Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has conducted final Outdoor Field Training Exercise codenamed “Exercise Camp Highland for Army Cadets of 72 Regular Course and Short Service Course 48” at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Lamingo, Shere Hill, Jos, Plateau State.
LEADERSHIP reports that 470 Army Cadets participated in the exercise, in Shere Hill while Navy and Air Force cadets are also receiving their peculiar to service training in Port Harcourt and Kaduna respectively.
The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim, while speaking to newsmen at the event, said he is highly satisfied with the cadets’ performance.
According to him, Camp Highland Exercise is the final practical outdoor exercise for graduating cadets. He pointed out that they are conducting the adventure phase at the Centre because they found the type of training and package given here to be in line with their training objectives.
Major General Abdul Ibrahim further stated that the cadets’ training at the Centre and what they have been taught in the Academy also reflect the current security challenges facing the country.
He disclosed that the training aims to improve the cadets’ stamina, endurance, and resilience and their ability to confront and overcome major challenges when they are commissioned.
“These are some of the things you saw here , the obstacles. They have different scenario here both on land and on the water. These are the kind of challenges they will face when they are commissioned.”
He also stressed that if they maintained the discipline they had been taught, they would hopefully graduate and be subsequently commissioned as officers of the Nigerian Army by September this year.
Also speaking to LEADERSHIP cadets, AI Shuaibu and O. Olawole said the Camp Highland Exercise is the final field training for cadets and is divided into four phases, including map reading, tactical, adventure and the battle inoculation.
According to the duo, they are currently undergoing the second adventure phase at the centre after the conclusion of the first phase, which was map reading at Kachia in Kaduna State.
They further stated that the adventure phase contained watermanship, upscaling from cliff obstacles, and parachute jumping, all of which aimed at building their resilience, teamwork, critical thinking, and endurance.
The cadets also said the training at the centre helps them to become better team leaders and to further prepare them to tackle challenges whenever they are commissioned as officers of the Nigerian army.
