The first requirement of any air force is a constant supply of a crop of highly motivated and competent airmen and airwomen. No matter the level of sophistication of platforms, they cannot attain the mission objectives if the personnel behind them are ill trained and incompetent.

The NAF therefore places great premium on training and re-training of its personnel to ensure a high state of readiness at all times.

To achieve optimum personnel skills at reasonable costs, the NAF established the to enable her embark on the development of an internal training capacity. The Command is tasked with the responsibility for all local training both in the air and on the ground. Since its establishment in August 1978, TC has been involved in the provision of both initial and advanced training for NAF pilots, paratroopers and air traffic controllers.

Ground training is also provided for support services and technical personnel. So far, the Command has trained over 1,699 Officers and 10,150 airmen and women in various trade specialities.
The Command is organised into a Command Headquarters located in Kaduna with three Staff Branches namely: Operations, Logistics and Administration. The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) heads the Command, assisted by a Senior Air Staff Officer and Principal Staff Officers.
There are 10 field units under the Command comprising 3 flying training schools, 2 ground training facilities, a logistics group, 3 medical facilities and 2 other administrative units. The locations of the units are as follows:
i. 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna.
ii. 303 Flying Training School, Kano.  
iii. 305 Flying Training School, Enugu.  
iv. 320 Technical Training Group, Kaduna.
v. 325 Ground Training Group, Kaduna.  
vi. 330 NAF Station Jos.
vii. 333 Logistics Group, Kaduna.
viii. 335 Base Services Group, Kaduna.
ix. 345 Aeoromedical Hospital, Kaduna.
x. NAF Hospital, Jos.
xi. The Aeromedical Centre Project at Kaduna.

301 Flying Training School
The 301 Flying Training School (301 FTS) is the cradle of pilot training in the NAF. It started as the Light Transport and Liaison Squadron in 1964 and was charged with the responsibility of converting NAF pilots who were returning home from overseas training. However, with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1967, the nation’s need for pilots increased while the available slots for pilots’ training overseas became inadequate to meet the country’s operational needs. Consequently, the Light Liaison Transport Squadron was tasked to undertake primary flying training in addition to its original task of converting NAF pilots. As a result, the Squadron grew in strength and was later redesignated as the Primary Flying Training Wing (PFTW). Following further expansion and subsequent re-organisation of the NAF in 1984, the Wing was upgraded and renamed the 301 Flying Training School (301 FTS).
The school has over the years, used several aircraft types for ab-initio training purposes. It started training with the Piaggio-149D aircraft from Germany. This was later replaced with the Bulldog 123. Other aircraft types operated in the 60s and 70s were the DO-27, DO-28 and DO 128-2. Currently, the aircraft holding of the school include the Airbeetle ABT-18, Dornier 128-6 and the DO-228 aircraft series.
Since its inception, the school has trained over 600 pilots for the NAF including the first set of pilots for the Nigerian Navy. The school has assisted in the training of pilots from friendly African countries including 5 from the Republic of Benin, 4 from Cape Verde, 3 from Niger Republic, 10 from Zimbabwe and one from Sierra Leone.
These are spread between Student Pilot Courses 1 and 32 (SP 1 to Sp 32) with the present batch undergoing training as SP 33. The number of students trained could have been higher but for the six year period (1988-1994), when NAF suffered a debilitating lull in training due to lack of funds to sustain training. However, with the emphasis on training by the current NAF leadership, the School is fully operational and the training backlog is being redressed.
301 FTS is also tasked to conduct operational conversion, type-rating and recurrency training for NAF transport pilots on the Dornier aircraft series. Furthermore, it provides light liaison and VIP transport as well as courier services for the NAF. Besides it primary roles of ab-initio and transport pilot training, 301 FTS has featured in aerial displays during NAF and National day celebrations.
It has also been involved in various internal security initiatives and joint exercises. Prominent among these are the Maitatsine Crises in Kano, the Ops Harmony series in the Northeastern parts of the country and simulated air cover during Nigerian Defence Academy cadets training exercises.

