About 156 recruits training to join Cameroon’s elite military force, the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), have commenced a 400-kilometre trek from Maroua, the capital of the Far North Region.
This area is notably marked by an ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents.
The march began on June 7, launched by Far North Regional Governor Midjiyawa Bakary, accompanied by local authorities.
The streets of Maroua were lined with cheering spectators, offering encouragement as the recruits embarked on their rigorous journey.
The recruits, equipped with backpacks and sleeping mats, are expected to endure several days of trekking, a test that could see some of them drop out due to the sheer physical and mental demands.
This group is part of a larger cohort of 2,000 recruits selected earlier this year by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) for BIR training.
Among these, 700 are training for the Presidential Guard, while the remaining 1,300 are preparing to join the Rapid Intervention Battalion.
The selection process is highly competitive, with only the most physically and mentally robust individuals chosen for training.
BIR training is known for its intensity, considered the most challenging among Cameroon’s military forces, which also include the Gendarmerie, Air Force and the Navy.
While specific details of the training regimen are classified, it is widely understood that long, arduous marches are part of the program, designed to instill endurance and resilience in the recruits.
Upon completion of their training, these recruits will join the ranks of the BIR, a force crucial in combating the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North Region and countering Ambazonia separatists in the English-speaking North West and South West Regions.
The BIR is renowned for its effectiveness in these conflict zones, where it plays a vital role in maintaining security and stability.
