The 8 Division Inter-Brigade Corporal and Below Competition 2023 have commenced at 26 Battalion Parade Ground Giginya Barracks Sokoto.
Corporal and Below Competition is part of the Nigerian Army’s training activities that holds every year in Nigerian Army Divisions across the country.
While declaring the competition open, the General Officer Commanding the 8 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Taskforce North West Operation HADARIN DAJI, Major General Godwin Mutkut said that the training activity aimed “at improving the combat proficiency of Non-commissioned Officers of the rank of corporals and below.”
He said the training would enhance their leadership skills, and determine their organizational ability.
“It will also put to test their ability to endure under difficult circumstances while maintaining esprit-de-corps among the participating troops,” Major General Mutkut stated.
He said that the importance of such training exercises to troops’ physical and mental fitness cannot be overemphasized, reiterating that the operational successes the Army has recorded so far in Operation HADARIN DAJI of the North West could not have been possible if troops were not both mentally and physically fit.
Also, the Host, Commander 8 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Taye Ahmed appreciated the General Officer Commanding for allowing 8 Division Garrison to host the all-important event.
He, therefore, urged participating troops to take the competition very seriously as it will prepare them to represent 8 Division during the Inter-Division competition coming up later in the year.
The 8 Division Corporal and Below Competition will have participating formations compete in Drill, Weapon Handling and Shooting, Stripping and Assembling of Weapons, 2.4km Race, Obstacle Crossing, Map Reading and Combat Swimming.
The 6-day competition which commenced on Monday 19th June is expected to end on Friday, 23 June with participating troops drawn from 1 Brigade Zamfara, 17 Brigade Katsina and 8 Division Garrison.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
