SANDF hosts first SADC surveillance commanders’ course

25 June 2013 by defenceWeb/SA Soldier

In a first for the South African Defence Intelligence College (SADIC) officers from nine Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have successfully completed a surveillance commanders’ course.

The eight week long course is designed to give the 17 junior officers attending the practical skills needed to become capable surveillance commanders at sub-unit level.

Working at squadron level course attendees went through battlefield surveillance followed by a command and control module before tackling the final modules of warfare and battlefield procedures.

This, SA Soldier said, equips them to apply and execute responsible drills as troop commanders.

Proof of the willingness of those on course wanting to learn came with a student average of 81% across all modules.

Zambian Major Edgar Musanse, course chairman, said on completion of the course that the training was the first of its kind to be presented for the SADC brigade.

“The officers before you have successfully acquired the knowledge to see the brigade effectively implement its role in the SADC region,” he told a certificate ceremony.

SA National Defence Force (SANDF) director: special acquisitions Brigadier General Raymond Moroane, urged course attendees to maintain contact saying it was “a crucial part” of strengthening bilateral ties and diplomatic co-operation among SADC members.

Apart from the host country, South Africa, other SADC member states represented at the first surveillance commanders’ course were Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.