The Adjutant-General of the California National Guard (CNG), U.S., Maj.-Gen. David Baldwin, has expressed the readiness of his organisation to assist the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the development of its Air-Ground Integration School.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Gabkwet, Baldwin, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, at Headquarters of NAF.
He noted that the offer would go a long way toward improving intreating airborne and ground systems while also enhancing the lethality of NAF operations.
Baldwin also expressed the desire of his organisation to support NAF in improving its safety plans and strategies.
“We will also partner NAF towards improving and enhancing its intelligence gathering skills especially in area of cyber warfare and the need for close monitoring of the cyberspace as it has, in recent time, become the new battle ground employed by foes,” he said.
He, however, called for the need to improve the capacity of NAF personnel in cyber warfare sequencing and cyber engagement programmes.
On gender balancing, Baldwin stated that the CNG encouraged female personnel to head critical positions and called on NAF to tow the same line.
Baldwin, therefore, encouraged the need for partnership between CNG and NAF senior Non-Commissioned Officers particularly in capacity development especially in the areas of leadership and command.
He, however, extended an invitation to CAS to visit the CNG, while expressing the willingness of his organisation to receive NAF technicians and operators at no cost.
This, he said, was to be embedded within the CNG to share ideas as well as improve capacity.
In his remarks, Amao thanked Baldwin for the consistence of support accorded to Nigeria and what NAF had continued to enjoy from the U.S. and its armed forces.
The CAS was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), NAF Headquarters, AVM Remigus Ekeh.
Amao stated that one of the outcomes of the support in recent times was the delivery of the 12 A-Super Tucano aircraft as well as capacity building of NAF pilots, engineers, and Air-Ground Integration (AGI) specialists.
The CAS also noted that the visit was in furtherance of U.S.-Nigeria military-to-military relations and the State of California Partnership Programme with Nigeria .
This, he noted, had been in existence since 2006 and would no doubt strengthen NAF existing partnership.
Amao noted further that the partnership had resulted in over 100 military-to-military bilateral engagements which ranged from military intelligence, counter-improvised explosive device training, combat medic, military aviation and military law and disaster responsive/emergency management.
He, however, highlighted areas of intended collaborations with the CNG to include provision of spares and technical support, training of NAF engineers and technicians in maintenance of NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft.
He added provision of firefighting equipment and training aids.
The CAS noted with gratitude that the support from CNG remained critical to NAF operational efforts in the fight against all forms of criminality in Nigeria.
(NAN)
