In a major effort to beef up the country’s military might, enhance the manpower requirements in tackling the country’s myriad security challenges, including providing more muscle in the fight against insurgency, Depot Nigerian Army last Saturday 10th December 2022 passed out 6226 Recruits of 83 Regular Recruit Intake.
The training lasted five months.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, The Chief Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya used the occasion to stress the need for professionalism among soldiers. According to him, the professional disposition of the young soldiers was manifested in the realistic and results-oriented training that impacted them in their 5 months programme which was evident in the synchronized drill, impressive display, innovation, ingenuity, turn out, and their perseverance during the passing out ceremony.
The COAS also said the rigorous training had groomed them to meet up with the contemporary security challenges, saying that increase in the strength of Nigerian Army personnel will add impetus to its various operations.
He urged them to be focused and not to allow ethnic and religious bigots to use them in advancing their selfish agenda, charging the recruits who would be deployed for the 2023 elections coverage to be apolitical while discharging their constitutional responsibility.
General Yahaya reiterated that a lot was expected of the young soldiers in terms of loyalty, selfless service, integrity, courage, discipline and respect for others which are the core values of the Army.
In his words, “You are expected to uphold these values by displaying high professional and moral standards. I therefore, urge you to retain the mental, physical and moral training you received and display it most responsively and professionally”.
General Yahaya further charged them to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Army through their display of total loyalty to constitutional authority.
He added that as the hub for the professional development of soldiers, Depot Nigerian Army remains the COAS’ priority as regards infrastructural and human development this was evident in the restructuring of the training environment for both staff and recruits. He pledged more support to the institution for quality training.
While reminding the young soldiers of the Oath of Allegiance that was administered to them, he reaffirmed that they now acquired a special status of being subject to military and civil laws. He also warned them to avoid any act capable of tarnishing the image of the Army and the nation in general.
Depot Nigerian Army since its establishment in 1924 has borne the responsibility of molding selected able bodied citizens into well trained and disciplined soldiers to meet the manpower demands of the Nigerian Army. The headquarters of Depot NA is in Zaria, Kaduna State.
IMAGE CREDIT: Nigerian Army
