BIR sends-off soldiers for anti-warfare training

About 845 soldiers who recently graduated from an infantry special warfare stage II course, have been sent out on the field to put to use, the skills acquired during the training.

The soldiers who went through a four-month intensive training on anti-terrorism, sea piracy and general war combat, comprised of 837 Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR elements, 15 presidential guards and 1l force from the ordinary army.

The graduation ceremony on Thursday, July 17 at the BIR headquarters at Man O’ War bay, in its strict and brief military style, was presided at, by General Phillip Mpay, which saw the best 10 soldiers called out and handed their diplomas, followed by a colourful march pass ceremony.

The graduation ceremony was led by the battalion commander, Ekwelle Beltus Honore. Shortly after the brief ceremony, the commander of the BIR training and instruction unit, in a chat with the press, explained that the aim of the training is to maintain and enhance the military personnel, to provide them with all necessary skills to enable them meet up with all the operational challenges they face on daily basis on the field.

“We have given them skills on infantry special war fare training to lead a 9-12 man team in combat, taking into consideration all the threats that are emerging in our sub-region”. According to the commander, the training focused on mask-man-ship and anti-terrorist skills on maritime and land warfare.

He said “We are very satisfied with the result since the graduates have certainly upgraded their capacities on the field in the fight against high way robbery and all other threats that are emerging at our border; they are going on the field directly, and we are very certain that the skills they have acquired will assist them face challenges in a very effective way”.

The ceremony was attended by a host of military dignitaries, the Divisional Officer and 1st deputy Mayor of Limbe III, and family members and friends who had come to not only be part of the ceremony, but also bid their loved ones farewell, as they had to take-off to the North, immediately after the ceremony.