The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna graduated 129 paratroopers from Basic Airborne Course 7/2022 on Tuesday, as part of the 70th Regular Course.
The paratroopers were the first jumpers of the newly created NDA drop zone.
The group was also in their fourth year (Tama four) at the academy, completing their five years of academic and military training before being commissioned as officers of the armed forces.
Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, NDA director of military training, stated that the training was in accordance with the syllabus for cadet training as reviewed by the chief of defence staff.
Mr. Emekah also stated that the commandant training idea of the academy emphasised the cadet’s physical conditioning to meet modern security issues.
He also noted that they were teaching the cadets on specialised warfare courses, of which the airborne courses were a component, and that the basic airborne course’s goal was to qualify the cadets in the use of the parachute as a means of combat deployment.
The general further said that it was also helpful in the building of their leadership confidence, and aggressiveness through mental and physical training. He also said that the cadets would be sent to Calabar, Cross River, for an amphibious training camp.
