The Nigerian Armed Forces is what we refer to as the Nigerian Military Forces. This troop is from the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Originating from the elements of the Royal West African Frontier Force that became Nigerian when independence was granted in 1960. The Nigerian Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces.
RWAFF In 1956, the colonial government of Nigeria took over from the British war control of the Nigerian military forces in April 1958, and since then, the Nigerian military has fought in a civil war.
The military is best known for its high discipline value, and as such, it has manipulated its way to live above the social problems surrounding the civil sector.
It is good for you to know more about the Nigerian military because it will help you to be highly patriotic and understand the military sector better.
Role of the Nigerian Military Forces
The following are the core duties of the Nigerian Military Forces:
- The Nigerian military force has to defend Nigerians from external aggression.
- They are to maintain Nigeria’s territorial integrity and secure its borders from violation on land, sea, or air;
- Suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly and
- perform any additional duties that the National Assembly may specify.
Tiers of Nigerian Military and Their Rankings
The Nigerian Military is made up of three main tiers, which are:
- Nigerian Air Force
- Nigerian Navy
- Nigerian Army
NOTE: There is an earlier-rooted ranking order in the Nigerian military force rankings, except in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)where ranks and ranking are significant.
This ranking order means that officers in the Nigerian armed forces are split into two categories: commissioned and non-commissioned officers.
Being a commissioned officer means that the person is in the senior ranks, while junior officers of low ranks are said to be non-commissioned officers.
Nigerian Air Force
The Air Force began as a transport unit, with aircrews being trained in Canada, Ethiopia, and Pakistan. Up until the Soviet Union presented a number of MiG-17 aircraft in 1966, the air force’s combat capability was insufficient.
This particular armed force was officially established in January 1964 with a technical assistant from West Germany. In 2007, the Air Force had a strength of 10,000. It flies transport, trainer, helicopter, and fighter aircraft.
The Air Force sponsors the Air Force Military School in Jos, Nigeria, and the Air Force Institute of Technology.
NIGERIAN AIRFORCE Ranks
Like the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy,
The ranks in the Nigerian Air Force are also based on two categories: the commissioned officers and the non-commissioned officers.
Nigerian Air Force Ranks for Commissioned Officers
The Nigerian Air Force commissioned officers are made up of 11 ranks, which are:
- Marshal of the Nigerian Air Force
- Air Chief Marshal
- Air Marshal
- Air Vice-Marshal
- Air Commodore
- Group Captain
- Wing Commander
- Squadron Leader
- Flight Lieutenant
- Flying Officer
- Pilot Officer
Nigerian Air Force Ranks for Non-commissioned Officers
The Nigerian Air Force non-commissioned officers are made up of nine ranks, which are:
- Air Warrant Officer
- Master Warrant Officer
- Warrant Officer
- Flight Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance Corporal
- Aircraftman
- Recruit
Nigerian Air Force Airmen rank
The Nigerian Air Force airmen are the equivalent of the sailors in the Nigerian Navy. The NAF airman ranks are:
- Air Warrant Officer
- Master Warrant Officer
- Warrant Officer
- Flight Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance Corporal
- Aircraftman/woman
Role of the Nigerian Air Force
The Nigerian Air Force, in collaboration with the Navy and Army, is responsible for defending the country, its citizens, its ideals, and its culture. This is achieved by:
- monitoring the air,
- obtaining intelligence through aerial surveillance and investigations,
- ensuring that air transport can meet all operational demands, and
- continuing to support combat operations through a launch capability.
- deploy some of the world’s most technologically advanced warplanes,
- Use state-of-the-art intelligence and information systems
In addition to defending our country, the Air Force assists with a wide range of missions both at home and abroad, including:
- assisting with international security and counter-terrorism efforts,
- defending our borders against unlawful entry and intrusions,
- executing search and rescue operations,
- assisting peacekeeping missions, and
- assisting communities that have been impacted by natural disasters
Nigerian Navy
The Nigerian Navy (NN) is the naval branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Presently, the command structure of the Nigerian Navy is made up of the Naval Headquarters in Abuja and three operational commands with headquarters in Lagos, Calabar, and Bayelsa.
