CDS requests improved joint trainings for operational effectiveness

In order to ensure operational effectiveness, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, stressed the necessity of improved joint trainings and exercises within the Nigerian Armed Forces on Monday.

Musa made the announcement at the start of the Strategic National Security Exercise (Ex STRANEX), which was held in Abuja and was organised by the National Defence College (NDC) and Services’ War Colleges.

According to him, the military forces are currently engaged in asymmetric warfare and other security problems that need for specialised combined training to develop the necessary capabilities.

According to Musa, joint training initiatives are intended to boost employee competencies in keeping with his leadership approach, which calls for “professional forces with people-centric and proactive” characteristics.

Since no one organisation could succeed on its own, he declared that the military will continue to support the Nigeria Police and other security agencies internally in order to help them succeed in a collaborative setting.

He thinks it’s important to point out that the military is constantly developing new training techniques to create and increase resilience in the execution of joint operations among the services.

“Recently, the training curricula of the services war colleges were synchronised in order to give the correct training package for operational level commander to achieve the necessary skill in the conduct of combined military operations.

To provide opportunities for participation from across the armed services and sister agencies, the Defence Headquarters approved the conduct of this joint training exercise.

By doing this, the military’s strategic and operational levels of command will be able to work together more effectively.

In conducting joint operations and at higher strategic military and operational levels, I believe this training exercise will significantly improve the lot of the participants,” he said.

The environment in which the armed forces operate is growing more complex and unclear, according to Musa, making this even more urgent.

Recently, he claimed, the military was attempting to find a non-violent solution to the problem in the Niger Republic.

Therefore, he stated, “in order to be effective and efficient, we must train together at every opportunity under settings that are as realistic as possible.

Rear Adm. Olumuyiwa Olotu, the Commandant of NDC, stated that the different security threats facing the nation are continually evolving and go beyond the purview of a single service or agency.

This was attributed by the NDC commandant to the requirement for a seamless interface to address the dynamics of those difficulties.

Olotu added that training institutions must consistently be forward-thinking and imaginative in how they carry out their training mandates in order to overcome the challenges posed by contemporary security concerns.

The DHQ has demonstrated a growing commitment to stepping up joint training exercises as outlined in the Training Directive in accordance with this reality.

“This led to the synchronisation of the Services’ War Colleges’ NDC Ex CRISIS MANAGEMENT and Ex SKY LOCK, which will be conducted as a unified training exercise starting this year.

Ex STRANEX was first created to help participants practise and improve their knowledge of and abilities in the art of strategic decision-making during crisis management using the levers of national power.

“The Ex STRANEX is set at both the grand strategic, military strategic, and operational levels to aid proper understanding of Higher Management of Defence,” he claimed.

The commandant said that the combined training drills will improve the participants’ ability to function in the full range of joint military operations.

He expressed his gratitude to the CDS for his advice, support, and material assistance in making the first EX STRANEX a success. (NAN)