The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has opened its Military Skills Development System (MSDS) applications for 2025.
Young South Africans now have a chance to join the military.
The closing date for applications is 15 March, with successful candidates reporting for duty at the beginning of 2025.
The MSD System takes around 2 000 volunteers into the SA Air Force (SAAF), SA Army, SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) or SA Navy (SAN) for two years.
Basic military training is followed by specialist mustering training, depending on service and then deployment to a division, unit or base.
When the 24 month MSD period is up a limited number of MSD volunteers will be offered short-term contracts in the full-time force (usually for 10 years), the remainder expected to put their military skills to use in the Reserve Force.
For those wishing to apply for the MSD programme the requirements are:. candidates must be South African citizens (no dual citizenships are allowed). They must be between 18 and 22 years old. They have completed or are currently in Grade 12. They must have no record of serious criminal offences or pending cases. They must have no visible tattoos. They must comply with the medical fitness requirements of the SANDF.
The requirements for the South African Air Force are more strict, as qualifications are required for pilot training. Engineering positions include civil, industrial, electronic, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical and computer. Support careers in the SA Air Force include communications and flight operations management, firefighter, clerk, military police, radar reporting operator, defence intelligence and more.
“Fields of interest” for the Military Health Service include patient administration, logistics, medical-support operations, dog handler, counter-intelligence, human resources, corporate communication, musician, dental assistant, nursing and more.
“SA Army careers include infantry, armour, artillery, air-defence artillery, intelligence, engineering, human resources, logistics and military police.
“If you have not been contacted by 31 December 2024 kindly consider your application unsuccessful,” the SANDF stated.
Volunteers hoping to become part of either the air, land, maritime or military health services should go to regional offices nationally for application forms and assistance from SANDF human resource officers and personnel.
Candidates can drop of their applications at:
Regional Office Western Cape. Castle of Good Hope Recruitment Office. Block C, c/o Buitenkant and Darling Street (opposite Parade Ground), Cape Town, 8000, or Regional Office Western Cape, Department Of Defence School of Logistics and Training, Youngsfield, Wetton 8000 – Enquiries: 021 787 1023/4.
Applicants should note that the Defence Force has no online application system.
Applications forms can be found at www.defenceweb.co.za
