NAF launches Exercise Tamaiko Yazo to rescue personnel

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, on Saturday inaugurated special training code-named, Exercise Taimako Yazo, for its special forces – the Combat Search and Rescue team and the Air Police K-9 – along the Kaduna – Abuja Expressway.

The essence of the exercise is to rehearse the tactics, doctrine and synergy amongst first responders for effective CSAR operations of downed aircrew or other NAF personnel.

This is coming on the heels of the induction of Mi-171E Combat Helicopter and inauguration of reactivated L-39ZA Aircraft, at the Air Force Base, Kaduna, where the NAF chief said despite the challenges posed by the current insurgency and banditry, the force was prepared to protect the sovereignty of the country.

The phrase, ‘Taimako yazo’ in Hausa language, literally means help has come.

Abubakar, while inaugurating the exercise, said the overall desire of the Nigerian Air Force was to ensure that the personnel were trained and equipped to maintain a very high level of combat readiness and operational effectiveness.

Abubakar said the exercise, would ensure that the personnel were always at top physical fitness level to be able, willing and ready to execute any mission successfully.

“The exercise, which is based on a Combat Search and Rescue situation, was designed to exercise the capacity of our personnel to rescue downed aircrew that have had to eject or abandon their aircraft in emergency situations,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the Air Officer Commanding, Special Operations Command, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, said the objective of the exercise was to rehearse the tactics, doctrine and synergy amongst first responders for effective CSAR operations of downed aircrew or other NAF personnel.

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