have just been graduated from the Jet
Training Course at 403 FTS Kano, while 11 more are set to graduate from flying schools in South Africa.
He said 18 are undergoing initial training at 401 FTS
Kaduna, 10 are undergoing Basic Flying Training at International
Aviation College Ilorin while 14 student pilots have commenced Basic
Helicopter Training at International Helicopter Flying School Enugu
with other personnel undergoing advanced flying courses as well as
engineering and specialized Air Force related trainings abroad.
While congratulating the graduates on the feat, the Chief of Air Staff
challenged them to bring to bear the skills and lessons acquired
during the course with outmost patriotism.
Meanwhile, the Commandant Air Force War College Nigerai Air Vice
Marshal John Baba has acknowledged that human capacity development
through robust and result oriented training for enhanced professional
performance remains one of the key drivers of the present Chief of Air
Staff.
He said the Air Force War Course Two was inaugurated on 16th June,
2017 with the intent to equip participants with general knowledge on
warfare with emphasis on air power for effective conduct of air
operations.
He described the Air Force War College as the highest professional
military raining institution in the Nigerian Air Force and is playing
a leading role in the articulation of strategy and doctrine that is
guiding the development of airpower in the Nigerian Air Force.