By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The 6 Division Garrison Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, on Friday won the division’s Inter-brigade Combat Proficiency Competition featuring 60 soldiers from four brigades in the South-South.
The garrison emerged overall winner at the competition held at the division’s headquarters in Port Harcourt with 560 points.
The 63 Brigade, Asaba came second while 16 Brigade, Yenagoa took the third position as 2 Brigade, Uyo, was last.
The participating officers and soldiers competed for the top prize in map reading, 2.3 kilometre race, weapon handling, shooting and skills at arms in in the five-day exercise.
Others events were open-river swimming, obstacle crossing as well as leadership training and lectures.
Addressing soldiers at the competition’s closing ceremony, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oufemi Oluyede, praised the participating brigades.
He said the competition was organised to enhance the combat proficiency and professional qualities of officers and soldiers under the division.
“This competition is part of commitment to train and retrain personnel to boost esprit d’ corps, regimentation and endurance that is necessary to tackle challenges facing the army.
“The participants have gained physical fitness, determination and teamwork in view of the fact that training develops the requisite capacity of troops to function effectively,” he said.
Oluyede said the competition targeted mainly personnel on the ranks of major and below, describing them as critical to army operations across the country.
“These categories of officers are important in our counter terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and sundry crime operations in the country.
“The involvement of female officers in the training and their competitiveness is another perspective and ingenuity added to the competition.
“Aside this, the competition brought together participants from various formations and units of the division, promoting mutual cooperation and comradeship,” he said.
The GOC said the competition was one among several other training exercises organised by the division to improve physical and combat readiness of troops.
He called on the participants to remain sharp and dedicated to duty, urging them to share their newly acquired knowledge and skills with junior colleagues in their respective units. (NAN)
