Set for deployment against terrorists
A British Military Advisory Training Team, in partnership with the Nigerian Air Force, (NAF), has trained 150 Advanced Special Forces operatives to be deployed to troubled areas to help in tackling security challenges in the country.
The Special Forces, known as Nigerian Air Force Panthers, graduated on Friday, at the Regiment Training Centre Annex, NAF Special Operations Command, Bauchi.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, after the Advanced Special Operations Course 1/2022, the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Air Vice-Marshal Ibukunle Daramola, said 285 personnel were nominated for the training.
Daramola said, Out of the 285 personnel nominated for the course, only 150 were found fit after a series of medical and physical screening and inaugurated to commence the course. At the end of the course, 145 personnel, comprising three officers and 142 airmen will be graduating today (yesterday) and they have been found worthy in character and learning to qualify as Advanced Special Forces Operatives, also known as Nigerian Air Force Panthers.
The AOC, Ground Training Command, said that the Special Forces operations are characterised by speed, precision, destabilising shock effects and perseverance of forces, which require that these Special Forces operations are painstakingly selected to ensure the attainment of desired effects and outcomes.
According to him, in equipping them for the task ahead, some of the curricula of the Advanced Special Operations Course entailed counter improvised explosive devices training, air-to-ground integration, remotely piloted aerial systems training, close quarter battle drills, among others, emphasising that, as expected, the course was intentionally made tough to ensure that our trainees can withstand the gruelling physical conditions of ground operations.
In his speech, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, expressed optimism that the graduating students have imbibed the necessary skills, tactics, techniques and procedures required to conduct special operations pursuant to achieving the operational objectives of the Nigerian Air Force.
Amao said the 150 graduating students of the Advanced Special Operations Course 1/2022 are however the first set of personnel to undergo in-country Advanced Special Operations training, adding that “the NAFs ability to train this large number of personnel at a reasonable cost was possible because the training was conducted in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Commander, British Military Advisory Training Team, Col. Rory Shannon, described the United Kingdoms relationship with Nigeria and with its military as deep-rooted and very strong.
