The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has operationalized 37 Nigerian Defence Academy Demonstration Battalion in Afaka, Kaduna State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu.
During the ceremony, which took place at the premises of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the COAS stated that timely review and adjustment of Order of Battle for the Nigerian Army (NA) had become imperative, due to the fluidity and dynamic nature of contemporary threats to national security.
He noted that this necessitated the need to establish the new battalion.
The COAS further disclosed that the establishment of the battalion had earlier been approved by the NDA Council, and its activation is a practical demonstration of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing national security by complementing the capacity development efforts of the NDA, which has the mandate of producing quality junior military officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
General Yahaya stressed that in his effort to enable the battalion to achieve its dual mandate of supporting the training of cadets and the provision of security to Kaduna State, he authorized the issuance of vehicles, arms, ammunition and other enablers to facilitate a smooth take-off for the new battalion.
The COAS also commissioned the Headquarters of the Battalion and conducted a foundation laying ceremony to commence the construction of a standard barrack for officers and soldiers of the battalion.
While addressing the troops, the Army Chief charged them to be exemplary and live by the battalion’s motto, which is, “Resilience and Adaptability”.
He urged them to demonstrate the traits of the battalion’s mascot, the “Honey Badger,” a creature, known to be fearless, resourceful, resilient and adaptable.
In an earlier event, which also took place, the COAS addressed Passing Out Cadets of Short Service Course 47, where he charged the Cadets, who will be passing out on the 26 February 2022 from the Nigerian Defence Academy, to imbibe the principles of their training and be loyal, dedicated and committed to military duties.
He also admonished the 293 Passing Out Cadets to shun societal vices such as “Get rich quick and drug abuse syndromes” currently permeating the ranks of some misguided youths in the country.
He added, that the NA has imbued them with requisite training and discipline to succeed in their military career and to actualize their life ambitions.
The Army Chief also expressed confidence in the standard of training given to the cadets and their ability to perform effectively in the field, especially, in defence of the nation and the citizenry.
Present at the events were the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy Major General Ibrahim Yusuf, Principal Staff Officers from the Defence and Services Headquarters, Commander Infantry Corps and other senior officers from the NDA.
PIAK
Kaduna State: COAS operationalizes Defence Academy Battalion