The Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy NDA Major General IM Yusuf has charged cadets on proficiency in weapon handling as required skills needed to function well as professional soldiers if they must withstand the contemporary security challenges, especially in the battlefield.
General Yusuf gave the charge at the 2022/2023 Cadets Brigade Inter-Battalion Shooting Competition for Army Cadets of 70 Regular Course, which held at the NDA Open Range, Afaka, Kaduna.
“All land battles are based on fire and movement known in military parlance as Maneuver warfare; tactical ability, which individual cadets must acquire to combat enemy decisively”, General Yusuf declared.
The Commandant expressed appreciation to the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH) Commander Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Bauchi, Major General MS Ahmed, whom he described as a thorough-bred general.
He therefore, charged the participating cadets to listen and learn from the General Ahmed's wealth of experience when he speaks.
General Yusuf further disclosed that the Academy always invites professionals in various fields to attend events, so the cadets can draw from their wealth of professional experiences. He therefore encouraged the cadets to fully utilize the rare privilege.
The Special Guest of Honour, Major General MS Ahmed, while declaring the event closed, thanked the Commandant NDA for the rare opportunity accorded him.
He described General Yusuf as a great mentor and hailed his towering achievements in the area of cadets’ training. The SGOH expressed satisfaction with the level of proficiency displayed by the cadets, which he noted has confirmed the high standard of training in the Academy.
While congratulating the Mogadishu Battalion for winning the competition, General Ahmed charged other participants to redouble their efforts, adding that in every contest, there must be a winner. He also described the event as unique, even as he commended the DMT, CBC and the instructors for their unquenchable desire to attain the best in terms of cadets’ training.
Consequently, the Mogadishu Battalion of the Nigerian Defence Academy NDA has emerged winner scoring 271.6 points, beating it’s closest rival, Burma Battalion, which had a cumulative score of 264.8 points.
This is as Dalet Battalion came in 3rd with 264 points and Abyssinia Battalion occupied the 4th position with a total score of 232.4 points.
All four battalions competed across four major practices namely: Physical Effort Shooting, Transition Shooting, Moving Target and Combat Medic Shooting, in addition to Falling Plate shooting. Accordingly, Mogadishu Battalion scored 100 points in the Falling Plate shooting, Burma Battalion 80 points, Dalet 60 points, while Abyssinia Battalion scored 40 points, respectively.
The Competition is aimed at testing the ability and proficiency of the cadets on weapon handling and shooting, which are hallmarks of land battles.
The highpoint of the event was the novelty shoot, which the Special Guest of Honour’s team prevailed over the Deputy Commandant’s team.
