JUNE - Department of Defence

focus on youth
Siyandiza helps learner
to shape his career
18
By CO Frans Pale, Ad Astra
He is tall and slender. His
voice vibrates as he speaks.
He chooses his words carefully
to achieve clarity for
his listener. Listening to him
you feel that you are in the
presence of a great technical
mind.
This is Olaf Martin Jensen, a Grade
10 learner at the German School in
Pretoria. At 16 years of age, Olaf is
already considering whether he
would like to become a helicopter
pilot, fighter jet pilot or transport aircraft
pilot.
Thanks to Siyandiza, an SA Air
Force aviation awareness programme
at Swartkop Airfield, Olaf's life has
changed from one of an ordinary
learner to one with aviation awareness,
following his meeting with Lt
Col Mmamokgethi Morobane of the
Siyandiza office. "After meeting Lt Col
Morobane I started visiting Siyandiza
offices where I attended orientation
lessons and where I was assigned to
different people who introduced me
to aviation awareness, especially with
regard to the ground work for becoming
a pilot," says Olaf.
Many young people in South
Africa are not as fortunate as Olaf.
This is partly because of a lack of
knowledge about what Siyandiza is
all about.
Siyandiza has a twofold programme
for the youth of South Africa.
The first programme is that of aviation
awareness for school learners all over
the country. The awareness programme
involves visits to schools to
inform the learners of a possible
career in aviation, with the emphasis
on the SA Air Force. During these
S A S O L D I E R J U N E 2 0 0 7
visits the learners are informed
that if they intend becoming
pilots, navigators, air traffic
controllers or engineers in the
SA Air Force they need to have
science and mathematics as
subjects in Grade 12.
A further awareness initiative
is to erect stalls with display
material and pamphlets at
major air shows around the
country. Displays are also provided
at major science and technology
exhibitions around the
country. Some schools also
request Siyandiza to attend
career exhibitions to inform
learners about career opportunities
available in the SA Air
Force.
The second programme is
the Young Falcons development
initiative. Learners in
Grade 10 that are interested in a possible
career in aviation are selected on
their mathematics and science performance
at school to attend the development
programme. These young people
attend a preliminary course in aviation
and military-related subjects at the
nine main SA Air Force bases around
the country. This course is presented in
one of two ways, depending on the situation
at these bases.
The first is to call up the learners to
attend a week's course during the
school holidays at the base/unit or to
attend lectures every second Saturday.
Visits and other activities of relevance
are arranged for them throughout the
year. The Young Falcons are given
their own uniforms for the course and
are expected to wear the uniform at all
air displays or functions where
Siyandiza is involved.
Subjects covered in the course are
Olaf Jensen (16) shaping his
career with the help of Siyandiza.
the following: History of the SA Air
Force, Principles of Flight, Propulsion
Systems, How Radio and Radar Work,
Radio Telephony, Virtual Aviation,
Aircraft Recognition, Basic
Navigation, Meteorology, Drill,
Career Guidance and Visits, and life
skills such as self-discipline, etiquette,
hygiene, first aid, HIV/AIDS awareness
and public speaking.
The successful Young Falcons on
the preliminary course are then selected
to attend the advanced course during
their Grade 11 year. The advanced
course subjects are as follows: Air
Power Development in the SA Air
Force, Advanced Virtual Aviation,
Advanced Aircraft Recognition,
Advanced Navigation, Advanced
Drill and life skills, such as confidence
building, leadership training, conflict
management, budgeting and 3D perception
abilities.