NDA graduates 129 paratroopers

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, on Tuesday graduated 129 paratroopers of the Basic Airborne Course 7/2022, among its Cadets of 70th Regular Course.

Our correspondent reports that the paratroopers were the pioneer Jumpers of the newly-established NDA drop zone.

The paratroopers were also at their fourth year (Tama four) in the Academy, currently undergoing their 5 years academic and military training before their commission into the Armed Forces as Officers.

At the event, the Director Military Training of the Academy, Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, said the training was in line with the curriculum of the NDA for Cadets Training as reviewed by the Chief of Defence Staff.

He said it was also the Academy’s Commandant training philosophy which laid much emphasis on physical fitness of Cadets to meet up with contemporary security challenges.

Emekah noted that it was in that regards they were training the Cadets on specialised warfare courses which the airborne course was part of.

He explained that the purpose of the Basic Airborne Course was to qualify the Cadets in the use of parachute as a means of combat deployment.

He said it was also to develop their leadership, self-confidence, and an aggressive spirit through mental and physical conditioning.

Emekah disclosed that in few days, the Cadets would be taken to Calabar in Cross River for amphibious course.

He  said the overall objective was to have  officers that were physically fit, mentally alert and ready to confront the nation’s contemporary security challenges.

Earlier, Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, restated the Academy’s commitment in continuing to ensure disciplined and thorough bred Cadets in both academy and training.

He tasked the paratroopers  on continued resilience, discipline, courage and dedication in achieving their goals towards the path of officership.

Some of the graduand paratroopers, Cadet Hassan Ibrahim and Esther Adeleke, said they went through the rigours of ground training, tactical and jump phases where they did five requisite jumps which included three Hollywood and combat equipment jump, and a night jump.

They thanked the Commandant and the Academy’s management for giving them the opportunity of undergoing courses as Cadets.

Reports have it that the event featured live jumps with parashutes from airplanes by the Cadets at various points in the bush, where after they reassembled, were decorated with their airborne badges.