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readmitted in December and discharged on the 15 th of February 1983 following complications of surgery. Shortest duration was recorded by 80/045 L/LCpl Emmanuel Otiotio who had appendicitis in the last week of October1981. He attributed the appendicitis to the garri he soaked and drank the night before! The first and probably the only Junior Airman to be given the invalid badge was JACM Enyi, September 1983. He wore the badge indicating he had a medical condition and as a result could not take part in most of the schools’ activities throughout the first term. He did not return to the school after the Christmas holidays. The first Junior Airman to die in AFMS was AFMS 83/373 JACM Abu Jimeta of blue squadron on the 8th of June 1984 at about 8.30 am following a brief illness. The first Airman to die in AFMS was L/Cpl Goshi in 1984. He was the ADC to the commandant Sqn Ldr Ben Aigbomian. The first Officer to die in AFMS was Flying Officer N.Z Shamaki in August 1986. He was library officer and Red Squadron Commander.
EX – JAM After Passing Out from AFMS one becomes an ex-junior airman with the wider world before us to conquer. Most had the dream of pursuing a military career but our instructors always had a note of caution for us that not all of us will make it. On the other hand senior officers made it known to junior airmen that all they need do was pass the school certificate examinations and they were assured of direct entry into the Nigerian Defence Academy. There was even talk of the Junior Air Men with the best ten School Certificate Examination results getting admission into the USAir War College. It was easier said than done as the Ex-Junior air men were later to find out. They were practically on their own after passing out of AFMS. Credit must of course go to the Nigerian Air Force for the excellent training we received while in the school. Going to the USAWC for the best ten JAM in the first set was like the proverbial camel passing through the eye of the needle. Only one ex-JAM eventually made it to the famed college in the United States all be it after much dragging of feet and time wasting. He was JCpl Joseph Odeh (Red squadron). The promise of direct entry to NDA with a good School Cert of course never materialized as Ex-Jam were practically on their own and had to go through the normal exams and interview. The following were the first to pursue the military career route soon after graduation from AFMS in 1985:Ibrahim Ali NDA Basil Adokie “ Idi Gambo ‘’ Aminu “ Eze Hyacinth “ Iliyasu “ Usman Jibrin “ Adesina Foluso ‘’