South African Defence Force

From Roach Busters

South African Defence Force
Service branches	South African Army South African Navy South African Air Force South African Military Health Service
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	State President Festus Mogae
Minister of Defence	Magnus Geldenhuys
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	392,000
Reserve personnel	217,500
Expenditures
Budget	USD $92.7 billion (2008)
Percent of GDP	5% (2008)

The South African Defence Force, commonly referred to by its acronym, SADF, 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 SADF is widely regarded as the finest military on the continent, and one of the best in the world.

Organization

The State President is the Commander-in-Chief of the SADF 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 SADF (Major-General Tebogo Merafhe)
• Chaplain General of the SADF (Major-General Inonge Sikatana)

Personnel

• Permanent Forces - Active members
• National Servicemen - Called up for 2 years national service and generally fully trained for operational duty within the space of 12 months
• 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