South African Military Academy

South African Military Academy
	Former crest of the Military Academy
Motto	Discendo Armemus (Latin); (Arm yourself through Knowledge)
Type	Military Academy
Established	1 April 1950 as South African Military College (now the South African Army College) in Thaba Tswane)
Dean	Prof M. S. Tshehla
Commandant	Brig Gen A.J. de Castro
Academic staff	80
Students	approx. 300 future officers of the four Arms of Service
Undergraduates	Military Science (B.Mil) in: Science & Technology; Human Resource Development; Security & Africa Studies; Defence Organization & Resource Management; ;
Postgraduates	Masters Degree in Military Science (M.Mil)
Location	Saldanha, Western Cape, South Africa
Campus	Malgaskop, overlooking Saldanha Bay
Affiliations	Stellenbosch University; South African National Defence Force
Website	http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/milscience/

The South African Military Academy is based on similar principles to that of the military academy system of the United States (United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy United States Air Force Academy). The academy is a military unit of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) housing the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch. It provides officers of all the arms of service an opportunity to earn a BMil or more advanced degrees. See Military science § University studies.

History

The academy was established on 1 April 1950 under the auspices of the University of Pretoria and the South African Military College^[1] (now the South African Army College) in Voortrekkerhoogte (now Thaba Tswane), with the goal of elevating students to a BA (Mil) or BSc (Mil) degree to meet the intellectual challenges of modern war.^[1]

In 1954 the newly elected National Party Minister of Defence, Frans Erasmus, wanting to establish the military academy as a separate, independent, all-service institution decided to relocate the academy to Saldanha, his political constituency.^[2]^: 21 In Pretoria it had catered for army and air force students only. The military academy was organisationally divorced from the South African Army College on 1 February 1956. Its headquarters temporarily shifted to Stellenbosch, while suitable accommodation was built at Saldanha starting in 1956.^[2]^: 21 The headquarters of the military academy moved to Saldanha in December 1957 and in February 1958 the first students, second and third-years, reported at Saldanha.^[1]^[2]^: 21 It became the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch in 1961, who now awarded a B Mil degree to successful students.^[1]^[2]^: 21

The South African Defence Force's increasing involvement in the Border War from the mid-1970s produced an increased demand for junior officers, with the result that the Defence Force decided that junior officers should be "task qualified" within their respective services before becoming eligible for admission to the military academy.^[1] The degree course at the military academy was thus excluded from the development cycle of junior officers from 1976; admittance to the academy then became an option for those who wished to obtain a university degree.^[1]

Organization and administration

Faculty

There are 48 members of the Faculty of Military Science who form an integrated group of military and civilian lecturers. Brig Gen A.J. De Castro is the commandant of the military academy, and the dean of the faculty is Samuel Tshehla.^[3]

Campus

It is situated on the West Coast in the town of Saldanha, set against the scenic slopes of Malgaskop, overlooking Saldanha Bay.^[2]^: 20

Academics

Programs

A three-year bachelor's degree in military science (B. Mil) is awarded to students upon graduation in December. The B. Mil is the generic title for the degree which may be undertaken in two different fields, these being natural science (equivalent to Bsc) and social sciences (equivalent to BA). Traditionally, natural science has been considered the premiere degree due to its highly quantitative nature of its course contents (i.e. mathematics, physics). After graduation, they rejoin their arm of service to serve as officers. Postgraduate qualifications at master's and doctoral level are also offered. After the launch of the PhD programme at the Faculty Military Science, two of the first graduates of this programme were Dr Evert Kleyhans and Capt (SAN) Dr A.P. Putter - both graduating with PhDs in Military Science (December 2018). Both Dr Kleynhans (specializing in Military History) and Capt (SAN) Dr Dries Putter (specializing in Counterintelligence) are now lecturers at the FMS.

Students

About 300 men and women represent the four arms of service.

