NAF Achieves Global Recognition in Combat Medical Training, Establishes Accredited Trauma Care Centre
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has strengthened its operational capabilities with the international accreditation of its Air Mobile First Aid Unit (AMFAU) as a certified Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training centre by the United States-based National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).
The accreditation, secured through collaboration with the German Technical Advisory Group (GTAG), followed the successful completion of Nigeria’s first NAEMT-accredited Tactical Combat Casualty Care training programme held between May 13 and 28, 2026, at the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine (NAFSMSAM) in Kaduna.
The milestone places AMFAU among a limited number of accredited NAEMT training institutions in West Africa and marks a significant step in the NAF’s drive to build a highly skilled and mission-ready medical workforce capable of supporting military operations and emergency response missions.
The TCCC programme is internationally recognised as the benchmark for battlefield trauma care, providing military personnel with critical skills in haemorrhage control, airway management, casualty stabilisation and evacuation under combat conditions.
In his statement, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the accreditation demonstrates the Service’s commitment to global best practices in combat casualty management and emergency medical response.
According to him, the programme is expected to enhance the ability of NAF personnel to preserve lives in operational environments while improving force protection and mission effectiveness.
Speaking, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the accreditation as a strategic accomplishment that will improve operational readiness and support ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations across the country.
He noted that rapid medical intervention on the battlefield remains a crucial factor in mission success and personnel welfare.
“Every life saved on the battlefield strengthens operational effectiveness and contributes directly to the successful accomplishment of the Nigerian Air Force’s mandate in support of national security objectives,” the Air Chief stated.
At the graduation ceremony, the NAEMT Course Coordinator formally activated AMFAU as an accredited NAEMT Training Centre by presenting the official NAEMT banner to the Commandant of NAFSMSAM, Air Vice Marshal AC Ekpe.
Participants who completed the course received internationally recognised certificates and course insignia, while the event also featured cultural exchanges between the German instructors and Nigerian Air Force authorities.
In his remarks, Air Vice Marshal Ekpe urged the graduates to uphold professionalism and apply their newly acquired skills in saving lives during operations. He emphasised that the value of emergency medical training lies not in certificates but in the lives preserved through timely and effective intervention.
Ekpe also commended the Chief of the Air Staff, GTAG and the NAEMT-certified instructors for their support and commitment, describing the accreditation as the beginning of a new era in combat medical training within the Nigerian Air Force.
The development is expected to significantly boost the NAF’s capacity to provide world-class battlefield medical support while reinforcing Nigeria’s growing reputation in military medical training and emergency response across the region.
