INCOMING.- Nigeria army university set to be launched.

The Nigerian Army is putting final touches in place to complete a new military university in Biu, Borno State. Nigerian Army University of Technology and Environment Studies (NAUTES) will be a specialised solution centre for the military and the country – with special attention to providing solutions to the disturbance in Nigeria’s north east – and the first of its kind established by the Nigerian military.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai explains that, “The university was conceived as a unique university that would be different from conventional universities in Nigeria. The concept is to make a solution provider and a centre of excellence for variety of technologically related ventures, such as generation and armament production.”

This, in addition to the concentration on improving the military intellectually and technologically, and annihilating the group terrorising North East Nigeria from its roots, make NAUTES’ ongoing development is a noteworthy effort on the part of the Nigerian military.

NAUTES was relocated from Benue state in 2016, where it was under the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME), and called the Nigerian Army University of Science, Technology, and Innovation. However, the need for the military to widen its strategic, tactical, and academic extent conceived the idea for NAUTES, particularly in the face of persistent insurgency and consequent collateral damage.  

The decision to establish the university in Borno state is a conscious and symbolic one, with plans to fund it being covered under the 2017 Appropriation Bill. In April, during the First Quarter Conference in Maiduguri, Nigerians were reminded of the government’s promise to address the worrisome issue of Boko Haram’s insurgency which the country continues to suffer from.

Since their dreadful emergence, Boko Haram has not only cost Nigeria many lives, property, and severely threatened its national security. And Borno state has been at the centre of all of their activities. The Nigerian Army has recorded tragic losses and small victories accompanying numerous operations in its bid to stamp them out entirely from the country.

Two days ago, the military successfully eliminated an ambush in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno state. A number of suspected Boko Haram insurgents fleeing towards Kaduna were arrested by the Department of State Security. But sustainable solutions seem to elude the military which accounts for the prolonged presence of the terror group in the region.

The need for more intelligent approaches to the Boko Haram insurgency by the Federal Government has been repeatedly emphasised. With the proposed opening of the army university in September, it would appear that the government is listening, and the country is on its way to witness it take on a better suited armour of battle – a sociologically-inspired one.

Students at the army university will be provided with knowledge in how to detect early signs of aggression, determine what factors account for their evolution, effectively combat terrorism in cases where it already exists, amongst other much needed social benefits.

Lt. Gen. Buratai states that NAUTES promises a highly improved environment complete with adequate infrastructure to propel research and solutions for the security and intellectual needs of both the military and the country.

NAUTES’ presence in Borno state not only signifies the military’s reinvigorated resolve to eliminate Boko Haram, but will also account for modernisation as well as economic opportunities. NAUTES is however not exclusive to individuals with military inclinations, as its facilities will be open to members of the general public.

THE USE OF MILITARY ALPHABETS AND CODES.

Have you ever watched a war film and wondered, “What’s a Foxtrot? Who is Charlie? Did someone say Tango?” These unusual words belong to a powerful code language known as the military alphabet. Servicemen and women use this language to improve clarity of communication, and sometimes as a form of slang.
The military alphabet consists of 27 code words. Each represents one letter of the English alphabet. For instance, “Alpha” means “A,” “Bravo” means B, and so on. Multiple code words often are combined to form words or expressions. For example, to say “dog,” one would say “Delta-Oscar-Golf.” None of the 27 code words sound alike, so there is no doubt what is said when spelling this way.
A - Alpha
B - Bravo
C - Charlie
D - Delta
E - Echo
F - Foxtrot
G - Golf
H - Hotel
I - India
J - Juliet
K - Kilo
L - Lima
M - Mike
N - November
O - Oscar
P - Papa
Q - Quebec
R - Romeo
S - Sierra
T - Tango
U - Uniform
V - Victor
W - Whiskey
X - X-ray
Y - Yankee
Z - Zulu
Hotel Alpha Victor Echo Foxtrot Uniform November!

ok these are the numbers. most are the same as how you know them, yes i know but still this is what they use

0-zero
1-Wun
2-Two
3-Tree
4-Fower
5-Fife
6-Six
7-Seven
8-Ait
9-Niner

Military Alphabet is often used by service men and women as a form of slang or euphemism. Below are some of our favorites.

