SITREP. School of Artillery Newsletter VARSITY CUP SUPPORT: 12 MARCH Issue: Volume 04 of 2018 (Apr)

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1 School of Artillery Newsletter SITREP VARSITY CUP SUPPORT: 12 MARCH 2018 (By Cpln J.J. Jordaan) It is the pride of the School of Artillery to be involved in the community of Potchefstroom. One event that we love to be part of is the Varsity Cup that is hosted by the NWU, This year was no exception. On the 12 March 2018 we helped the teams of the NWU and the Shimlas into battle on the Rugby field. Once again the Gun was fired by a prominent member in this event and on the particular night it was one of the main sponsor s privileges. Mr George van Staden, The area Manager of FNB had the honour of starting the battle on the Rugby field. On these photos he appears with the Gun crew under command of Staff-Sergeant Nong. Left to right: WO1 D du Preez; Gerbrand Hurter; JC Taljaard (No ); Niel de Kock; Andru Bezuidenhout and Cpln J. Jordaan. After the start of the Rugby game, we were honoured with a visit by a few young men who took part in the G1 Gatvas project of the School of Artillery and Nelspruit High School. All of these young men resided in the Nelspruit High school s hostel during their high school days, so all had a bond and some good memories of the G1. Only one, JC Taljaard (Third from the left), was on the actual Gun crew and he visited the School of Artillery in 2017 for training on the G1 with the rest of the School s 2017 Gun crew. The young men are currently studying at the NWU at the moment. - Best SA Army Unit for 2017 Page 1 of 6

2 MODULE X PRACTICAL TRAINING EXERCISE: 22 FEBRUARY - 23 MARCH 2018 (Cpln J.J. Jordaan) Module X is not only dust, smoke and cordite; it is a great exercise where learners get an opportunity to practice what they learnt in class. This exercise actually starts long before the Mobilization Phase. Long before mobilization the equipment is prepared, admin is put in place, vehicles and launchers are serviced and prepared and the members, partaking, warned and nominated for the exercise. Then the exercise starts. The convoy moves out to the field and Potchefstroom can once again enjoy the sound of the Guns. For the member in the field it is not always such a romantic situation, because the rain always comes as if it was ordered and arranged for even before mobilization. One Lieutenant Colonel told me he was somewhere away from his base when the rain started to fall. He forgot to close his tent s door flap before departing. He said he had a very cold night under a very wet sleeping bag! My (the Chaplain s) privilege is to have a Sunday morning service on the Sunday in the middle of the exercise. Then the guns are left where they are and the members gather somewhere for this service. A song or two is sung and members listen to the Word of God, brought by the Chaplain. For me it is always a very special gathering to enjoy God s presence and blessing, in this way, in the midst of a difficult week. I thank God for the opportunity and the good spirit of the members in despite the wet and cold and dirty conditions. We shared the Word from 1 Thessalonians 1:3 For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm. The theme was: How would you like to be remembered? The Thessalonians were remembered for their Faith, love and in Whom they put their hope. - Best SA Army Unit for 2017 Page 2 of 6

3 SA ARMY ARTY OPEN DAY: 17 MARCH 2018 (by Capt Tumi Chabalala) After months of preparations and planning, the SA Army Arty Fmn hosted a show stopping Arty Fmn Open day 2018 at Leerdag Stelling next to 4 Arty Regt on the 17 March The open day was hosted with three aims in mind, to introduce the MSDS 2017 intake to the guns, maintain the guns culture and keeping up the gunners ties and serving the guns. The Open day also marked the end of Module X practical training exercise that was held to qualify the learners that were trained at the School of Artillery for the Financial Year 17/18. After receiving extensive training at the School of Artillery and the completion of Module X practical training exercise, the MDSD 2017 intake were ready to demonstrate what they have learned. They were given an opportunity to fire the guns during the open day. The event had a static display prepared by the Members of 4 Artillery Regiment and the mall. The live firing was prepared and executed by members of the School of Artillery. The gates opened at 05:30am and the people started to arrive as early as 06:00. The members were transported to leerdag stelling with 23 seater military buses. As the members entered the demo area they passed through the mall area where there were food stalls, Gunners Association and School of Artillery tents where members could buy memorabilia items. In the School of Artillery tent, there was a bar optic that was raffled out, The tickets were sold out,at R100 each. The winner of the optic was announced at the end of the event. Next to the school of Artillery tent there was a marketing tent for the Reserve Force Regional Office manned by Lt Col Hartzenberg and her team. The members went on to view the static demonstration. The children were excited as they climbed on the launchers with the assistance of the communicators that were allocated per launcher. The members were invited to watch a drill session by the award winning Drill Squad. The members were impressed by the sharp and precise drills that were performed by the drill Squad. At 10:45, the members sat down preparing for the live firing demonstration that started at 11:00. The programme director for the event was Col Kgasapane. He welcomed all members present at the demonstration especially all the high profile invited guests, which included the Lt Gen Mbulu, Maj Gen Xundu, General of the gunners, Maj Gen Anderson and Retired Maj Gen Holtzhausen, Former Chief Director SA Army Force Preparation to mention a few. Col Kgasapane gave a briefing about the day and then orientated the guest wrt the place, which guns will fire, their distance and when they can be applied for effectiveness. At the launchers, The MSDS 2017 together with their GSM were waiting at the various launchers waiting to fire at their various targets on command. The fire exercise commander was Lt Col Tshabalala and Major Hassen was the Blunt end commander. The firing started with the 120mm Mortar, 155m GV5, 155mm GV6 and finally the showstopper, 122mm MRL. After the fire demonstration the members were transported back to 4 Arty Regiment and invited guests went to 4 Arty Regt Mess for refreshments. - Best SA Army Unit for 2017 Page 3 of 6

