- Emphasizes on regular training towards combating security challenges in the country
From John Adams Minna
The General Officer Commanding, 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major. General Mayirenso Saraso has said that the Nigerian Army must continue to engaged in training and retraining of officers and soldiers in other not to be found wanting in the face of the current security challenges in the country
Major General Saraso stated this in Minna on Thursday when he declared open, four days 2024 inter Brigade competition for Warrant Officers’ and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Competition in 1 Division of Nigerian Army at the 31 Artillery field brigade, Minna, the Niger State capital.
The GOC pointed out that as the Nigerian Army continues to professionalize, training has continued to assume greater emphasis, stressing that “the only way to bleed less in wartime is to sweat more in peace time”.
According to him “It is for this reason that we continue to train and retrain in order not to be found wanting on the day of reckoning. What you are going to witness in the next four days is a culmination of months of training in the areas of Weapon handling, Combat Swimming, Map Reading and Obstacle Crossing”.
He reminded the Officers and soldiers that all these are skills a soldier would require whether he or she is deployed in North East region, North West region, Niger Delta, the Gambia on peacekeeping mission or in any of the places where the Nigerian Army is actively engaged at the moment.
Fortunately for the Nigerian Army, it has a Chief of Army Staff who has made training a key objective in his command philosophy which is anchored on
transforming the Nigerian Army into a well trained equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving the constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.
“Accordingly, the Chief of Army Staff has supported us fully by making available resources required for effective training. “In compliance with Army Headquarters Training Directive for the year 2024 and in furtherance of 1 Division training goals for this year, today marks the commencement of this years Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers competition.
He pointed out further that as usual, this years competition is organized at divisional level with the primary goal of improving team work through the infusion of organizational ability and the inculcation of initiative in the stipulated rank bracket.
He added that “All the formations and units in 1 Division have been grouped into three to ensure maximum participation. It is also pertinent to note that this years competition has provided room for more participation by female soldiers”,
He equally reminded all the participants for this year’s competition that Soldiers are the bedrock of a sub-unit and units, adding that “it is a well-known fact that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. “Therefore, it is expected that every soldier will possess skill sets of the highest quality. It is against this backdrop that we expect to witness an outing of the very high standard during this Warrant Officers’ and Senior Nob-Commissioned Officers competition”. He submitted.
Earlier in his welcome address, the commander, 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, Brigadier General Hamidu Bobbo said that the objectives of this competition is to improve the senior cadre of the soldiers physical fitness, enhance their leadership traits, organizational ability, use of initiative and promote esprit de corps amongst the troops.
He stated further that the competition is also intended to continue to prepare the participants for battle scenarios in defence of our fatherland, as always.
To this end, he disclosed that “A team of competent and professional officials have been carefully selected to ensure a very healthy, smooth and very successful competition.
“I am glad to note that all necessary measures for a hitch free competition have been put in place”.
He therefore commended the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen MLD Saraso for selecting the 31 Artillery Brigade to host this year’s competition, adding that “I want to also thank the Chief of Army Staff Nigerian Army, LT.Gen TA Lagbaja for all the supports and approvals that are aimed at ensuring a transformed Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly effective force to fulfill our constitutional responsibilities in a joint environment, as aptly captured in the Chief of Army Staff Command Philosophy”.