Commandants

Until 1967 the dean of the faculty also served as commanding officer of the academy. In 1967 these roles were split, allowing a professional lecturer to act as dean and a military officer to act as commanding officer.^[4]^: 341

Number	Start of term	End of term	Name	Branch
1st	1 January 1956^[4]^: 169	1967	Col Pieter J.G. "Vlakkies" de Vos^[5]^: 194^[4]^: 165	South African Army
2nd	1968	11 December 1971^[4]^: 328	Brig Magnus Malan SM^[6]^: 77^[4]^: 343	South African Army
3rd	11 December 1971^[4]^: 328	Jan 1974	Brig Johan D. Potgieter^[4]^: 343SM	South African Army
4th	1974	21 January 1977^[4]^: 412	Brig J.P.B. van Loggerenberg^[4]^: 337 SM^[7]^[4]^: 349	South African Air Force
5th	21 January 1977	1980	Brig Alex Potgieter^[4]^: 416	South African Army
6th	24 January 1980^[4]^: 416	25 January 1983	Brig F. Shylock Mulder^[4]^{: 439 & 403} SM	South African Army
7th	25 January 1983^[4]^: 465	19 January 1987^[4]^: 416	Brig S. Willie J. Kotze^[4]^: 453	South African Army
8th	19 January 1987	29 January 1990	Cdre Robert Simpson-Anderson SD SM MMM	South African Navy
9th	29 January 1990^[4]^: 416	–	Brig Fred E. Du Toit^[4]^: 495	South African Air Force
13th	–	1996	Brig Pieter O. Verbeek^[8]^{: 189 (Footnote 30) & 204} SM MMM	South African Army
14th	1996	1999	Rear Adm (JG) Pieter Potgieter^[8]^: 204^[4]^: ix SM MMM	South African Navy
15th	2000	2003	Brig Gen L. Solly Mollo^[9]^[8]^: 321^: 244 MMS MMM	South African Army
16th	Jan 2004	2006	Brig Gen Tawana Z. Manyama^[8]^: 319	South African Air Force
17th	2006	2009	Rear Adm (JG) Derek Christian MMM	South African Navy
18th	2009	2011	Brig Gen Lindile Yam CLS MMS	South African Army
19th	2011	date	Brig Gen Lawrence Mbatha	South African Army
20th	2017	2021	Brig Gen G B Pharo	South African Army
21st	2021	date	Brig Gen A J de Castro	South African Air Force^[10]

Annual awards

Sword of Honour

Citation for awards over period 1953-2008^[11]

1953: I. Lemmer
1954: P. C. Smith
1955: C. L. Viljoen
1956: M. B. Anderson
1957: T. H. Smith
1958: W.J. Wolmarans
1959: B. J. Vorster (Later Later as Brigadier, a Secretary of Personnel Division Staff Council)
1960: J. R. F. Irvine
1961: D. S. Hamman (Later Maj Gen D.S. Smith )
1962: J. G. Coetzee (Later Maj Gen J.G. du P. Coetzee)
1963: P. D. Steyn (Later Lieutenant General Pierre Steyn)
1964: G. L. Serfontein
1965: N. S. L. Steenkamp
1966: G. J. C. Marais
1967: P. De Villiers
1968: L. A. Visagie
1969: W. J. Le Crerar
1970: P. Richardson
1971: T. Fonternel
1972: R. J. Strydom
1973: B. A. L. Clegg
1974: J. P. Nel
1975: P. Schöultz (Later Rear Admiral Phillip Schoultz )
1976: L. Rudman (Later Maj Gen Les Rudman )
1977: J. C. Johnson
1978: M. C. Durrant
1979: C. J. Visagie
1980: C. C. Scheepers
1981: J. H. Leibbrandt
1982: H. J. Rheeders
1983: J. Olivier
1984: P. J. Introna
1985: M. R. Malan
1986: W. J. Herbst
1987: D. J. Stegmann
1988: C. Van Ryneveld
1989: J. H. Burger
1990: K. Wiesner
1991: G. K. Arndt
1992: L. Olivier
1993: A. M. Booysen
1994: B. Eckert
1995: J. A. Swart
1996: J. F. Laubscher
1997: M. Engelbrecht
1998: G. J. Pienaar
1999: L. B. Riley
2000: M. Riley
2001: M. J. De Jager
2002: P. C. G. S. Jordaan
2003: H. A. Visser
2004: J. A. Boucher
2005: M. C. Kgosana
2006: G. W. Mills
2007: C. Manganyi
2008: N. Wallace

