Union Defence Force

From Roach Busters

Union Defence Force
Service branches	South African Army South African Navy South African Air Force South African Military Health Service
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Queen Elizabeth II (de jure)
Minister of Defence	Mosiuoa Lekota
Chief of the Defence Staff	General Pakalitha Tsele Mokoma
Military age	18 years of age for voluntary military service
Conscription	no
Available for military service	Males age 16-49: 22,423,192 (2008 est.) Females age 16-49: 22,189,806 (2008 est.)
Fit for military service	Males age 16-49: 17,572,553 (2008 est.) Females age 16-49: 15,910,845 (2008 est.)
Reaching military age annually	Males age 16-49: 957,578 (2008 est.) Females age 16-49: 949,257 (2008 est.)
Active personnel	442,000
Reserve personnel	217,500
Expenditures
Budget	USD $92.7 billion (2008)
Percent of GDP	5% (2008)

The Union Defence Force, commonly referred to by its acronym, UDF, is the name of the armed forces of South Africa. Equipped with a vast array of modern equipment, commanded by able tacticians, and committed to high standards of excellence both on the battlefield and off, the UDF is widely regarded as the finest military on the continent, and one of the best in the world.

Organization

The Governor-General, as the Queen's representative, is the de jure (but not de facto) Commander-in-Chief of the UDF with:

• Chief of the Defence Staff (General Pakalitha Tsele Mokoma)
• Chief of the Army (Lieutenant General Ken Walls)
• Chief of the Air Force (Lieutenant General Abel Mawere)
• Chief of the Navy (Vice Admiral Mhlobo ka Tshiwo)
• Surgeon General (Lieutenant General Patrick Nyembezi)
• Joint Forces Commander (Lieutenant General Mompati Masire)

Staff Divisions under the Chief of Defence Staff include:

• Personnel
• Intelligence
• Operations
• Logistics
• Finance

Other Support Services commands include:

• Inspector General of the UDF (Major-General Tebogo Merafhe)
• Chaplain General of the UDF (Major-General Inonge Sikatana)

Personnel

• Permanent Forces - Active members
• Citizen Forces - Fully trained part-time members
• Commando Forces - Fully trained members
• Special Forces
• Service Volunteers - Non-permanent full time members
• Auxiliary Service
• Reserve Forces