303 Flying Training School
Following the Statutory Act of Parliament that officially established the NAF in April 1964, some basic organizational structure was put in place for the nascent service to function properly. One of these structures was the Nigerian Air Force Tactical and Technical Wing (NAFTW) Kaduna, comprising the Military Training School (MTS), Light Transport and Liaison Squadron (LTLS) and support elements of administration, engineering and supply.
NAF Kano was born out of the LTLS in August 1967. NAF Kano, then a detachment was established as a result of the expansion embarked upon by the NAF to prosecute the civil war. At that time, the unit was tasked with conducting operational training for combat crew on the L-29, MiG 15 and 17 aircraft types.
In 1969, the detachment was transformed into a pilot training institution with student pilots of Basic Flying Course One (BFC 1) as the first intake. Today, 11 basic flying courses have been concluded with the current one being BFC 12 Bravo.
During the post civil war reorganization between 1970 and 1975 the unit was renamed Advanced Flying Training Wing (AFTW). However, by March 1975, the station was upgraded to a group status known as Flying Training Group (FTG) with two Flying Wings namely, Primary Flying Training Wing (PFTW) stationed at Kaduna and Basic Flying Training Wing (BFTW) located in Kano. The MiG 21s and Alpha Jets were at various times stationed at Kano before relocating to their bases at Makurdi and Kainji. The school attained its present status in 1985, when it was renamed 303 Flying Training School (303 FTS), with the sole responsibility of conducting basic flying training on jet aircraft using the L-29 aircraft type. The L-29 aircraft hitherto used as basic trainer aircraft was later phased out due to age and replaced with the MB-339 Aermachi in June 1985. By 1986, the L-39ZA aircraft was introduced as the basic trainer, while the MB-339 was re-roled as a close support aircraft.
In 1989, the Instructor Pilot Training Wing was established to give NAF a capacity to train its instructor pilots locally. The wing, which was initially designated as Instructor Pilot School (IPS), was meant to be an independent unit to be located in Minna (Niger State). However following the rationalization of NAF units, the IPS remained in Kano as a wing under 303 FTS. The primary role of the Instructor Pilot Training Wing (IPTW) is to produce instructor pilots on fast jet aircraft for the NAF.
Since its inception, the 303 FTS has trained 112 pilots comprising Nigerians and foreigners. The foreigners include 4 pilots from Zimbabwe and 8 Ghanaians who attended a conversion course on the L-29 aircraft. As in the case of the primary training programmes, the lull of 1988 to 1994 also affected the basic flying training programme. However with the re-newed focus on training by the current NAF leadership, a new momentum has been introduced into the activities of the school.

305 Flying Training School
The 305 Flying Training School (305 FTS) Enugu, metamorphosed from NAF Station Enugu, which was established in the mid-1970s. NAF Station Enugu was the home of the MiG 17 fighter aircraft until 1981, when the Headquarters of Tactical Air Command (HQ TAC) and Air Defence Group (ADG) were established at Makurdi.
Subsequently, following the recognition of the need to train its own helicopter pilots locally, the NAF established 305 FTS as an ab-initio and basic helicopter flying school. Being the first and only one of its kind in the sub-region, the 305 FTS was established to provide helicopter training for pilots of the NAF and sister Services of the armed forces as well as friendly African countries. On 22 February 1987, the pioneer set of helicopter pilots to be trained locally commenced training as Basic Helicopter Flying Course 1 (BHFC 1) on the Hughes 300C helicopter.
However, during the rationalisation of NAF units in 1991, the School was downgraded to a wing status and relocated to 97 Special Operations Group Port Harcourt, while what was left became a NAF detachment. In subsequent years, the need to have an autonomous helicopter training school to complement the fixed wing schools at 301 and 303 FTS led to the re-establishment of 305 FTS Enugu in June 2000. By 2001, the unit became active again and the Mi-34C trainer helicopter was introduced into NAF inventory to replace the Hughes 300. The same lull that befell NAF aircrew training also affected this school, thus since its inception, only 2 courses have been graduated with BHFC 3 just about to commence flying. The unit currently conducts local type-rating courses for its engineers and technicians.

320 Technical Training Group
The Nigerian Civil War resulted in the introduction of a variety of aircraft and associated weapon systems into the service of the then young NAF. The introduction of these weapon systems brought with it a corresponding increase in the need for skilled manpower to operate and maintain these machines. The NAF at that time relied on her foreign partners to develop the required manpower. The idea of establishing a NAF Logistics and Supply School was initiated after the Civil War in 1970, in order to increase the number of training slots and to conserve scarce foreign exchange. The Nigerian Air Force Technical Training Wing was thus established in 1977 with the collaboration of Messrs Dornier GMBH of Germany. The School was established to provide basic training for officers and men in the fields of aircraft maintenance, armament technology, supply and maintenance of ground communication equipment.
It was also the responsibility of the Group to conduct relevant up-grading courses for all logistics trade specialists in the NAF. The quality training offered by the schools has helped considerably in enhancing the NAF’s maintenance capabilities. The school has also trained a good number of personnel from the air forces of friendly sister African countries.

