Ouagadougou: The 1161 active non-commissioned officers of the 17th class of the National School for Active Non-Commissioned Officers (ENSOA) graduated on Tuesday after 17 months of training, affirming their determination to relentlessly fight terrorism in Burkina Faso and their respective countries. "My comrades and I are fully committed to defeating terrorism without any thought of retreat, alongside our brothers in arms, to guarantee a better future for our dear homeland," said the class representative, Asfa Kabore.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the delegate emphasized the message from the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore: "It is our duty to fight to leave a better homeland to future generations." Named after Sergeant Major Kiswensida No«l Ou©draogo, the celebrated class comprises 1161 trainees, including 21 young women. The class also includes 11 nationals from several sister countries such as Mali, Niger, Togo, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
The Minister of War and Patriotic Defence, Major General C©lestin Simoore, presided over the ceremony and wished the young local officers an excellent career. He called on them to remember their commitment and the priesthood they embraced by joining the profession of arms, emphasizing the importance of defending the homeland at all costs. "We expect much more commitment and determination to tackle the terrorist hydra, which is the fundamental problem facing the AES-Sahel region at the moment," stressed the Minister of War.
According to the commander of the National School for Active Non-Commissioned Officers, Battalion Chief Aly Bikienga, the training received by the officers has recently been oriented towards a structured, demanding, and progressive program. This program is designed to prepare Non-Commissioned Officers to face the realities on the ground in a complex security context.
The training of the 1161 non-commissioned officers took place in several stages, ranging from initial military instruction to a phase of joint-arms advanced training. The trainees underwent modules covering command, operational readiness, counter-terrorism, combat shooting, heavy weapons handling, commando techniques, first aid, and the use of explosives, added Battalion Commander Aly Bikienga. General education courses and current affairs lectures were also provided, with the training concluding in a joint operations exercise conducted with the Georges-Namoano Military Academy and several specialized units of the armed forces.