The Nigerian Navy (NN) Training Command’s headquarters is located in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, but with training and facilities spread all over Nigeria.
The Nigerian Navy has five operational bases, five forward operational bases (with two more soon to come on stream), two dockyards located in Lagos and Port Harcourt, and two fleets based in Lagos and Calabar.
The Nigerian Navy Ranks
Nigerian Navy Ranks for Commissioned Officers
The Nigerian Navy commissioned officers are made up of 12 ranks, which are:
- Admiral of the Fleet
- Admiral
- Vice-Admiral
- Rear Admiral Commodore
- Captain
- Commander
- Lieutenant Commander
- Lieutenant
- Sub-Lieutenant
- Acting Sub-Lieutenant
- Mid-Shipman
Navy Rankings for Non-Commissioned Officers
The Nigerian Navy’s non-commissioned officers are made up of seven ranks, which are:
- Warrant Chief Petty Officer
- Chief Petty Officer
- Petty Officer
- Leading Rating
- Able Rating
- Ordinary Rating
- Trainee
Role of the Nigerian Navy
The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the Army and Air Force, is in charge of safeguarding Nigeria’s coastlines, maritime routes, and people. It also defends the waterways from illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration, as well as contributing to regional security and promoting global interests by:
- patrolling and responding to maritime emergencies
- having the potential to attack in a tactical strike
- ensuring the safety of shipping as well as maritime territories and assets, and
- Maritime intelligence gathering and analysis
- Safeguarding the oceans
- Maintaining the safety of the waters for shipping
The Nigerian Navy provides several services that are vital to the safety of shipping and people who engage in professional and leisure seagoing on a daily basis. These are some of them:
- nautical search and recovery services
- hydrogeological reviews for navigation purposes
- Anti-piracy actions
- meteorological support tasks, and
- Naval escort responsibilities
Nigerian Army
This is the land the largest among all the armed forces in Nigeria that are basically operating on land. The major formations of the Nigerian Army include the 1st Division, the 2nd Division, the 3rd Armoured Division, the 81st Division, the 82nd Division, and the newly formed 8th, 7th and 6th, Divisions.
Nigerian Army Ranks
Nigerian Army Ranks for Commissioned Officers
The Nigerian Army commissioned officers are made up of 11 ranks which are:
- Field Marshal
- General
- Lieutenant General
- Major General
- Brigadier General
- Colonel
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Major Captain
- Lieutenant
- Second Lieutenant
Nigerian Army Ranking for Non-Commissioned Officers
The Nigerian Army non-commissioned officers are made up of 8 ranks which are:
- Warrant Officer Class I
- Warrant Officer Class II
- Staff Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance-Corporal
- Private
- Recruit
Role of the Nigerian Navy
The Nigerian Army is the backbone of the country’s land force. It helps in protecting Nigeria’s interests as part of a strong and united force, hinders threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty, and destroys them if needed.
They offer tremendous defense capabilities based on loyalty, bravery, humility, honesty, and competence, as well as the utilization of advanced weaponry, trucks, and weapons hardware.
In addition to defending the country, the Army assists with a wide range of missions both at home and abroad, including:
- assisting with global security and counter-terrorism efforts,
- defending national borders against unlawful entry and invasions,
- assisting humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, as well as
- assisting communities that have been impacted by natural disasters
How to properly address military personnel of different ranks
In the military, the proper way of addressing someone with the ranks of colonels, generals, and admirals is simply “Colonel,” “General,” or “Admiral”; you can add their surnames, but if you are having a prolonged conversation you can use the title alone for convenience sake.
- For the Army and Air Force, you can address non-commissioned officers by their titles, even though you may also use “Mr.” or “Mrs.” to address them in social settings.
- Naval officers with the rank of lieutenant commander and above are addressed as “Commander.” Officers who are lower than that rank are called “Mr.” but in conversations, you can introduce and refer to them using their titles.
- Medical personnel in the military are mostly called by their rank —”Major Opeyemi.” You can call them”Dr.” in social settings when they are of lower rank. But, you can address them by their Army or Navy titles all through the period they remain in the service.
Members of the armed services keep their titles even when they retire, so you can address them by their title in that situation.