Cadets of the Nigerian Army Short Service Course 47 have been charged to always engage in activities that would make them stay physically and mentally fit for the rigorous task of defending the territorial integrity of the Country. 

The Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army, Major General SO Olabanji, gave the charge to the cadets at the Nigerian Army Table Hill, Kachia, during the Battle Inoculation and Firepower Demonstration phase of Exercise Camp Highland, which marked the final field exercise for the cadets in the Academy.

The TRADOC Commander was the Special Guest of Honour at the event. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the cadets during the exercise. He noted that the exercise was designed to imbue confidence and also expose them to real life battle situations.

Maj Gen Olabanji noted that the importance of physical fitness and positive attitude to work can not be over-emphasided. He also urged the cadets to remain focused and disciplined in the discharge of all assigned tasks upon their graduation from the Academy.

He thanked the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General IM Yusuf, for providing realistic training to the cadets. He also thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General F Yahaya, for providing quality leadership to the Nigerian Army.

High points of the training activities during the training exercise include: Map Reading Phase at Hiepang, near Jos, to test the cadets’ practical application of map reading; Adventure and Leadership Training Package at the Citizen and Leadership Training Centre, Shere Hills, Jos; and Tactical Phase, along Katul –Gidan Ali – Kamuru Ikulu Axis in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. 

Important features in the Tactical Phase included practice of new concepts of dismounted advance and reaction to enemy Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks, The Forward Operating Base (FOB) concept rather than the conventional deployment for defence, as well as aggressiveness during occupation of Forward Operating Base (patrols and ambushes) were also practiced. 

The cadets were also trained on combat shooting, in conjunction with the usual Field Firing. In addition to the firing of Rocket Propelled Gun 7 and throwing of Grenade, the cadets passed through series of training during the combat shooting training, including Reactive Shooting, Casualty Evacuation shooting, Night Shooting, Multiple Tactical drills, shooting after Physical Effort and Counter Ambush Drills and others.

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