Ten newly-winged pilots in the Nigerian Air Force(NAF) have
been told to be battle ready for the final onslaught against the Boko Haram
terrorists group in the ongoing counter insurgency operations.
They have equally be told to be diligent, disciplined,
hardworking and key into the progressive treads of the service, and also be
ready for duty wherever and whenever it calls.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, gave the
charge at the winging ceremony of the young pilots who have just completed
their flying training at Westline Aviation School, in South Africa.
Marshal Abubakar, while noting the importance of pilots to
the Air Force, said his administration decided to focus mainly on human
capacity development of personnel to meet international best standards, even as
he promised to ensure optimal training of NAF personnel to enable them carry
out their constitutional duties and repositioning it on a glorious path.
He said, “For you the journey of your fruitful flying
careers has just began and you must not rest on your oars. You must open your
minds to learn and be mentored by your captains and seniors in the field.
“Flying operations requires a lot of discipline, hard work
and diligence to make you succeed. Therefore, do not forget the 3 Ds to
success, which are “Drive, Discipline and Desire’’ to be better every day.
“As you are being inducted as pilots at a period NAF
platforms are actively engaged in flying activities, you must therefore key
into the progressive treads of the service and be ready for duty wherever and
whenever it calls.”
Also sparking, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion, while
noting that the induction of the new pilots coincides with the period where the
NAF platforms are actively engaged in combat air operations, charged them to be
courageous and ready for duty at all times.
Earlier in his address, Managing Director of Westline
Aviation, Charlie Marais, commended the Nigerian Air Force for the discipline
exhibited by the young officers throughout their stay in South Africa,
stressing that the officers flew more than 200 hours individually in their 12
months duration at the they spent at the flying school.
He said the officers “toyed days, nights and weekends and
they never faulted,’’.
By Molly
Kilete. Abuja
