FEATURES: As Nigerian Navy Prepares for Security Challenges

 

To achieve proficiency in weapons handling and marksmanship especially in the light of the current challenges facing the nation, the Nigerian Navy recently held its annual Small Arms Firing Exercise. 

 Before the cock crowed on a certain Tuesday, a small troop of naval personnel who had earlier assembled at the parade ground of the Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos, set off for Owode, Ogun State, the venue of the 2014 Small Arms Firing Exercise (SAFEX).

Even the usual traffic snarl along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway was not a deterrent for the personnel who were geared to train and test their proficiency in weapons handling and marksmanship because as they say, ‘a stitch in time, saves nine’ and who knows this better than the military who are constantly in the line of enemy fire?

To prepare a formidable military that is not lacking in weapons handling and marksmanship, especially in the light of the current security challenges facing the nation, the range Classification Exercise, one of the oldest programmes in the military, has indeed come to stay.

The exercise as the name implies puts a personnel to test at the shooting range in terms of accuracy of shots and efficiency in handling weapons.

Therefore, to ensure that the Nigerian Navy personnel are combat ready, hence the need to constantly train especially in weapon handling for improved shooting skills and professional efficiency in line with global best practices, the service flagged off its annual SAFEX for the year 2014.

The exercise which was held at 192 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Owode, Ogun State, had naval personnel from all units and formations under the command test their skills in weapon handling and marksmanship.

While the two-day event lasted, over 200 personnel from units and establishments under the command took part in the event which was declared open by the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Goddy Anyankpele.

Buttressing the point that leadership is only effective when the leader leads by example, the FOC took to the gun like fish to water as he hit target several times to the admiration of all.

The exercise which started with one of the officers reading the safety rules known as the rules of engagement, soon dovetailed into the personnel moving to the firing range to test their skills in weapons like the GPMG, the FN Rifle, AK47 and the Barrette Pistol from 200, 100 and 50 metres radius.

According to the Command Information Officer, Lieutenant Patricia Onyekwere, during an informal debriefing, the objective of the exercise was to test the proficiency of the personnel of the command in weapon handling with a view to selecting the best to represent the Command at the Nigerian Navy Small Arms Firing Competition.

She added that it was also aimed at improving weapon handling skills and proficiency in marksmanship, while developing personnel intuitive skills and response initiative under battle-like conditions.

During the course of the exercise, the participants who were made to fire different weapons at different positions (first in trenches with rifles and then short distances with the pistol), all had safety coaches attached to them to ensure all kept in line with safety rules and regulations.

At the end of the exercise, the scores were tallied and the professional marksmen were noted down as they would participate on a larger platform later in the year with other personnel of different commands nationwide.

Also at the firing range were defence correspondents from Channels TV and THISDAY Newspaper, who also actively participated in the exercise and partook in the shooting exercise.

Set up with the FN Rifle, the journalists took shots at the targets lying down like snipers before standing up with legs apart for balance. This was in a bid to task their proficiency in marksmanship and weapon handling.

In an exclusive interview afterwards, Anyankpele said such exercises are designed to ensure a combat- ready force, better positioned to tackle contemporary challenges.

The FOC who was accompanied to the range by the Commandants of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra and the Nigerian Navy Center of Education, Training and Technology, Commodores Adeoye Adegboyega and Esther Ogbonnaya, respectively said the aim of the exercise was to test the proficiency of officers and men in the command.

HE stated that they always look forward to this kind of exercise as it will in no small way help at achieving the objectives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, which is achieving a force better positioned at tackling contemporary challenges.

Accordingly, he said the exercise is important to the navy especially in the face of our current operations in the internal security in the country, adding that it came at a very important time to improve on weapon handling skills and proficiency in marksmanship.

Anyankpele said, “This is a Naval Headquarter event which takes place in all commands in the country. The exercise is important and strategic to naval operations. Therefore, the training is imperative so that whenever we are deployed for operations, we will not see the weapon we are carrying as a visitor.

“Battling insurgency is a joint operation so all members of the armed forces are involved. Mostly, what we do is that once it’s time for change of personnel, the naval headquarters directs that we nominate the best men from this exercise.

“Another objective of the exercise is to test the proficiency of the personnel of the command in weapon handling with a view to selecting the best to represent the command at the general NN Small Arms Firing Competition.”

Harping on the importance of discipline, he said “There is nothing you can do without discipline and also for those of us in the military, it is one of the paramount reasons we are here to conduct the SAFEX.

“When you are holding your weapon, if you are not disciplined enough, a lot of things can happen and you will shoot the wrong way. Part of the training here is to be disciplined when we are at range.

“Here you are reminded what to do at a particular time as ordered by the commander on ground and also how to use the weapon effectively so that the damage will be done in the territory of the enemy and not in your own camp.”

While noting that the exercise was important and strategic to naval operations, he said the lesson learnt from the exercise would be a rewarding one in the field.

In closing, Anyankpele who commended the officers and men who participated, expressed satisfaction that the objectives of the exercise were achieved based on the satisfactory performance of those that participated.

He said, “The officers and ratings of the command have engaged in the display of professionalism. This has again shown that we must continue to train and retrain in small arms handling in order to be effective in the field.

“Based on these facts, I can comfortably state that we are on course towards our drive to professionalism as well as the transformation agenda of the navy. The lesson from the exercise will be a rewarding one in the field as I expect personnel to take home skills acquired and apply it in the field.

“While some of you would be required to represent the command in the NN SAFEX slated for later in the year, others would find the experience gathered here very valuable when you are called upon to participate in internal security operations.”

Before the FOC and his team left the range, gifts were handed over to the senior officers and then all were declassified to ensure none left the area with empty cartridges or empty live rounds, as being found with such outside the range is a criminality punishable by law.