Best Student – Army

Citation for awards over period 1957-2008^[11]

1957: P. J. Conradie
1958: B. Redelinghuis
1959: D. J. Mortimer (Later Chief of Army Staff Logistics)
1960: W. J. Badenhorst (Later Inspector General SADF)
1961: M. S. Verster
1962: J. G. Coetzee (Later Chief of Army Staff Personnel)
1963: J. M. Van Rooyen
1964: R. T. Deyzel
1965: N. S. L. Steenkamp
1966: G. N. Opperman
1967: P. De Villiers
1968: A. J. Van Niekerk
1969: W. J. Le Crerar
1970: P. Richardson
1971: T. E. Fonternel
1972: R. J. Strydom
1973: J. Jooste (Later Chief Director Force Structures)
1974: J. P. Nel
1975: G. Liebenberg
1976: L. Rudman (Later Maj Gen Les Rudman )
1977: A. K. Calmeyer
1978: M. C. Durrant
1979: D. J. Putter
1980: C. C. Scheepers
1981: J. H. Leibbrandt
1982: H. J. Rheeders
1983: J. Olivier
1984: P. J. Introna
1985: M. R. Malan
1986: W. J. Herbst
1987: A. N. Walters
1988: J. C. G. Terblanche
1989: J. H. Burger
1990: K. J. Stanz
1991: J. W. A. Cheminais
1992: N. Vertue
1993: A. M. Booysen
1994: P. B. Jansen
1995: C. F. Claassens
1996: A. Pretorius
1997: D. J. De Villiers
1998: G. J. Pienaar
1999: L. B. Riley
2000: J. Tempelhoff
2001: M. J. De Jager
2002: H. Dalton
2003: J. D. Quma
2004: J. A. Boucher
2005: M. C.Kgosana
2006: G. W. Mills
2007: A. Van Der Merwe
2008: N. Wallace

Best Student – Airforce

Citation for awards over period 1957-2005^[11]

1957: J. P. B. Van Loggerenberg
1958: I. J. Van Der Merwe
1959: B. J. Vorster
1960: A. G. W. Coetzee
1961: J. Kriel (Later Maj Gen Julius Kriel not to be confused with Lt Gen James Kriel)
1962: P. J. Van Rensburg
1963: P. D. Steyn
1964: G. L. Serfontein
1965: J. W. Van Niekerk
1966: M. A. De Vries
1967: J. A. Zimmerman
1968: L. N. Le Roux
1969: D. W. K. Lynch (Later Brig Des Lynch)
1970: I. C. Van Der Vyver
1971: P. B. Willcock
1972: R. C. Warncke
1973: E. F. C. Duminy
1974: G. L. Bornman
1975: Not Awarded
1976: K. O. Badenhorst
1977: J. C. Van Niekerk
1978: G. K. B. Barron
1979: C. J. Visagie
1980: S. F. Steyn
1981: D. W. Fouche
1982: J. Arnold
1983: J. F. Erasmus
1984: E. J. Ferreira
1985: J. H. Erasmus
1986: S. J. Naude
1987: D. J. Stegman
1988: C. Van Ryneveld
1989: D. J. De Beer
1990: L. De W. Fourie
1991: G. K. Arndt
1992: J. C. J. Butler (Later Chief Director Force Preparation SAAF)
1993: A. J. Du Preez
1994: B. Eckert
1995: J. A. Swart
1996: J. F. Laubscher
1997: M. Engelbrecht
1998: L. S. Mnyandu
1999: A. E. J. Putter
2000: M. Riley
2001: J. D. Jordaan
2002: P. C. G. S. Jordaan
2003: H. A. Visser
2004: K. Nobaza
2005: R. C. Haggard

Best Student – Navy