THE ULTIMATE
CHALLENGE!
A CAREER AS A SPECIAL FORCES OPERATOR IN THE SOUTH
AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE!
The new Special
Forces offer you an opportunity to prove yourself
to be the kind of person you know you are; to follow
a career with true professionals...
Requirements
REQUIREMENTS
TO BECOME A SPECIAL FORCES OPERATOR
1.
RSA citizenship
2.
Membership of the Permanent Force, Reserve Force or
Voluntary Service, with a minimum of one year military
service.
3.
Capable of speaking two official languages of which
English is compulsory.
4.
No record of any serious criminal offence.
5.
Educational Qualifications: Grade 12 or equivalent
qualification.
6.
Rank group:
a. Officers: Candidate officers
to Captain.
b. Non-commissioned Officers: Private
to Staff Sergeant.
NOTE: Captain
and Staff Sergeant only first year.
7.
Age group: 18 to 28 years.
Training
SELECTION
Applicants must
complete their basic training and functional training
before they are eligible for selection. Before a candidate
can commence with training, he must successfully pass
the following:
a.
Psychological Tests. An operator could be exposed
to extreme psychological demands. To cope with these
he must be a mature, self-controlled individual -
capable of handling the most challenging situations.
The psychological tests include psychometric screening,
interviews and a continuous psychological evaluation
during the selection course.
b.
Physical Tests. The physical requirements for
SA Special Forces are second to none in the world.
Initially the candidate has to pass the Parachute
Battery Tests. This however, is only the beginning.
This is followed by the Parachute Selection Course,
Special Forces Orientation and finally Special
Forces Selection - the real test!
Basic requirements
to pass the battery tests:
i.
Push-ups. ( 40 push-ups without losing rhythm )
ii.
Sit-ups. (67 sit-ups in 2 min)
iii.
3.2km run (Full kit). (Time: 18min)
iv.
Fireman's lift (Full kit, 175m (200 paces) in 75 sec)
v.
Rope climbing. A rope with a 5cm diameter and length
of 5m
vi.
Wall scaling. Every student has a run up of 12m. The
wall is 1.8m high and has a smooth surface at the
front and no places to hold on top of the wall.
vii.
Shuttle runs. (40 shuttle runs in 95 sec) 2 x lines
on cement or tar surface. Student runs between the
lines. Both hands must touch the ground on the outside
of the lines. Distance between the lines is 6.25 m.
viii.
Shuffle kicks. 120 shuffle kicks without losing rhythm.
2x lines 65cm apart. Toes must constantly touch the
outside of the lines.
ix.
Route March (full kit). (15 km in 150 min) (25kg).
c.
Medical and Psychological Tests. An applicant
has to comply with the G1K1 medical rating and be
psychologically fit with no underlying injuries.
d.
The Selection Itself. Only when a
candidate has passed the Parachute Selection and Training
successfully, will he be allowed to continue with
Special Forces Orientation and Selection. The
Selection Course is physically the most demanding
phase of the selection process. The candidate
is pushed to his limits to determine whether he can
function as an individual, as a team member in a group,
and under most strenuous and demanding conditions.
SPECIAL FORCES
TRAINING CYCLE
The initial cycle
after completion of the Selection Course, lasts approximately
40 weeks. During this period the student undergoes
training in all the basic skills needed to qualify
him as an operator. Subjects that are covered
are Air Co-operation, Water Orientation, Obstacle
Crossing, Bushcraft, Tracking and Survival, Demolitions
and Tactics in Urban as well as Rural Areas.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Only on successful
completion of the initial cycle, is the operator sent
to one of two active units at Phalaborwa or Langebaan.
Now he starts his career - in his particular field
of interest, whether it be diving, advanced parachuting
("free-fall"), medical, signals, urban combat,
etc.
SERVICE BENEFITS
Although service
benefits are generally similar to those of the SANDF,
there are certain additional advantages that operators
enjoy:
a.
The opportunity to specialise! Try your skill at rock
climbing, diving and many other adventures!
b.
The privilege to serve in a Special Forces unit of
your own choice.
c.
Additional allowances:
i. Danger allowance.
ii. Special danger allowances.
iii. Circumstantial allowance.
