Chapter 2 - P rogramme 1 - Department of Defence

| Chapter 4 - Programme 2: Landward Defence |
Planned Exercises
Annual Report FY 2007 - 2008 112
| Department of Defence |
Details of the Landward Defence Programme’s planned exercises for FY 2007/08 are reflected in Table
4.2.
Table 4.2 Landward Defence Programme Planned Exercises for FY 2007/08
Exercise: Name and Type Actual Achievement
Exercise SEBOKA
To do conventional integrated training with
MSDS January 2007 intake
Exercise YOUNG EAGLE
Practical exercise to develop the airborne
capability of the MSDS in the SA Army
Risks and Mitigating Actions
The SA Army’s main risks, as reflected in the DOD
Strategic Business Plan 2007, relate to the retention
of scarce skills, particularly within the Engineer
Corps and Technical Service Corps, the limited
availability of ammunition for force preparation,
the nearing of obsolescence of certain landward
defence systems and the aging rank/age profile of
its members.
Additional funding was provided by Parliament to
specifically address the operational readiness of the
Army’s vehicle fleet, as well as for enlarged intakes
of MSDS members to rejuvenate the SA Army with
young and healthy soldiers. In both cases, these
investments have started to bear fruit and this will
be continued over the next number of years. The
The Exercise SEBOKA took place as planned and it was successful.
Venue: Combat Training Centre.
Achievement: To develop a conventional capability and combat-readiness of
the SA Army’s MSDS intake for internal and external deployments.
Performance Tool: Independent observers, planners and instructors from all
participating SA Army FSEs, as well as other Services and Divisions, are used
to perform the exercise in a CPX and practical live firing form.
The Exercise YOUNG EAGLE took place as planned and it was successful.
Venue: Bloemfontein.
Achievement: To develop airborne capability of the SA Army MSDS
members during their integrated training.
Performance Tool: Independent observers and planners from all
participating SA Army units, as well as other Services and Divisions, are used
to perform the exercise in a CPX, practical jump and live firing form.
conventional capability has been restricted to the
minimum to make more funds available for ordered
commitments. A monetary incentive scheme has also
been developed for technical personnel and similar
schemes are being investigated to retain scarce skills
in other musterings.
Since no additional funding was provided to
address the shortage of ammunition, the SA Army
concentrated on utilising simulation. However, this
can only partially compensate for training with live
ammunition.
Outputs
Details of the Landward Defence Programme’s
outputs of specific policy options where additional
funds were allocated for FY 2007/08 are reflected
in Table 4.3.
Table 4.3 Outputs of Specific Policy Options Where Additional Funds Were Allocated for
FY 2007/08
Policy Option
Allocations
(R’000)
Military Skills Development System Rm38
Military Skills
38 000 To maintain the 3 000
Development System
MSDS members who
joined in 2006/07, to
rejuvenate the SA Army
with an additional 3 000
MSDS members and to
fund capacity building
to accommodate MSDS
members at allocated
units
Output Targets Actual Achievement Reason for Deviation
The SA Army maintained
an average 2 786 (January
2006 intake), 2 512
(January 2007 intake)
and 1 612 (January 2008
intake) MSDS members
during FY 2007/08
Insufficient funds were
made available; therefore,
the SA Army had to
reduce its January 2008
intake to a planned figure
of 1 500 members and
the current reality of
1 612.