325 Ground Training Group
The 325 Ground Training Group started as Military Training School (MTS) under NAF Tactical Training Wing (NAFTTW) when the NAF Base Kaduna was established in 1963. It was responsible for the training of recruits. The MTS was re-designated Military Training Wing (MTW) in 1975 when NAFTTW was upgraded to become NAF Ground Training Group (NAFGTG). The Wing was later upgraded to a group status and called Military Training Group (MTG) in 1984. When a new establishment came into effect in 1991, the then Administrative Services Training Group (ASTG) was merged with MTG to form the Ground Training Group (GTG). With the Establishment Order of 2000, the Group was re-designated as 325 Ground Training Group.
Over the years the unit’s roles have widened to cover provision of non-technical training in other air force specialities, particularly with the suspension of overseas training for certain trade specialties for both officers and airmen. These include basic and further training in personnel and accounting specialities, air police, physical education and regiment courses.

330 NAF Station Jos
The NAF Station Jos was established to provide administrative and logistics support for the military schools namely, the Air Force Military School (AFMS) and the Air Force Girls Military School (AFGMS). Since inception, the AFMS and AFGMS have turned out 1,500 junior airmen and 588 junior airwomen respectively.
The AFGMS has since become a Comprehensive Secondary School following NAF’s decision to de-emphasise rigorous military training for girls.

333 Logistics Group
The 333 Logistic Group is responsible for 3rd and 4th line maintenance of aircraft used for flying training operations at 301 FTS and the 81 Air Maritime Group. The 4th line maintenance function of the Group also involves the conduct of the periodic engine overhaul on the DO128-6 and DO-228 aircraft. In addition to its maintenance task, the unit co-ordinates the local training programme for the NAF engineers and technicians on the aircraft types within its locality. It is noteworthy that the 333 Logistics Group recently commenced the reactivation of its equipment in readiness for Research and Development (R & D) projects. The R & D programme is intended to enable the unit to produce various aircraft components and spares. The Group worked assiduously in the joint NAF and Messrs Dornier-AEIP venture, to produce the first locally manufactured aircraft type in Nigeria, the Air Beetle ABT-18.

335 Base Services Group
The 335 BSG like its counterparts in TAC and LC is responsible for providing welfare and administrative support services for the various groups located in its vicinity. It also provides similar support to HQ TC, the Air Faculty of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College and the Air Wing of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

345 Aeromedical Hospital
The Aeromedical Hospital located in the Kaduna Base is the only one of its type in the NAF. The hospital was recently upgraded to the status of a 60-bed hospital. The upgrading is designed to enable the hospital meet the increasing demand for medical health care in the Kaduna Base and the NAF as a whole. This hospital also conducts annual medical fitness examinations for all aircrew specialties as well as routine medical examinations for NAF personnel right from the point of intake. It is expected that in the near future, the hospital will be fully equipped to the standard of a teaching and research hospital.

NAF Hospital Jos
The NAF Hospital, Jos provides health care services for NAF personnel and the 2 NAF secondary schools in Jos.

Aeromedical Centre Project
More than two decades ago, the NAF realized the need for a well-equipped medical facility to cater solely for the specialized medical demands of its aircrew. The objective is to enhance safety by ensuring that only medically fit personnel are allowed to fly. Consequently, efforts were made to establish an aeromedical centre. It is expected that on completion, the NAF Aeromedical Centre will be a centre of excellence with one of the most comprehensive facilities in the world. The facility is expected to reduce aircrew training cost compared with the cost of training personnel abroad. It will also reduce accident rates attributable to human factors. Besides, it will improve the selection process of potential pilots, while engineers and technicians will be exposed to new developments in the aviation industry. It is hoped that the Aeromedical Centre will also provide the same services to the civil aviation sector and conduct relevant research into peculiar problems associated with flying in tropical environments. The chronicle of command is as indicated below: