Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army Combat Training School (ACTS) climaxed its Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT) 2025 with a maiden Assault River Crossing Exercise over the Volta River, dubbed Ex FORD THRUST.
ACTS’ TEWT ’25 – a field training exercise from 9 to 21 March 2025 – was for participants of Combat Team Commanders Course (CTCC), Young Officers Course (YOC), Advance Non-Commissioned Officers Tactical Course (ANTC), All Infantry Platoon Weapon Course (AIPWC), Machine Gun Course (MGC) and Mortar Course (MC).
The TEWT is a teaching exercise where troops are made to conduct tactical planning with a 7 Question Combat Estimate tool for all phases of operations, in conventional warfare and special operations.
What was unique about this year’s TEWT was the novel actual conduct of a military controlled assault breaching of the Volta River with troops.
The exercise – Ex FORD THRUST – commenced with orders delivery at a concentration area in Shai-Hills and thereafter, troops moved into a final rendezvous at Senchi-Akrade after 30 kilometers tactical mechanical and transport movement drills.
The operation begun with a false routine as deception a kilometer away from the actual crossing sites at Senchi Mpakadan ferry site. 153 Troop Armour were assisted by the Engineer Training School watermanship Squadron’s pontoon at Akuse. ACTS students forming the main battle group task organized into an assault breaching battle formation with an in-place force securing the home bank and establishing the crossing sites at Senchi Akrade.
The Bridgehead Force assisted by ETS Squadron projected a combat power in an opposed assault breaching over the Volta River to secure the far bank with an immediate close quarter battle(CQB) to clear an enemy bank post.
The Bridgehead Force faced isolated enemy resistance but managed to suppress the opposing force to secure the lodgment for the assaulting force who thrusted forward to breakout from the line of departure, to destroy opposing force, holding a vital ground 900 meters from the River bank, in wait for reinforcements and replenishment to continue their nefarious activities in Ghana’s territory.
The Chief Instructor – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Martin Dziedzorm Dey opined that Ex FORD THRUST as a training exercise was very successful, being the first time ACTS made students to execute the concept practically, against what has been the status quo of theoretically teaching the concept without execution for decades.
He expressed hope that ACTS in collaboration with ETS, would continue with Ex FORD THRUST for all Officers and Soldiers, as part of their career progression courses, and that relevant authorities would procure modern crossing equipments to replace the ‘World War II’ equipment currently being used.
The Exercise was controlled by the Commander, ACTS – Col Robert Narh, with Directing Staff including Lt Col Mbamondu Jacob Nanjo, Lt Col Michael Naah, Lt Col Joshua Adongo, Lt Col Francis Ampofo, Lt Col Harry Bavoke, Lt Col Raphael Rudolph. The Schools Sergent Major Senior Warrant Officer Class II Nkuawu Gabriel, and Soldier Instructors were all visible in their roles to ensure the exercise was a success.
Credit: ACTS HQ
