DISMISSING CADETS/RECRUITS
DISMISSING CADETS/RECRUITS
By:
Nurudeen Dauda
27th September, 2021
nurudeendauda24@gmail.com
nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com
Permit me to "solute"our gallant "soldiers" who sacrificed their "comfort"under the "sun" and in "rain" for our general well-being . We cannot thank our soldiers enough!
However, it is sad to note that, few days to the Passing Out Parade of this year four (4) fifth termers cadets are among the eighteen dismissed cadets for this year. Their presidential commissioning for this year is slated for 9th October, 2021 while the announcement for the dismissal was made on the 24th of September, 2021. I have for long "harboured" worries on the issue of dismissing both "cadets" of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the "recruits" of our Armed Forces.
In my thought, there should be a better way of dealing with indiscipline or misconduct in the Armed Forces other than dismissal in view of the critical Insecurity situation of our dear country. It worries me to note that our cadets and recruits are often dismissed after acquiring arms handling skills!
I am not unaware of the fact that ," discipline" is "sacred" to soldiers, but even at that, our Armed Forces must be reminded of the "danger" of dismissing cadets/recruits after years and or "months"of "training". With the arms handling skills of dismissed cadets/ recruits only people with extra-ordinary faith could resist the temptation of becoming criminals.
In my observation, the practice of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) needs to be urgently looked at. I stand to be corrected, but as far as I know the issuance of "certificates" or "transcripts" to withdrawn or dismissed cadets on "disciplinary grounds" not "academic grounds "is a "discretionary powers"of the commandant and not the "rights" of the dismissed cadets .
The Nigerian Defence Academy as a degree awarding institution often dismissed "fifth" year "cadets" without given them their degrees. Out of the years that "cadets" spent in the academy, four years are supposed to be for degree programs while the extra"one-year" is meant for military training, but it is often observed that, some unlucky cadets who are dismissed not on "academic related problems are being sent away without their degrees. This in my thought is dangerous to our future peace and stability. We really need to change this practice in order to provide a soft landing for the dismissed cadets.
In my view all cadets whose problems are not academics should be given their degrees as a "right" not as a "discretion" of the commandant. My concern is the situation that an unlucky dismissed cadet will likely find himself under a "very strict" commandant. It is important to state that this view does not in anyway condone indiscipline whatsoever.
In addition, even cadets with academic problems should be given the opportunity to "transfer" to conventional universities. Even In conventional universities, students who failed to meet up in a particular department were often given the opportunity to "transfer" to other departments.
Dismissing cadets without given them their "degrees" or "transcripts" depending on the case at hand could lead to excessive obsession that might resort to emotional trauma which in the long run may lead to serious security problem. This must be prevented!
On the other hand, another very sensitive issue that needs to be urgently reviewed is the issue of dismissing recruits after "months" of "training" including arms handling skills in the name of possession of "fake results" and or "fake medical report". The service "must" be "thorough" in terms of "screening" of would-be recruits to avoid a ticking"time-bomb" that awaits us as a resuilt of dismissing unsuitable recruits.
There are many cases of armed robberies involving dismissed soldiers.The truth of the matter is, dismissed recruits might become armed robbers or kidnappers and or internet fraudstars etc. In my suggestion , recruitment officers must "bear" the consequences of whatever lapses discovered after recruitment.
The executive, legislators and the Armed Forces authorities must come together for a very sound decision that will save our society from the danger of dismissed cadets as well as recruits. There is no gain saying the fact that some dismissed cadets/recruits might come criminals.
May God bless Nigeria!