Union Defence Force
From Roach Busters
| |
| Service branches | South African Army Royal South African Navy Royal South African Air Force South African Military Health Service |
| Commander-in-Chief | Governor-General Festus Mogae |
| Minister of Defence and Intelligence Services | Mosiuoa Lekota |
| Chief of the Defence Staff | General Pakalitha Tsele Mokoma |
| Military age | 18 years of age for voluntary military service |
| Conscription | no |
| Available for military service | Males age 16-49: 22,423,192 (2008 est.) Females age 16-49: 22,189,806 (2008 est.) |
| Fit for military service | Males age 16-49: 17,572,553 (2008 est.) Females age 16-49: 15,910,845 (2008 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | Males age 16-49: 957,578 (2008 est.) Females age 16-49: 949,257 (2008 est.) |
| Active personnel | 442,000 |
| Reserve personnel | 217,500 |
| Budget | USD $92.7 billion (2008) |
| Percent of GDP | 5% (2008) |
The Union Defence Force, commonly referred to by its acronym, UDF, is the name of the armed forces of the Union of South Africa.
[edit] Organization
The Governor-General, as the Queen's representative, is the de jure (but not de facto) Commander-in-Chief of the UDF with:
- Chief of the Defence Staff (General Pakalitha Tsele Mokoma)
- Chief of the Army (Lieutenant General Ken Walls)
- Chief of the Air Force (Lieutenant General Abel Mawere)
- Chief of the Navy (Vice Admiral Mhlobo ka Tshiwo)
- Surgeon General (Lieutenant General Patrick Nyembezi)
- Joint Forces Commander (Lieutenant General Mompati Masire)
Staff Divisions under the Chief of Defence Staff include:
- Personnel
- Intelligence
- Operations
- Logistics
- Finance
Other Support Services commands include:
- Inspector General of the UDF (Major-General Tebogo Merafhe)
- Chaplain General of the UDF (Major-General Inonge Sikatana)
[edit] Personnel
- Permanent Forces - Active members
- Citizen Forces - Fully trained part-time members
- Commando Forces - Fully trained members
- Special Forces
- Service Volunteers - Non-permanent full time members
- Auxiliary Service
- Reserve Forces