Expression	Translation	Meaning
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot	What the F*ck?	Expression of bewilderment at a FUBAR situation
Charlie Foxtrot	Cluster F*ck	An operation where things have gone disastrously wrong
Alpha Mike Foxtrot	Adios Mother F*cker	Said before assaulting an enemy
Whiskey Delta	Weak Dick	Someone who lacks courage or is weak willed
Echo Tango Sierra	Expiration Term of Service	Someone who is about to complete their tour of duty
Lima Lima Mike Foxtrot	Lost Like a Mother F*cker	Lost
Sierra Hotel	Sh*t's Hot	Refers to something/someone that is excellent or has shown great skill
November Golf	Not Good	A failure

 

Use in the Armed Forces

You may have noticed that many english letters sound similar. For example, it’s common to mistake “B” for a “P,” “C” for “E,” and so on. For most of us, this sort of error might cause a mislabeled package shipment or a misspelled dinner invitation. However, for a soldier or fighter pilot, a misheard command or radio signal can mean life or death.
Therefore, radio operators in the armed services often rely on the military alphabet when sending codes or relaying important information. This ensures clear communication, regardless of background noise or radio interference.
In addition, men and women in the service often use the “alpha bravo charlie” alphabet as a form of shorthand or slang. Some popular expressions include:

• Oscar-Mike (“on the move”): a unit is moving between positions
• Charlie Mike (“continue mission”): a mission will continued following an interruption
• Tango Delta (“target down”): the enemy was eliminated
• Lima Charlie (“loud and clear”): confirmation of received instruction.
  

  Use Outside the Military

  Military alphabet has also proven a very useful tool in civilian life. Here are just a few examples:
  
• Commercial airlines across the globe use the alpha bravo charlie language to communicate flight coordinates and passenger names. Some airlines replace Delta (code for “d”) with an alternative word. This is to avoid confusion with Delta Airlines.  This is sometimes known as the Aviation Alphabet Banks, traders and financial institutions often use the military alphabet when ordering large transactions over the phone.

• Is Military Alphabet a Phonetic Alphabet?

  Many refer to the military alphabet as a phonetic alphabet. This is technically not accurate. A phonetic alphabets aids in the pronunciation of words. The military alphabet is used to spell out words, and is more correctly known as a “spelling alphabet”.
  
  

  History of the Military Alphabet

  Over the the first half of the 20th century, several different spelling alphabets came in and out of use. Then, in 1957, Nato and the US introduced a common system, which still remains in use.
  

  WW1-WW2

  The earliest use of into use during the early twentieth century. AM radio technology enabled pilots to coordinate with ground control, but poor signal and radio interference caused frequent errors. To solve this problem, flight associations started using code words to represent easily confused letters.
  During WWI, the British Royal Airforce introduced the first complete spelling alphabet, the RAF radio alphabet.
  Later, in 1927, the International Telegraph Union (ITU) developed a spelling alphabet for telegram communication. Over time, this system grew in popularity. By the start of WWII, most commercial airlines around the globe were using the ITU code words.
  The next major evolution took place in 1941, around the start of the Second World War II. At this time, the US introduced a standard spelling language across all branches of the armed forces. The Joint Army / Navy Phonetic Alphabet, also known as the “Able Baker Charlie” alphabet, can be heard in movies and TV shows dating from the 1950s. It has even made its way into modern cinematic depictions of WWII, such as Saving Private Ryan.
  

  1957 – Present

  In 1957, the U.S. armed forces and NATO adopted a common alphabet known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (IRSA), or the Nato Phonetic Alphabet for short. The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Authority) developed this system after years of careful research and testing. Critically, the ICAO tested each code word in many common dialects. As a result, the IRSA has stood the test of time as an international standard.
  The US government initially classified the IRSA as confidential, but soon later released it to the public.The IRSA remains in use today, and has only grown more popular with time. Today we have come to know this extraordinary code language simply as the “military alphabet.”
  however all the world military have agreed to use this code.
   

APPLYING THE SUN TZU ART OF WAR TO DAILY LIFE

                     
Sun Tzu was a legendary military strategist in ancient China and he is the author of the famous book, The Art of War. He was a master of “soft power” and the father of “agile warfare.” Whenever possible, he preferred to win without fighting or, at the very least, to win the easiest battles first.

He wrote, “In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.” He advised his troops to “make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.” And he further stated, “Military tactics are like water. For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.”
The teachings of Sun Tzu extend far beyond the field of battle because they are focused on finding the easiest way to achieve a specific goal. His approaches can be applied to everything from business growth and goal setting to weight loss and habit formation.
Let's talk about how to apply military strategy to our daily lives.
 

