Dimapur, April 18: The armed wing of the NSCN (IM) today celebrated the 9th Raising Day of its General Field Training Department here with an impressive function with General Staff Officer, Brigadier S Angam as the guest of honour in the programme.

First General Field Training officer of the armed wing of the NSCN (IM) Colonel Living-stone said that the department was set up after he along with Samson, KR Zimik, Samson, Fison, Chipemmi, Hopeson, Lincoln � who were then lieutenants - came back from abroad where they had gone on November 5, 1994 for General Basic Training and Administration under code name Beacon Mission.

Livingstone said that after their return on January 26, 1996, they submitted a memorandum for reformation and upliftment of the Naga army, which was approved in April 16 the same year, and thus, the department was created.

"Later in the year 1999, the Field General Training Officer was changed to General Field Training Officer (GFTO) Dept.

The Signal & Com- munication Dept and the Demolition Dept were under the supervision of the General Field Training Officer", Livingstone informed.

Livingstone, who is one of the pioneers of the dept, said in his brief speech that though the dept had no direct role in combat missions yet it was continually playing a signifi-cant role for the entire move- ment by imparting training to those who are in the thick of action.

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