The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated 111 personnel from Special Forces Course 13/2026 as part of efforts to strengthen its operational capacity and support security operations across Nigeria.
The graduation ceremony took place at the Regiment Training Centre Annex (RTCA) in Bauchi after the participants successfully completed months of intensive training.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Chief of Training, Air Vice Marshal AY Dari, congratulated the graduates on their achievement.
He urged them to remain professional, disciplined and courageous while carrying out their responsibilities in service to the nation.
“The strength of any fighting force lies not only in its equipment but in the quality, discipline and determination of its personnel,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff reminded the graduates that they now belong to an elite group entrusted with protecting the country and defending its sovereignty.
“You are now part of an elite cadre entrusted with critical responsibilities in safeguarding our nation,” he stated.
He further charged them to stay focused on their missions and uphold the core values of the Nigerian Air Force in every assignment.
The Special Forces Course exposed participants to rigorous physical, mental and tactical exercises designed to build leadership skills, teamwork, adaptability and combat effectiveness.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Regiment Training Centre Annex, Squadron Leader EL Akpan, praised the leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff for supporting Special Forces training and personnel development.
He reaffirmed the centre’s dedication to producing highly skilled personnel, saying it remains committed to training “resilient and mission-ready personnel capable of undertaking specialised operations across diverse theatres.”
One of the highlights of the ceremony was a display of tactical demonstrations by the graduating personnel, including obstacle crossing drills, commando self-defence techniques and air assault operations, showcasing their combat readiness and newly acquired skills.
Senior military officers, representatives of sister security agencies and other dignitaries attended the ceremony, which underscored the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to human capacity development and operational excellence in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
