South African Military Academy

South African Military Academy
Former crest of the Military Academy
MottoDiscendo Armemus (Latin)
(Arm yourself through Knowledge)
TypeMilitary Academy
Established1 April 1950 as South African Military College (now the South African Army College) in Thaba Tswane)
DeanProf M. S. Tshehla
CommandantBrig Gen A.J. de Castro
Academic staff
80
Studentsapprox. 300 future officers of the four Arms of Service
Undergraduates
  • Military Science (B.Mil) in:
    • Science & Technology
    • Human Resource Development
    • Security & Africa Studies
    • Defence Organization & Resource Management
PostgraduatesMasters Degree in Military Science (M.Mil)
Location,
Western Cape
,
CampusMalgaskop, overlooking Saldanha Bay
AffiliationsStellenbosch University
South African National Defence Force
Websitehttp://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/milscience/

The South African Military Academy is based on similar principles to that of the military academy system of the United States (United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy United States Air Force Academy). The academy is a military unit of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) housing the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch. It provides officers of all the arms of service an opportunity to earn a BMil or more advanced degrees. See Military science § University studies.

History

The academy was established on 1 April 1950 under the auspices of the University of Pretoria and the South African Military College (now the South African Army College) in Voortrekkerhoogte (now Thaba Tswane), with the goal of elevating students to a BA (Mil) or BSc (Mil) degree to meet the intellectual challenges of modern war.

In 1954 the newly elected National Party Minister of Defence, Frans Erasmus, wanting to establish the military academy as a separate, independent, all-service institution decided to relocate the academy to Saldanha, his political constituency.: 21  In Pretoria it had catered for army and air force students only. The military academy was organisationally divorced from the South African Army College on 1 February 1956. Its headquarters temporarily shifted to Stellenbosch, while suitable accommodation was built at Saldanha starting in 1956.: 21  The headquarters of the military academy moved to Saldanha in December 1957 and in February 1958 the first students, second and third-years, reported at Saldanha.: 21  It became the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch in 1961, who now awarded a B Mil degree to successful students.: 21 

The South African Defence Force's increasing involvement in the Border War from the mid-1970s produced an increased demand for junior officers, with the result that the Defence Force decided that junior officers should be "task qualified" within their respective services before becoming eligible for admission to the military academy. The degree course at the military academy was thus excluded from the development cycle of junior officers from 1976; admittance to the academy then became an option for those who wished to obtain a university degree.

Organization and administration

Faculty

There are 48 members of the Faculty of Military Science who form an integrated group of military and civilian lecturers. Brig Gen A.J. De Castro is the commandant of the military academy, and the dean of the faculty is Samuel Tshehla.

Campus

It is situated on the West Coast in the town of Saldanha, set against the scenic slopes of Malgaskop, overlooking Saldanha Bay.: 20 

Academics

Programs

A three-year bachelor's degree in military science (B. Mil) is awarded to students upon graduation in December. The B. Mil is the generic title for the degree which may be undertaken in two different fields, these being natural science (equivalent to Bsc) and social sciences (equivalent to BA). Traditionally, natural science has been considered the premiere degree due to its highly quantitative nature of its course contents (i.e. mathematics, physics). After graduation, they rejoin their arm of service to serve as officers. Postgraduate qualifications at master's and doctoral level are also offered. After the launch of the PhD programme at the Faculty Military Science, two of the first graduates of this programme were Dr Evert Kleyhans and Capt (SAN) Dr A.P. Putter - both graduating with PhDs in Military Science (December 2018). Both Dr Kleynhans (specializing in Military History) and Capt (SAN) Dr Dries Putter (specializing in Counterintelligence) are now lecturers at the FMS.

Students

About 300 men and women represent the four arms of service.

Commandants

Until 1967 the dean of the faculty also served as commanding officer of the academy. In 1967 these roles were split, allowing a professional lecturer to act as dean and a military officer to act as commanding officer.: 341 

Number Start of term End of term Name Branch
1st 1 January 1956: 169  1967 Col Pieter J.G. "Vlakkies" de Vos: 194 : 165  South African Army
2nd 1968 11 December 1971: 328  Brig Magnus Malan SM: 77 : 343  South African Army
3rd 11 December 1971: 328  Jan 1974 Brig Johan D. Potgieter: 343 SM South African Army
4th 1974 21 January 1977: 412  Brig J.P.B. van Loggerenberg: 337  SM: 349  South African Air Force
5th 21 January 1977 1980 Brig Alex Potgieter: 416  South African Army
6th 24 January 1980: 416  25 January 1983 Brig F. Shylock Mulder: 439 & 403  SM South African Army
7th 25 January 1983: 465  19 January 1987: 416  Brig S. Willie J. Kotze: 453  South African Army
8th 19 January 1987 29 January 1990 Cdre Robert Simpson-Anderson SD SM MMM South African Navy
9th 29 January 1990: 416  Brig Fred E. Du Toit: 495  South African Air Force
13th 1996 Brig Pieter O. Verbeek: 189 (Footnote 30) & 204  SM MMM South African Army
14th 1996 1999 Rear Adm (JG) Pieter Potgieter: 204 : ix  SM MMM South African Navy
15th 2000 2003 Brig Gen L. Solly Mollo: 321 : 244  MMS MMM South African Army
16th Jan 2004 2006 Brig Gen Tawana Z. Manyama: 319  South African Air Force
17th 2006 2009 Rear Adm (JG) Derek Christian MMM South African Navy
18th 2009 2011 Brig Gen Lindile Yam CLS MMS South African Army
19th 2011 date Brig Gen Lawrence Mbatha South African Army
20th 2017 2021 Brig Gen G B Pharo South African Army
21st 2021 date Brig Gen A J de Castro South African Air Force

