Army Flag off Operational planning Cadre to improve operational skills of personnel

Joy Anyim,  Lagos

The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army  on Monday flagged off the Division’s Operational Planning Cadre for the year 2018.

The training programme which has the theme ‘Articulating the Roles of Commanders and Staff Officers in Planning Military Operations other than War (MOOTW)’ is expected to run from June 25th to June 28th, 2018.

The General Officer Commanding 81 Division,  Major-General Enobong Udoh who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion said the training was designed to improve the operational planning skills of Commanders and Staff Officers in both joint and single service operations.

In his inaugural address,  Major-General Udoh disclosed that the training will further enhance the professional output of personnel of the Nigerian Army and sister security agencies participating, as well as expose them  to many aspects of military operations.

He said,  ” The activities of the 2018 Training Directive reflects the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) resolve to improve the quality of officers and soldiers and enhance synergy with sister services,  security agencies and parastatals.

” The saying by Field Marshal Rommel that the best form of welfare for troops is first class training holds true.  Hence the high premium that the COAS attaches to training and retraining which is one of the key pivots of his vision,  ‘To have a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of it Constitutional roles’.”

“This vision is seen to be alive in the successes being recorded by troops in Operation Lafia Dole, Awatse, Delta Safe and Operation last Hold which are still ongoing.  To further consolidate on these,  the Division is pursuing full implementation of the 2018 Training Directive.

” Therefore the 81 Division Operational planning cadre is aimed at availing participants of the necessary capabilities and competencies that they require to successfully plan future operations while also providing the opportunity to promote synergy and cooperation with sister services. “

Udoh also stated that the topics and resource persons have been carefully selected to enable participants derive maximum benefits from the cadre.

He further noted that the programme has been deliberately tailored to focus on the maneuverist approach to warfare,  estimate process as well as military  operations other than war (MOOTW).

The GOC urged all participants to take advantage of the opportunity to scoop from the wealth of knowledge and experience of the resource persons.

” It is my solemn hope that the set objectives of the cadre would be achieved at the end of the programme as making better officers out of you is the only lasting legacy our generation can bequeath the Nigerian Army and your  various organisations.”

One of the Guest Lecturer,  former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs,  Professor Bola Akinterinwa spoke on how the military can deal with issues of human rights in military operations other than war.

According to him,  the topic sends signals to the whole world that the Nigerian Military are certainly not the military that abuse human rights.

He said,  ” The protection of human rights should not be the responsibility of the government and his Agency alone but that of the people of Nigeria.

” The international community is talking about human rights for Boko Haram,  agencies like Amnesty International raise alarm when soldiers kill members of Boko Haram.  Why don’t they also talk when Boko Haram kill soldiers.  We all have to put our hands together to ensure that we all protect human rights.”

The guest lecturer stated that the training will focus on how best the Nigerian Military can promote,  protect and advance human rights.

To this,  he maintained that the International organisations like Amenesty International do not have a reason to accuse the Nigerian Military of human right abuses  when training like this are a class indicator or a pointer that the Nigerian Military are already ahead of what they are thinking internationally.

He also called for the adequate funding of the military.  ” If you want the Nigerian Military to be at the crescendo of events you do the appropriate thing. If the Nigerian Military has not been at her best till now,  it is because we Nigerians  and the government of Nigeria have not allowed them to be.

” I have never seen a country which preaches the policy of giant of Africa and you are not funding the giant to be a giant if we want our military to be second to none,  we should do the needful.  You need to lay the foundation to make the military to be militarily strong above any country in Africa and an envy of even the United States of America.”