Senior army officer insists on regular training for soldiers!

THE Chief of Staff (CS) of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), Lieutenant General Venance Mabeyo, has underscored the need for military forces to go through regular training exercises to keep them fit should any dreadful situation occur.

Lieutenant General Mabeyo made the call during the end of the army’s 52 years anniversary that was accompanied by a flag off ceremony of a joint forces training at the Kigamboni Naval Base in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

“We are currently experiencing threats on the countries water bodies, such as pirates, drug smugglers and terrorists, and all this require good and well versed military tactics and forces to deal with the issues,” said Lt Gen Mabeyo.

He quoted a former senior Germany army officer, Erwin Rommel, who said “the best form of warfare for the troops is first class training,” saying that for one to be called a military officer the person has to go through regular training.

“For anyone who calls themselves military officials and yet they do not like to attend military trainings, those people are not fit to be called servicemen or women, and in most cases they are the ones who go about bragging,” he noted.

The CJ pointed out that joint forces training will equip the participating forces with best field craft skills aimed at preparing them in case of warfare in the country in land and water bodies.

“It is thus the responsibility of the army to always be prepared and maintain peace and stability on the country’s boundaries,” stressed Lt Gen Mabeyo.

The Exercise Director, Brigadier General Sharrif Othman, pointed out that the exercise dubbed the amphibians landing was to be carried out during the commemorations of the army’s 52 years anniversary on September 1st this year but it was moved to today (yesterday).

“This exercise is going to involve our land force, air forces, navy forces and other small forces, and they will be deployed to Bagamoyo through our special military vessels,” he said.

The trainings are aimed at preparing the forces to carry out joint operations through proper guidelines and utilisation of equipment and available vessels in dealing with the enemies.

On his part, the Training Director at TPDF, Lieutenant Colonel Issa Nassor said the forces will be able to learn and use the military filed craft after the training, taking into consideration that some of them were obtaining the skills for the first time.

He said the exercise will end on September 30 this year, and the guest of honour at the closing ceremony is expected to be President John Magufuli.

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