FY2006/07 to FY2008/09 - Department of Defence

chapter 6Type of ExerciseEx AFFIX (Airline Disaster): 1 x companyEx SEBOKA (Conventional): 1 x brigadeEx YOUNG EAGLE (SANDF Reserve contingencies): 1 x airborne brigade (-)Ex AIRBORNE AFRICA (Airborne Competition): 2 x parachute teamsEx EMEX (Nuclear Disaster): 1 x companyUnit Exercises (Conventional and PSO continuity training to confirm basic and tacticalsoldiering skills): battalions/companiesFY 2006/07Apr 06Oct 06Nov 06TBDFeb 07ContinuousTable 6.4Landward Defence Programme - Planned Exercises (Service Unique)RISKS AND MITIGATING ACTIONSThe most important risks to the combat readiness of theSA Army remain within the human resources and logisticdomains of the landward defence programme. TheSA Army needs to address its projected exponentialgrowth in personnel, the deterioration of its main equipmentand facilities, the rank/age of its combat forces aswell as its health status.The SA Army has initiated plans to mitigate risks withadditional allocations received. It will rejuvenate itsforces by means of the Military Skills DevelopmentSystem (MSDS) as well as a continued focus on the funding,training and deployment of the Army ConventionalReserve. The SA Army personnel growth will have to becomplemented with a humane exit arrangement formembers who do not contribute to the effectiveness ofthe SA Army. The MSDS intakes will address therank/age issue; members will be transferred to the CoreService System on completion of their service as part ofthe MSDS. The SA Army will address the expansion inpersonnel figures bmo employing members in the TSC,Engr Construction and other capabilities. A detail manpowerplan will be developed to address this issue.Additional allocation that were reduced from Rm418 toRm150 ito B Vehicles will result in a serious deteriorationin combat readiness and support to force preparation.This reduction in additional allocation is a result ofdecisions by higher authorities, and not out of choice bythe SA Army. (Refer to Table 6.3.)Main equipment requirements are addressed accordingto an operational output priority basis, thus limitedfunds are spent where it is required in terms of readinessand employment requirement levels, for example operationalvehicles. All logistic requirements will beaddressed according to operational requirement priorities.Capital acquisition will be according to the SAArmy's long-term vision, thereby ensuring capabilitiesare created according to set objectives in an integratedfashion. Although funds were allocated to address theproblem with procurement and reworking of ammunition,it is still way below the required levels required andfurther reprioritisation is needed to mitigate the risk.The continued deterioration of many facilities remainsan issue. The SA Army has allocated additional funds toaddress this issue, but it is below the requirement aswell. In consultation with the DOD and DPW the SAArmy is currently striving to resolve the matter toaddress the serious issue of occupational health and safetyconcerns that might, and already has, resulted in thetemporary closure of certain units.The above-mentioned issues have been registered asrisks within the SA Army and the DOD is activelyengaged on a continuous basis to ensure that the implicationsof the above are fully understood.SERVICES TO BE SCALED DOWN,SUSPENDED OR ABOLISHED DURINGFY2006/07Limited available resources resulted in the reduction ofthe material readiness of the SA Army's main productsystems (ie weapon and support systems). This in turnresults in the reduction in support to force preparationactivities, with the resultant reduction of combat readiness.This is situation is critically influenced by thereduction in additional allocation to B Vehicles, fromRm418 to Rm150. (Refer to Table 6.3.)The SA Army is closing down the Army TerritorialReserve in accordance with DOD guidelines. This meansthat all commando units will be closed by means of aphased approach, in coordination with the SAPS that hasto take over the resultant operational requirements. Theapplicable command and control structures (GroupHQs) will also be closed as their subordinate units areclosed down. Pending final decision by the relevantauthorities, certain Regular Force units will be amalgamatedand some closed down, for example 12 SAI Bn.S T R A T E G I C B U S I N E S S P L A N F Y 2 0 0 6 / 0 7 T O 2 0 0 8 / 0 947