The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 19 October 2019, graduated 40 personnel, including 2 airwomen of the Regiment Specialty, from the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Course at the Regiment Training Centre (RTC) Kaduna.
While congratulating the graduating students, the Guest of Honour (GOH), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Idi Amin, the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command (AOC GTC), said RSMs are not only primarily responsible for maintaining standards and discipline as well as acting as mentors to their subordinates, but also serve as the link between Commissioned Officers and the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) cadre.
He stated that RSMs play critical roles in unit discipline, training and administration. He therefore urged the graduating RSMs to be fair, firm and considerate in handling issues in order to cultivate team spirit, thereby fostering greater harmony in NAF units and formations.
The GOH also charged the graduands to continue to uphold the core values of the NAF and keep updating themselves on the dynamics of the current security challenges facing the Country in order to make meaningful contributions.
AVM Amin appreciated the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, for his visionary leadership and tenacious dedication to capacity building as well as the continued support to the GTC.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant RTC, Group Captain Isaac Subi, stated that the re-introduction of the RSM Course by the current NAF leadership had ameliorated the short fall of trained RSMs that had been occasioned by the separation from Service of earlier generations of RSMs.
He stated that the 3-month training had exposed the students to series of leadership and management models, unit administration, communication skills, range management, weapon training and battle procedures as well as civil-military relations and Air Force Law, amongst others.
He disclosed that the graduating students worked hard, displaying commitment, self discipline and determination to meet the standards required of a unit RSM.
He expressed gratitude to the CAS for his uncommon drive and motivation to provide highly skilled and professional manpower across all NAF specialties and particularly the unparalleled support to RTC which, he said, has been a major beneficiary of the transformational initiatives of the CAS.
Awards were given to students who distinguished themselves during the course, with Flight Sergeant Adamu Haladu bagging the CAS Award, Warrant Officer Busari Akeem Adeniyi winning the AOC GTCโs Award and Flight Sergeant Oyakhire Peter receiving the Commandant RTCโs Award for emerging First, Second and Third, respectively, in the Order of Merit.
The Graduation Ceremony was attended by Commandants, Commanders and Officers of co-located NAF units in Kaduna.
