The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to strengthen combat medical capabilities following the international accreditation of its Air Mobile First Aid Unit (AMFAU) by the United States-based National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).
The accreditation, secured in collaboration with the German Technical Advisory Group (GTAG), enabled the successful conduct of the first-ever NAEMT-accredited Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training in Nigeria, held from May 13 to 28, 2026, at the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine (NAFSMSAM) in Kaduna.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the development places AMFAU among a select group of NAEMT-accredited training centres in West Africa, further advancing the NAF’s goal of building world-class combat medical expertise.
NAEMT is globally recognised for promoting emergency medical care and pre-hospital trauma management. Its Tactical Combat Casualty Care programme is regarded as the international benchmark for battlefield medicine, equipping personnel with critical lifesaving skills such as haemorrhage control, airway management, trauma stabilisation and casualty evacuation under hostile conditions.
According to the NAF, the accreditation comes at a crucial time as the Service remains actively engaged in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and other joint military operations nationwide. The enhanced training capability is expected to improve force protection, operational resilience and survival outcomes in combat environments.
Speaking on the achievement, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the accreditation and successful implementation of the inaugural TCCC course as a strategic advancement in the Air Force’s pursuit of operational excellence.
He noted that preserving lives and responding effectively to medical emergencies on the battlefield remain critical to mission success, especially as the NAF continues to support national security operations across the country.
“The international accreditation and newly acquired training capability will significantly enhance operational readiness, improve survival outcomes and reinforce the Service’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel,” Aneke said, adding that every life saved on the battlefield contributes directly to mission effectiveness.
The graduation ceremony featured the formal activation of AMFAU as an accredited NAEMT Training Centre, marked by the presentation of the NAEMT banner to the Commandant of NAFSMSAM, Air Vice Marshal A.C. Ekpe. Participants who completed the course received internationally recognised certificates and course insignia.
The event also highlighted the growing partnership between the Nigerian Air Force and its international partners, with German instructors exchanging souvenirs with school authorities. In a symbolic gesture of cultural appreciation, the instructors were presented with traditional Nigerian attire.
In his remarks, Air Vice Marshal Ekpe congratulated the graduates and urged them to uphold professionalism and dedication in the discharge of their duties.
“The greatest honour in emergency medical care is not the certificate received, but the number of lives preserved,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff, GTAG and the NAEMT-certified instructors for their support and commitment, describing the accreditation as the beginning of a new era in combat medical training within the Nigerian Air Force.
According to him, the development will help build a highly skilled and mission-ready force capable of supporting military operations while safeguarding the lives of personnel and civilians alike.