Annual awards

Sword of Honour

Citation for awards over period 1953-2008

  • 1953: I. Lemmer
  • 1954: P. C. Smith
  • 1955: C. L. Viljoen
  • 1956: M. B. Anderson
  • 1957: T. H. Smith
  • 1958: W.J. Wolmarans
  • 1959: B. J. Vorster (Later Later as Brigadier, a Secretary of Personnel Division Staff Council)
  • 1960: J. R. F. Irvine
  • 1961: D. S. Hamman (Later Maj Gen D.S. Smith )
  • 1962: J. G. Coetzee (Later Maj Gen J.G. du P. Coetzee)
  • 1963: P. D. Steyn (Later Lieutenant General Pierre Steyn)
  • 1964: G. L. Serfontein
  • 1965: N. S. L. Steenkamp
  • 1966: G. J. C. Marais
  • 1967: P. De Villiers
  • 1968: L. A. Visagie
  • 1969: W. J. Le Crerar
  • 1970: P. Richardson
  • 1971: T. Fonternel
  • 1972: R. J. Strydom
  • 1973: B. A. L. Clegg
  • 1974: J. P. Nel
  • 1975: P. Schöultz (Later Rear Admiral Phillip Schoultz SD SM MMM)
  • 1976: L. Rudman (Later Maj Gen Les Rudman PVD SD SM MMM LOM (USA))
  • 1977: J. C. Johnson
  • 1978: M. C. Durrant
  • 1979: C. J. Visagie
  • 1980: C. C. Scheepers
  • 1981: J. H. Leibbrandt
  • 1982: H. J. Rheeders
  • 1983: J. Olivier
  • 1984: P. J. Introna
  • 1985: M. R. Malan
  • 1986: W. J. Herbst
  • 1987: D. J. Stegmann
  • 1988: C. Van Ryneveld
  • 1989: J. H. Burger
  • 1990: K. Wiesner
  • 1991: G. K. Arndt
  • 1992: L. Olivier
  • 1993: A. M. Booysen
  • 1994: B. Eckert
  • 1995: J. A. Swart
  • 1996: J. F. Laubscher
  • 1997: M. Engelbrecht
  • 1998: G. J. Pienaar
  • 1999: L. B. Riley
  • 2000: M. Riley
  • 2001: M. J. De Jager
  • 2002: P. C. G. S. Jordaan
  • 2003: H. A. Visser
  • 2004: J. A. Boucher
  • 2005: M. C. Kgosana
  • 2006: G. W. Mills
  • 2007: C. Manganyi
  • 2008: N. Wallace

Best Student – Army

Citation for awards over period 1957-2008

  • 1957: P. J. Conradie
  • 1958: B. Redelinghuis
  • 1959: D. J. Mortimer (Later Chief of Army Staff Logistics)
  • 1960: W. J. Badenhorst (Later Inspector General SADF)
  • 1961: M. S. Verster
  • 1962: J. G. Coetzee (Later Chief of Army Staff Personnel)
  • 1963: J. M. Van Rooyen
  • 1964: R. T. Deyzel
  • 1965: N. S. L. Steenkamp
  • 1966: G. N. Opperman
  • 1967: P. De Villiers
  • 1968: A. J. Van Niekerk
  • 1969: W. J. Le Crerar
  • 1970: P. Richardson
  • 1971: T. E. Fonternel
  • 1972: R. J. Strydom
  • 1973: J. Jooste (Later Chief Director Force Structures)
  • 1974: J. P. Nel
  • 1975: G. Liebenberg
  • 1976: L. Rudman (Later Maj Gen Les Rudman PVD SD SM MMM LOM (USA))
  • 1977: A. K. Calmeyer
  • 1978: M. C. Durrant
  • 1979: D. J. Putter
  • 1980: C. C. Scheepers
  • 1981: J. H. Leibbrandt
  • 1982: H. J. Rheeders
  • 1983: J. Olivier
  • 1984: P. J. Introna
  • 1985: M. R. Malan
  • 1986: W. J. Herbst
  • 1987: A. N. Walters
  • 1988: J. C. G. Terblanche
  • 1989: J. H. Burger
  • 1990: K. J. Stanz
  • 1991: J. W. A. Cheminais
  • 1992: N. Vertue
  • 1993: A. M. Booysen
  • 1994: P. B. Jansen
  • 1995: C. F. Claassens
  • 1996: A. Pretorius
  • 1997: D. J. De Villiers
  • 1998: G. J. Pienaar
  • 1999: L. B. Riley
  • 2000: J. Tempelhoff
  • 2001: M. J. De Jager
  • 2002: H. Dalton
  • 2003: J. D. Quma
  • 2004: J. A. Boucher
  • 2005: M. C.Kgosana
  • 2006: G. W. Mills
  • 2007: A. Van Der Merwe
  • 2008: N. Wallace

