June - Department of Defence

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insightEducating air powerBy Brig Gen Des Barker, OfficerCommanding Makhado AFBOne of the stated objectivesof the SA Air Force is thatof achieving Excellence inAir Power. At the highestlevel, one of the manybuilding blocks to achievethe stated objective isknowledge, particularly of air powerhistory, doctrines, operations, tacticsand technologies. At the lower level,however, each individual withinthe SA Air Force must possess aworking knowledge of air powerprinciples and have at least aminimum understanding of the roleand functions of an air force and itsvarious capabilities.During 2004 Makhado AFBintends to implement a three-yearplan to upgrade the knowledge baseof its personnel and provide the basicbuilding blocks required and understandingthe principles of air powerin all its different contexts. Such aneducation mechanism will attempt to"Air power isthe Architect ofVictory" - JanSmuts, 1917.stimulate an interest in air powerdown to the lowest level and alsoprovide the background to themembers of Makhado AFB for eventualair power courses at SA Air ForceCollege. Last but not least, it will permitthe members of the SA Air Force'scombat base to understand better thecore business not only of MakhadoAFB, but also of the SA Air Force.Ultimately, the aim will be to produceAir Force members who are able todiscuss issues of air power intelligentlyfrom a basis of sound knowledge.44ProgrammeThe education exercise will betwo-pronged, ie biannual lecturesfrom the Air Power DevelopmentCentre at SA Air Force College andsupplemented on a monthly basis bylectures, presentations and demonstrationsat base level by squadronand unit commanders on base trainingdays according to a pre-plannedschedule. Such presentations will takethe form of thirty-minute lectures orpractical demonstrations, videos andbriefings, or whatever is more relevantto the particular aspect. In thiseducation process the intention willbe to make the learning experienceinteresting and enjoyable.Grippen.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4Appointment of air powerrepresentativesAll cases need a champion and arepresentative from each section onthe Base will be appointed to act as anodal point for all matters relating toair power in the unit; an analogy maybe drawn to a flight safety or sports
officer. Obviously, any education programmeshould be assessed to determinethe success of this programmeand, as such, the learning experiencewill be assessed to determine the successof this programme. The learningexperience will be assessed by meansof a qualitative questionnaire inNovember each year. In 2004 the testwill be conducted to determine howmuch knowledge each member ofthe base possesses on the role andfunctions of the various units on thebase in their mission to providecombat operation support to theSA Air Force.Future programmesIdeally in 2005 it would be desirableto lift the level of informationtransfer to include air power history,and in 2006 take a more detailed lookat particular campaigns to be able toconsider operational aspects of airpower and to analyse the lessonslearned. The ultimate vision wouldbe to undertake ten persons on a oneweekair power tour of the UnitedKingdom on an annual basis. Sucha block tour for Makhado AFB personnelwould include a study of theBattle of Britain, visiting the BritishWar Cabinet, the Battle of BritainOperations Room at Uxbridge,Fighter Command Headquarters atBentley Priory and Duxford (home ofthe first Spitfire Squadron during thebattle). In addition, visits to BigginHill, (former front-line fighter base),the Imperial War Museum (London),the RAF Museum at Hendon and avisit to the Royal Air Force's AirWarfare Centre, would complementthe theoretical study of air power.Can you imagine the effectivenessof a base in which members of theProtection Squadron have a fineunderstanding of what pilots do, ofsupply support personnel who understandwhat an air traffic controllerdoes, and even chefs who understandtheir importance in providing efficientcombat operation support? Theability to understand the core businessof an air force is the responsibilityof each airman, and by means ofthis educational programme it ishoped that this objective for the membersof Makhado AFB will be realised.Best Air Force engineeringstudent honouredCourtesy SA Air ForceCorporate CommunicationStanley Leslie Walters was an acepilot in the Royal Flying Corps duringWorld War I. He scored at leastsix confirmed kills, and actuallyfought an indecisive air duel againstthe famous "Red" Baron vonRichthoven.After the war, during which hewas awarded various medals, hepioneered air routes and shortenedothers over Africa for the VacuumOil Company. At the onset of WorldWar II he joined the SA Air Force andserved as base camp commandant inEgypt and Officer CommandingCape Command.He left the Union Defence Force in1945 as a lieutenant colonel andremained a reserve officer until 1956.After World War II he formed acompany which dealt with aviationequipment and components.Stanley Walters passed away in1989 and bequeathed a substantialamount of money to theJohannesburg branch of the SA AirForce to introduce a floating trophyawarded annually to the engineeringstudent of the SA Air Force who performedon average the best academicallyin the four years of study. Thepurpose of this trophy is not only tomotivate SA Air Force engineeringstudents, but also to ensure thatStanley Walters, with his impishsense of humour and a twinkle inhis eye, will never be forgotten.Last year the floating trophy was,for the first time ever, awarded to afemale student. Lt Ilse du Toitcompleted her course in industrialengineering at the University ofPretoria with an average of 80%over four years of study.Lt Du Toit was born in BeaufortWest and matriculated with six distinctionsat Nelspruit High School.Lt Ilse du Toit.She joined the SAAF in 1999, afterwhich she was introduced to themilitary culture.She initially started her studies asa mechanical engineer, but soonrealised that industrial engineeringwas more suited for her. She thanchanged to industrial engineering.During her studies she assisted with aproject on the Oryx helicopter andundertook an anthropometrical studyof all the aircraft in the SA Air Force.She is currently enrolled for herhonours degree in industrial engineeringat the University of Pretoria.According to Lt Du Toit theopportunity that the SA Air Forceafforded in the form of a bursarymade an immense difference to herlife and she thanked the personsinvolved for their support. She alsoadded that the students currentlyinvolved in this programme can seethemselves as advantaged and shoulduse this opportunity to the best oftheir ability.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R45
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