The Battle for Better Habits

Too often, we try to build new habits, achieve big goals, and otherwise “win at life” through sheer force. We fight our battles directly and attack the enemy — in this case, our bad habits — at the point where they are strongest.
For example:

• We try to follow a strict diet while we are out to dinner with friends.
• We try to write a book in a noisy environment.
• We try to eat healthy in a house filled with sweets and sugar.
• We try to do our homework with the television on.
• We try to concentrate while using a smartphone filled with social media apps, games, and other distractions.

And when we fall off course and fail to achieve our goals, we blame ourselves for “not wanting it badly enough” and for not having enough willpower. In many cases, however, failure is not a result of poor willpower, but a result of poor strategy.
Good military leaders start by winning easy battles and improving their position. They wait until the opposition is weakened and morale is low before they take on their foe directly. Why start a war by fighting battles in areas that are well-defended? Why start new habits in an environment that makes progress difficult?
Sun Tzu would never lead his army into a battle where the terrain was not to his advantage. He would not begin by attacking the point where the enemy is strongest. Similarly, we should make easy improvements to our habits first, build our strength, and establish a better position from which to attack the most difficult changes.

Sun Tzu, Master of Habits

Let's adapt Sun Tzu's teachings to building better habits.
Example 1:

• Sun Tzu: “You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”
• Adapted: “You can be sure in succeeding in your habits if you only build habits which are easy to maintain.”

Example 2:

• Sun Tzu: “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”
• Adapted: “He will improve his behavior who knows which habits to start with and which ones to leave for later.”

Example 3:

• Sun Tzu: “A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.”
• Adapted: “A clever person, therefore, avoids the areas where bad habits are strongest, but attacks them where they are weak and easy to change.”

Fight Battles You Are Destined to Win

Becoming better is not simply a matter of willpower or work ethic. It’s also a matter of strategy. What people assume is a lack of willpower or an unwillingness to change is often a consequence of trying to build good habits in bad environments.

• If you are trying to read more books, don’t do it in a room filled with video games, Netflix, and a television. Move to a less distracting environment.
• If you’re very overweight, don’t try to follow a workout program for college athletes. You can get there eventually, but that’s not a battle you need to fight right now. Start with a manageable change.
• If you’re surrounded by people who tear down your goals, then work on your projects in a different location or reach out to like-minded people.
• If you’re trying to stick to a writing habit when your kids are home from school and your house is in chaos, then work on it at a different time. Switch to a time of less resistance.

Build your habits where it is easy to do so. Re-define the situation. Create a game where the odds are stacked in your favor.
It sounds simple, but how often do you find yourself fighting difficult battles and ignoring easy ones? There is plenty of time to fight the difficult battles. Win the easy battles first.
The smartest path is to improvement is the one of least resistance. Fight battles you are destined to win.

You can check out the  SUN ART OF WAR ARTICLE HERE IN ENGLISH VERSION

 Thanks for reading.

Share and comment.

NIGERIA DEFENCE ACADEMY (APRIL 2018 UPDATE)

The Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA entrance exam date & training date for 2018/2019 (70th Regular Course) have been released. This was issued alongside the announcement of commencement of NDA admission application exercise.

Candidates who want to apply should please note that only candidates who meet the JAMB national cut- off mark will be eligible. Only those candidates would be allowed to sit for the NDA Entrance Examination at their Examination Centre of choice. The examination will be conducted as an Entrance Examination (similar to Post–UTME examination in conventional universities)
 . The Nigerian Defence Academy has scheduled the exam date as Saturday 19th May, 2018. Therefore, all eligible candidates are to bring along the following to the NDA examination venue.

CHECK THIS : NDA Exam Center Selection & Exam Card Printing – 2018/2019
THINGS TO TAKE ALONG TO NDA EXAMINATION CENTER: All candidates would note that they are to take the following along to the Examination Centre on the set NDA examination date.

• Acknowledgement Form (downloaded from NDA Application Portal)
• Examination Admission Card (downloaded from NDA Application Portal)
• JAMB 2017 Registration Slip
• Two postcard size (3.5 x 5 inches) photographs.  Candidate’s Name, State of Origin, Course chosen, Exam centre and Examination number should be written at the back of the photographs.
• Writing materials, including original HB pencil.