4 PROJECT KLOOSTER BTY CHARGING FACILITY HANDING OVER CEREMONY: 23 MARCH 2018 (by Capt Tumi Chabalala) Project Klooster is a roll out project for the Artillery training equipment which encompasses the Centre for Artillery Systems Training (CAST). The CAST is divided into the Artillery System Training building (AST), the OVSS Building (Observer Visual Simulator System and the Prime Mission Equipment. During the first hand over of project Klooster, deliverables were signed over by the Director Army Acquisition, Brigadier General Mketo in September Over the past few weeks the battery charging facility was erected at the School of Artillery Transport Park as the last phase of Project Klooster. The battery charging facility will be used to charge the ATES equipment batteries in order to extend its battery life. The guests arrived at the School of Artillery from 09:00 and they were invited for the in the HQ reception area. The handover ceremony started at 10:00 whereby Colonel Schoonwinkel welcomed all the guests present for the ceremony. Lt Col Moraka gave the guests an overview of the programme. The guests went to the transport park where there was a display of all the ATES equipment which formed part of the Klooster projects. The guests had an opportunity to view the equipment and the battery charging facility. Standing by were the specialist trainers on the equipment to give feedback to the guests on how the equipment has been working so far. The guests went over to view the OTS and ATS facilities. Finally the guests went to the Ubique hall where the handover ceremony took place. The handing over certificates was signed by Mr Green from Armscor and Brigadier General Mketo, Director Army Acquisition and Brigadier General Makina, General Officer Commanding SA Army Artillery Formation. After the ceremony the guests enjoyed a light finger lunch and refreshments before their departure. - Best SA Army Unit for 2017 Page 4 of 6

5 LOVE & SORROW Birthdays We would like to congratulate the following members with the celebration of their birthdays. We hope that you will have a wonderful day and year. Lt N.L. Matau - 02 Apr SSgt P.W. Masilela - 02 Apr Gnr N.S. Visser - 03 Apr Bdr L. Sout - 06 Apr Gnr P. Mulaudzi - 07 Apr Gnr R.S.N Stuurman - 11 Apr Gnr B.J. Carolus - 12 Apr Sgt K. Hendricks - 13 Apr Mr N.J Mqokolo - 13 Apr Cpl M.V Leboya - 13 Apr WO2 J.G Coetzee - 14 Apr Mrs F.N Mbava - 16 Apr Ms M.S. Makhoana -18 Apr SSgt K.N Kaleng - 20 Apr Sgt E.T. Makagule - 21 Apr Bdr M.S.L. Nthite - 21 Apr L Bdr M.M. Matlhoko - 23 Apr SWO C.D.P. Modiakgotla - 24 Apr S Sgt T.E. Motshedi - 25 Apr Gnr S. Williams - 25 Apr Ms M.S. Kgoadi - 29 Apr School of Artillery Prayer Chain The following members are on the School of Artillery prayer chain and we call on all our friends and the following members in your prayers. colleagues to think of Unit Members on Course Capt Kgampe BPO Capt Matlhoi BPO S Sgt Mafora NCO Ops Duties Bdr Naude - NCO Formative Bdr Hendricks NCO Formative Bdr Nthite Calmis Course Detach Duty Lt Col Johnson 4 Aty Regt Capt Sieglaar SA Army Arty Fmn HQ Capt Mohale PSJ Capt Khojane PSJ Lt Banda MPI S Sgt Boesak 4 Arty Regt Sgt Khoza Army Gym Bdr Rambofheni SA Army Arty HQ L/Bdr Montle SA Army Arty HQ Maternity leave S Sgt Theart Sorrows S Sgt Mtshizana lost his father. Gnr Roberts lost his uncle. Gnr Makhathe lost her uncle. - Best SA Army Unit for 2017 Page 5 of 6

6 SHRAPNEL GRAPGAT A Police Officer stops the car. Officer: Your driver s licence please. Driver: Ï am really sorry, I forgot. Officer: At home? Driver: No, to do it. - Best SA Army Unit for 2017 Page 6 of 6