Best Student – Airforce

Citation for awards over period 1957-2005

  • 1957: J. P. B. Van Loggerenberg
  • 1958: I. J. Van Der Merwe
  • 1959: B. J. Vorster
  • 1960: A. G. W. Coetzee
  • 1961: J. Kriel (Later Maj Gen Julius Kriel not to be confused with Lt Gen James Kriel)
  • 1962: P. J. Van Rensburg
  • 1963: P. D. Steyn
  • 1964: G. L. Serfontein
  • 1965: J. W. Van Niekerk
  • 1966: M. A. De Vries
  • 1967: J. A. Zimmerman
  • 1968: L. N. Le Roux
  • 1969: D. W. K. Lynch (Later Brig Des Lynch)
  • 1970: I. C. Van Der Vyver
  • 1971: P. B. Willcock
  • 1972: R. C. Warncke
  • 1973: E. F. C. Duminy
  • 1974: G. L. Bornman
  • 1975: Not Awarded
  • 1976: K. O. Badenhorst
  • 1977: J. C. Van Niekerk
  • 1978: G. K. B. Barron
  • 1979: C. J. Visagie
  • 1980: S. F. Steyn
  • 1981: D. W. Fouche
  • 1982: J. Arnold
  • 1983: J. F. Erasmus
  • 1984: E. J. Ferreira
  • 1985: J. H. Erasmus
  • 1986: S. J. Naude
  • 1987: D. J. Stegman
  • 1988: C. Van Ryneveld
  • 1989: D. J. De Beer
  • 1990: L. De W. Fourie
  • 1991: G. K. Arndt
  • 1992: J. C. J. Butler (Later Chief Director Force Preparation SAAF)
  • 1993: A. J. Du Preez
  • 1994: B. Eckert
  • 1995: J. A. Swart
  • 1996: J. F. Laubscher
  • 1997: M. Engelbrecht
  • 1998: L. S. Mnyandu
  • 1999: A. E. J. Putter
  • 2000: M. Riley
  • 2001: J. D. Jordaan
  • 2002: P. C. G. S. Jordaan
  • 2003: H. A. Visser
  • 2004: K. Nobaza
  • 2005: R. C. Haggard

Best Student – Navy

Citation for awards over period 1957-2008

  • 1957: J. A. De Kock
  • 1958: W. R. Joubert (Later Commodore)
  • 1959: C. Grobbelaar
  • 1960: R. Eberlein
  • 1961: W. J. De Lange
  • 1962: P. G. Odendaal
  • 1963: H. P. Brink
  • 1964: J. A. Joubert
  • 1965: H. J. M. Trainor
  • 1966: G. J. C. Marais
  • 1967: J. F. Retief
  • 1968: L. A. Visagie
  • 1969: B. D. Law
  • 1970: S. K. Stead (Later Later R Adm (JG) Steven Stead)
  • 1971: F. E. Koetje
  • 1972: P. S. Van Dyk
  • 1973: P. C. Crathorne
  • 1974: J. E. Louw
  • 1975: P. Schoultz
  • 1976: N. F. Snyman
  • 1977: J. C. Johnson
  • 1978: Not awarded
  • 1979: A. M. Corbin
  • 1980: R. W. Higgs
  • 1981: S. H. Norval
  • 1982: J. C. Visser
  • 1983: M. R. M. Dendale
  • 1984: C. H. Wright
  • 1985: A. S. Claydon-Fink
  • 1986: J. Hougaard
  • 1987: H. Fischer
  • 1988: J. Brawley
  • 1989: P. A. Schoeman
  • 1990: K. Wiesner
  • 1991: M. S. Blaine
  • 1992: L. Olivier
  • 1993: K. Naidoo (Later R Adm (JG) Kasaval Naidoo)
  • 1994: A. Parsadh
  • 1995: M. De Beer
  • 1996: Not awarded
  • 1997: L. Du Plooy
  • 1998: C. G. Maritz
  • 1999: G. R. Walker
  • 2000: T. C. Matthews
  • 2001: C. Slingerland
  • 2002: T. Long
  • 2003: J. A. Kotze
  • 2004: L. Van Zyl
  • 2005: H. E. X. Novoa
  • 2006: D. D. M. Dywili
  • 2007: C. Manganyi
  • 2008: C. Y.Ruiters

See also


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