General pula:
Hi everyone,,, so this is my experience joining the Nigerian Army, batch 13NA regular intake.
Growing up in those days, I think I had a thing for the military…plus that’s what my dad loved doing. Having stayed in the barracks half my life, I grew accustomed to the way and manner the system works.
So it was 2013, and I picked the form…although, with a modicum of apathy.
One thing about this phase is that even as you haven’t joined, you’d start feeling like a soldier already! You go dey assume! You’d even begin to purchase okrika khaki pants and singlets…you know, after all, that’s where you are going. We were already clearing people’s doubts, and chawoosing those LASTMA boys you know.😌
Okay okay, time don reach. We proceeded to partake in the aptitude test, which served as the initial stage of screening within the confines of the barracks, followed by the subsequent pre-medical evaluations. Indeed, I successfully achieved a favorable outcome due to my exceptional intellectual acumen, and I possessed a considerable stature and exhibited remarkable dexterity. Don’t believe me, it was through connections!😊😜
So time don dey reach to enter Depot N.A..that’s the place where soldiers are made in Kaduna. That is the very crucible in which men are forged. A few acquaintances who were aware of my shortlisting had already commenced offering me counsel and expressing their condolences through the medium of proverbs. Lol. And there was Nduka. Nduka who indelibly etched an event within the recesses of my memory, destined to endure for the entirety of my mortal existence.
Nduka consistently showed an aura of maturity, rendering him a sagacious individual in my perception. On the eve of my imminent departure, he imparted a cunning stratagem to endure the arduous conditions when I get to Depot. He expressed the notion that throughout the duration of our training, it is imperative that I refrain from exhibiting any signs of intellectual lethargy or weakness. That if I wanted to get a quick ticket to the next phase and be seen as one who is fit. He said, assuming I was doing a frog jump or sth else, I should summon courage and refuse to continue. And the event that the soldier attempts to compel my compliance through the exertion of physical coercion, that I should attack and adopt a defensive stance and engage in a counteroffensive maneuver to the soldier. His words were laced with salt.
I was like “attack? Bro, that one na die na.” He was like “funny you, do you think it’s everyone who does the whole training? How do you think some soldiers are promoted fast before the others? It’s how rugged you are and how you show it that will make them choose you fast from the weaklings. One oga will just call them to bring you out and bro, you are now very qualified because of the courage. E dey happen steady “. Hmm, I pondered over it. Well, it sounded a bit realistic.
Depot N.A.
The bus has just arrived the gate of the great Depot. Let’s overlook what transpired during the trip and focus on this arrival. Next shout we heard was ‘FALL IN.’
We were forced to carry our luggage while doing frog jumps to enter the gate. That was the slowest moment on my life. And if you tried to cheat the drill, you’ll start again after being beaten mercilessly.
There was this Miss Pepeye trailing behind me who was lugging around a lot of heavy luggage. She was so upset by the soldiers that she abandoned her belongings and fled to the opposite side of the road, where she knelt down and begged while crying. The expression on my grave face was supposed to be one of laughter, but I had just beaten myself. At the very least, watching the drama was entertaining.
The ‘faithful’ day..
Long story short, we were “on planting.” In military, to go on planting is one of the most difficult drills. You will literary be upside down and it will take no minutes before blood starts rushing to your head. In order words, you are upside down but standing on your head.
Omo, I don dey feel tears pouring from my side eyes but I wasn’t crying. This drill is coming after we were already punished because sb murmured while the MWOII (Master Warrant Officer) was talking. My body was literally burning and we still had to go on planting. Since I was fair in complexion, it was another bad omen. Fair people in Depot are usually used as “white fowls” or scapegoats as you call it. Those soldiers enjoy seeing red veins or blood on your skin.
So, I was still on planting and in that position upside down, I saw a soldier still beating some others on planting either because they were shaking miserably or for sth else. I was deliberately if this military was even worth it. Abi no bi to just run? I looked at the fence and it looked jump-able. After all, they don’t pay well. I was just looking for the perfect excuse for the nearest exit and to solidify my reasons to hang my boots.
It was that moment I remembered Martins who was in a local vigilante in my street who told me to roll in mud water for no just reason because he felt I was haughty. I swore to damage him when I came out. As I was thinking all this, I also remembered how Nduka advised me to not pay evil with evil when I finally pass out from the training. In mid-thoughts, I remembered Nduka’s advice—the game changer!
Don’t forget I was still planting my head on the ground. My neck was about to break cos we have been on this for about 15mins. As I tried to adjust a bit to accommodate the pain with another side of my head, this soldier kicked me on my shoulders…a missed hit that should have been my neck. Omo, the whole advice from Nduka flashed me and in light speed, I came down from the drill and pushed the soldier so hard that he fell. And I charged towards him. To be honest, I didn’t even know why I charged cos I didn’t even charge to hit him or punch. I realised I just charged to make him remain on the floor.
To cut the story short, ha, Nduka no tell me everything wey fit happen to me o. The oga there told them to single me out…which Nduka actually said…but it was the opposite. The beating I received that day and the days that followed, only God knew how I survived it. Till date, I have some of the scars on my body.
It was not easy at all.
Have you ever experienced sth similar? Kindly share.