The photographs should show only from the chest upwards and should contain the candidate’s Name, Exam number, State, Exam Centre, Course of study and Signature at the back.
Only successful candidates at the NDA Entrance Examination will subsequently be invited for the Armed Forces Selection Board following which the list of admitted candidates will be published.

Nature and Duration of NDA Training for 2018/2019

Admitted candidates into NDA for the Regular Course will undergo military and academic training as Officer Cadets for a duration of 5 years. On successful completion of training, graduands will earn a honours degree in a core discipline (BSc, BEng, BA). They will equally earn a commission into the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Regular Course cadets will train in NDA. All aspects of the cadets’ administration and logistics will be borne by the Federal Government.

Remember ignore anybody promising to be your godfather for you to secure an admission into Nda by giving them money. They are simply 419. even this blog is not run by Nda so be careful of scammers. Remember the story of the guy that got admitted without a godfather - read this post -The story of The N.D.A applicant that got admission into the Nigeia Defence Academy without a god-father. Part 1- If he can do it. you can do it too.

Also remember to check this post before leaving -WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM .THE NIGERIA DEFENCE ACADEMY. to all applicants.


Any problem- comments below. ALSO DON'T FORGET TO SHARE.

FIRE DISCIPLINE- A MILITARY THEOREM TO APPLY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Fire discipline implies firstly, the restraints or self-discipline to open fire at the correct time and place and secondly implicit obedience of fire control for instance, in defence, the enemy will often try to make the defender discloses his position by sending out patrols to draw his fire, it is important that the defenders should not open fire on such patrols unless they are certain of killing the whole patrol. Good fire discipline is particularly important to prevent indiscriminate fire @ patrols or worse still, at imaginary patrols, noise or lights.

          This phenomenon of fire discipline can be applied as a theory in our lives. We live in a world where everybody is a soldier fighting his owner. We hustle and bustle every day, and some pretty do it out of control! Man you’ve got to stop simply because you need to get to the top of your career, business, and competition doesn’t mean you need to fire at all times you need fire discipline. Yes! Never give up but sometimes you should know when to quit or re-strategize.

 The same to have to go with emotions, every day we meet different kind of people, there are some that exist to just annoy the heck out of you. Just like I said earlier in defence the enemy will say mad things about you, provoke you, step on your nerves all this guys are patrols sent out to draw out the best in you and lose your formation, the best thing to do is to hold your fire. Never react to these provocations. After all when you eat it’s not all that go down your guts that your body need it will have to ignore some of the food to pass them straight down to the asshole.

          The same thing goes here, when you are fully motivated beyond measure and you begin to work hard relentlessly, all night you keep reading all morning you listen to your carrier seminars on your phone, all day you work in office, all day you sit at the laptop all day you are always on the social media. Man I have got to tell you that you are just pulling the trigger and you simply have no fire discipline. You will probably run out of ammo, or weapon get jammed or you are have spilled out your best, Mr reader you should know when to work and when to rest, apply simply the fire discipline to your own life and get the real concept of true battles.

          Forget about the video games and ignore those crazy movies where by you see that the action is fully bombarded with too much pulling of trigger, sometimes at battlefield there are some moment that everything is bored for the guys and they want some fun but can’t shoot anything. You can also read our post of WATCHING TOO MUCH OF ACTION MOVIES CAN GET YOU KILLED: WAYS MOVIES POTRAY FIRE FIGHT WRONG.

Ask the vets or if you are one I know you understand what am talking about.

          In Martial arts you can do 6 weeks’ intense damn workout but the smart money says you should look for rest if not you will wear out your muscles and you will produce fatigue result even the shaolin monks that spent years doing training they also spent years on resting and meditation, athletes also do the same, military men do the same, don’t over work and sometimes know when to work.

          However, nothing good comes without a disadvantage, if you can remember the 1998 Beirut barracks bombing became successful for the Islamic sects then because the soldiers present on guard are under the code of fire discipline which caused a catastrophic end simply because the soldiers could not fire at the incoming suicide bombers vehicles –their weapons were locked. Well they were simply acting on orders. Fire discipline as a theory is just like a pill; don’t use paracetamol when an illness requires chemiron. Know when to apply the principle of fire discipline in your life.

          I hope you enjoy today words on marble that I draw from military principle, stay updated for more. I remain your top military niche blogger- Afolabi Micheal.