Our illiterate recruits
The DA firmly believes that the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) is key to the future of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Moreover, the Mobility/Exit Mechanism, as well as the MSDS, is crucial for any restructuring effort of the SANDF. There are risks associated with restructuring the Department of Defence (DoD), and it is no secret that the DoD has a poor risk management track record.
The success of the restructuring process depends on the success of the MSDS and the current funding being made available to the MSDS means that it is only capable of funding the regulars (fulltime component). The MSDS serves as a feeder system to attract young recruits into the SANDF.
The SANDF was instructed to increase MSDS intake to 10 000 over a two-year period from January 2008, at a cost of R700 million per annum. According to our information, the R700 million has since been further reduced to R100 million per annum.
The reduced funding means that fewer new intakes can be trained. The SANDF is now grappling with recruits who are illiterate and navy recruits who cannot swim. Unless our military starts to set high standards and refuses to compromise with regard to recruits, training and performance, our military will not be able to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
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28 Novembre 2007 à 09:33 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
