By Ola Kiya, Reporting
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, has kicked off the first COAS Combat Platoon Cross Country Championship (CPC3) 2022.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at Elele Military Cantonment Rivers State on Tuesday, COAS said that the competition was aimed at harnessing the physical fitness and combat readiness of Nigerian Army personnel to effectively confront the myriads of security challenges bedeviling the nation.
COAS was represented by the Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Maj Gen Ayobami Ibikunle, at the maiden event.
COAS rep inspecting the quarter guard
He added that the competition was also aimed at restructuring the perspectives of Nigerian Army personnel towards capacity-building through group training.
The COAS further urged participants to display high level of seriousness, interest and the spirit of comradeship throughout the competition, just as he warned against all forms of malpractices.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), South South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Maj Gen Olufemi Oluyede, said that participants for the Combat Platoon Cross Country Championship were drawn from all the Divisions of the Nigerian Army.
The army personnel honouring their boss
He said the divisions included 1 Div Kaduna State, 2 Division Ibadan, Oyo State, 3 Division Jos, Plateau State, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, 81 Division, Lagos State, 82 Division, Enugu State and the Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja, except for 7 and 8 Divisions which are currently on operations in the North East and North West, respectively.
The Army personnel in a group photograph
Maj. Gen. Oluyede stated that the competition was designed to strengthen troops’ endurance in the current difficult operating environment in line with the COAS’ vision of having “a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.”
The Army personnel in training
Speaking further, the GOC expressed his gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff for the opportunity given to 6 Division to host the event.
Army personnel at the training
He also commended the officers and soldiers for their efforts in ensuring the smooth conduct of the event.
Army personnel at the training ground
Present at the ceremony were representatives from Training and Doctrine Command, representatives from Army HQ, the Director, Physical Training, Division Training Officers, Heads of sisters security agencies and paramilitary in Rivers State and other senior Officers.
Army personnel in training
High points of the ceremony were official flag off of the competition by the SGoH, presentation of souvenir, oath-taking by both representatives of the officials and participants, 5km combat race, beam-heaving, sit-ups, push-ups, vertical rope-climbing, step beach-test, and group photographs.
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