The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General H.T. Dada, has stressed the need for continuous training in the service, saying it is the bedrock of military professionalism.
He spoke at the closing ceremony of the 82 Division Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-commissioned Officers competition held yesterday at the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar.
Represented by the Commandant, Amphibious Training School (ATS), Calabar, Brigadier General R.S. Omolori, the GOC expressed satisfaction with the level of competition, adding that the division would strive to maintain her training schedules in line with the chief of army staff’s vision.
“This glamorous outing is in no doubt a culmination of hard work, discipline and resourcefulness put in at various levels of preparation by the various contingents.
“Most importantly, purposeful training which is the bedrock of military professionalism was the catalyst to what we have witnessed during the competition,” he said.
The GOC charged soldiers in the division not to relent in the pursuit of the military values where training is seen as an integral part of the profession.
Major General Dada said with regular exercises soldiers can afford to perfect on current tactics, techniques and procedures and as well acquire new ones with a view to realising the COAS’ vision.
The GOC urged the soldiers to strengthen the areas of observed weaknesses with areas of strength being consolidated upon.
He applauded the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the competing brigades, urging the winners to be magnanimous in victory while he called on the losers to strive harder in future competitions.
Also Speaking, the commander, 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar, Brig. Gen. E.I. Okoro, said the exercise was timely, noting that it would not only go a long way in enhancing the bond among the military personnel, but also ensure physical and mental fitness needed for both professional efficiency and operational effectiveness.
Okoro, who expressed fulfillment in the competition, especially in the physical fitness and weapons handling categories, commended the participating troops for the level of discipline, motivation and comradeship exhibited during the exercise.
Five Army formations including the 82 Division Garrison, 13 Brigade Calabar, 14 Brigade, 34 Artillery Brigade as well as the 44 Engineering Brigade participated in the fascinating drills.
