Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service - Forty-five Defense Special
Forces graduated from the SBS, having undergone training on Tactical Riverine
Operation, Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction System (FRIES), with a view to
building a formidable team that would assist regular forces in the military at
the theatre of war.
But three out of the 48 trainees who enlisted for the three
months course were disqualified for not meeting up with the standard of the
training described as rigorous.
Vanguard reports…
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Defense Special
forces, the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral
Ferguson Bobai, described the Special Forces as a very important unit which
carries out significant operation in the theater of war.
He said “, these ones(Defense are specialized section of the military
that are inserted to carry out a particular task and pullout so as to make a
place conducive for the regular forces to move. The Special Forces are not part
of the regular forces. By the nature of their work they are supposed to be
together and anytime there is operation, they are called upon to render their
services and pull out”
Addressing the grandaunts at the end of a mock insertion and
extraction demonstration of a scene of war, the FOC who was represented by
Commodore Samuel Kure , charged them to put everything they learned into practice in real war, assuring them of the military
support . In his remark, Acting Commander, Nigerian Navy Air base, Captain
Mustapha Braimah, expressed satisfaction over the demonstration of the grandaunts.
He explained that one of the reasons why the training was necessary
was to build capacity, with a view to addressing the menace of insurgency in
the North/ East and Militancy in the Niger Delta region. Braimah further
explained that the integration of the Nigerian Air Arm with the SBS” is to
prepare us and build our capacity to meet up with every challenge. Whenever we
are being called upon, the air arm must contribute its own quota”, stating in
particular that the air arm of the Navy had played a key role in the area of
surveillance and aerial patrol around Ishawo , Ikorodu area of Lagos
, as well as provided platforms that had helped to dislodge militants from
creeks around Ikorodu.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander, SBS,
Commodore Samuel Michaels, explained that the Insertion and Extraction System
which the grandaunts were trained on, was established to ensure access into areas
where aircraft can not land on, during operation.
He said ” the special forces units are a team of small and highly
trained military personnel meant for special operations which are conducted in
denied , hostile and politically sensitive environment. In the selection process, we task and push
every individual to the limit of their mental and physical tenacity. The moment
anyone breaks, we take him out. We don’t compromise, it is either you are with
us or not. Apart from the fact that it is a very sharp and leading edge
training, we need trainees to be able to catch up fast because the special
force has wider latitude of skill than the regular forces. That is why we
deploy them in small numbers where one person can do the work of many soldiers.
And if you can not process it very fast, it is a factor to take one out” It is
a very dangerous training. If you make mistake, you will either lose a limb,
die or suffer paralysis. So, there is utmost degree of safety required”
He was however quick to add that those disqualified could be
fit for any other military duties, boasting that at the SBS,” boys are trained
to be men while men are turned into flaming warriors ready to go on the tide. We
turn men into invincible beings, we make them indestructible and that is why we
operate in small numbers and we usually leave no trace. We have an ego of
living no one behind, whatever happens, whether dead or alive, we extract our
own because it is one blood , one brotherhood” Michaels said.
vanguard
Tags
NEWS