NC youth urged to explore careers in SA Army

“STUDY hard and improve yourself.” This was the advice from Major-General Renè Mecuur to high school pupils during the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Military Skills Development Career Expo at AR Abass Stadium in Kimberley on Tuesday.

Mercuur said the South African Army has over the years played a pivotal role in not only equipping and training the youth in how to defend their country, but has also opened a world of various careers to the youth.

She said the army has absorbed thousands of youth who have gone through their training systems.

“The Military Skills Development System is a service system that supports the rejuvenation of the Department of Defence’s Human Resource Renewal Strategy and the feeder system to ensure the South African National Defence rejuvenation. This service system serves as the entry point for new recruits who serve for a two-year period in the regular force. This ensures a constant throughput of a plethora of young and fit members for operational development purposes.

“This two-year voluntary service is also aimed at giving young people skills that will help them to be gainfully employed. During this training programme you will receive a salary, accommodation and food. In this fiscal year, the number of recruits that were absorbed into the system and who underwent basic military training is 1,344.

“During this career expo, the Prime Mission Equipment that are on display include various military equipment and all services to explain their core business and to give you career guidance in which career path to follow in the military,” Mercuur told the pupils.

She said the military has also played an important role in dealing with humanitarian challenges the country is faced with.

“We do a lot more than simply fighting and, as they say, we prepare for war during peacetime. When the inclement weather conditions ravaged the KZN province there was a great deal of responsibility from the SA Army and we played a leading role in assisting those who were adversely affected by the floods. The SA Army is and will continue to be a powerful force in defending and securing our nation and thus we are required to host recruitment drives and expos to motivate our youth to join the military,” Mercuur said.

She also welcomed law enforcement agencies and Sol Plaatje University who were partnering with the army in the expo.

“Other law enforcement agencies, such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as the Sol Plaatje Fire Department and Sol Plaatje University (SPU) did not take a back seat in this regard as they will also be adding that extra flair and dimension to this auspicious event by showcasing their equipment.

“On the academic front, the University of Sol Plaatje will also become a pivotal role-player in this regard by handing out career guidance pamphlets. They will all motivate and guide you on which career path to follow after completion of Grade 12,” she advised.

The army will on Thursday hand over the newly renovated Seochoareng Elderly Home in Galeshewe as part of their programme.