SCOPE OF THE BRIEFING

Introduction

Achievements Project Phoenix Phase 1

Status of the SA Army Conventional

Reserve (ACR)

The Res F Para Bn and Mechanised

Brigade (Mech Bde)

Recruitment of leader group

Phasing out of the Army Territorial Reserve (ATR)

Conclusion

AIM OF THE BRIEFING

To inform the members of the Joint Standing Committee on

Defence of the progress made by the SA Army since May 2003 in transforming and revitalising

the Army Reserve and to provide insight into

Phase 2 of Project PHOENIX

AIM PROJECT PHOENIX PHASE 1

To improve the state of the Reserve Force in the Army in the short term (2002 to 2003) during the “survival

mode” as phase 1 of Project Phoenix, which is aimed at transforming the

Reserves in the medium term.

(EMPHASIS ON THE ARMY CONVENTIONAL RESERVE)

PROJECT PHOENIX ACHIEVEMENTS - PHASE 1

Upgrading of office to a Chief Directorate

Staffing of SSOs in Fmns and Directorates.

Improved communication (“Road show” and 16 other

visits)

Increased course attendance by ACR members.

Increased involvement in Reg F exercises

Design of plan to recruit ex-Reg F (NSF & SF)

Transparency of improved Res F budget (Min R275 000

per unit)

RESERVE FORCE PARTICIPATION: SEBOKA

EX-SEBOKA (IRON EAGLE): 28/09/03 - 30/10/03

SA ARMY INF FMN - 63 MEMBERS

SA ARMY ARTY FMN - 5 MEMBERS

SA ARMY ADA FMN - 23 MEMBERS

SA ARMY ARMOUR FMN - 10 MEMBERS

SA ARMY ENGR FMN - 6 MEMBERS

TOTAL 107 MEMBERS

ALSO INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION IN FMN EXERCISES

ARMY CONVENTIONAL RESERVE: STRENGTH

Ser no

Type No of units

Total Member

s

% B/C/A

1 Inf Fmn: Mechanised Regt’s

6 1829 48,1

2 Inf Fmn: Motorised Regt’s

8 1026 46,7

3 Inf Fmn: Light Regt’s 13 2403 67,1

4 SA Army Artillery Formation

7 326 28,2

5 SA Armour Formation 7 1182 40,2

6 SA Army Engineer Formation

4 689 49,1

7 SA Army Air Defence Artillery Formation

5 411 65,9

8 2 & 3 Para Bn(Inf Fmn) 2 210 11,96

TOTAL 52 8076 47,4

CURRENT STATUS OF THE ACR

Budget FY 2003/2004 - R 21 270 513

No outputs in the form of a deployable force

Average unit strength - 150

Average age - 35

No intakes from MSDS before 2008

Only recruitment source - Reg F (NSF & SF) ATR

CURRENT STATUS OF THE ACR: CONCLUSIONS

SA Army does not have the resources to develop all 52 units at once - must prioritize

Recruitment and training must be decentralised to units

We must arrive at a deployable force (At least sub-units)

PHASE 2 OF PHOENIX FOR THE ACR

RECRUITMENT LEADER GROUP

PARA BN & RES F MECH BDE

ACR

REC

RU

IT-

MEN

T A

TR

TR

AIN

ING

750

REC

RU

ITS

MAIN ELEMENTS - PHOENIX PHASE 2

SELECT UNITS FOR MECH BDE AND GIVE PRIORITY

CONTINUE EMPHASIS ON COURSES FOR NEW LEADER GROUP

INITIATE HR FEEDER SYSTEM

RECRUITMENT OF Ex-NFSs AND Ex-REG F LEADER GROUP

TRANSFER OF SELECTED MEMBERS FROM THE ATR

“OFF THE STREET” RECRUITMENT

EVALUATE ROTC SYSTEM

SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO RETAIN AND GROW CRITICAL CORE GROWTH CAPABILITY

MAIN ELEMENTS OF PHOENIX PHASE 2PARA BN AND MECH BDE

Build Res F Para Bn up to sub-unit then unit strength in 2-3 years

Select up to 3 units for each unit in the Mech Bde, give priority and build up to sub-unit strength in 2-3 years

Other units to concentrate on leader group

AC to make final decision on units selected by GOCs

MAIN ELEMENTS OF PHOENIX PHASE 2: INDIVIDUAL TRAINING

TRANSFER R10 MILLION FROM FORCE TRAINING BUDGET TO TRAIN 750 RECRUITS PER YEAR

2004/2005: PREFERENCE TO INF FMN

SYSTEM OF EVALUATION ESSENTIAL

ANOTHER LOGICAL STEP IN

REVITALISING THE ACR

DESIRED END STATE

A SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD RECRUITMENT PLAN THAT WILL ENSURE EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT OF THE FORMER NSF/SF RANKS INTO THE LEADER GROUP POSITIONS OF THE ACR AT LEVELS 2, 3 AND 4. HOWEVER ANY NON-LEADER GROUP WHO APPLY WILL BE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE UNIT.

TARGET PRIORITIES

PRIORITY 1. FORMER NSF MEMBERS WHO SERVED IN THE REGULAR FORCE.

PRIORITY 2. PERSONS WHO DEMOBILIZED. (THIS LIST MUST BE WIDENED GEOGRAPHICALLY AND DEFINED)

PRIORITY 3. FORMER SF MEMBERS WHO SERVED IN THE REGULAR FORCE.

PRIORITY 4. PERSONS WHO NEVER ATTESTED.

(TRANSFER OF SELECTED LEADER GROUP FROM THE ATR WILL ALSO BE FACILITATED)

RECRUITMENT GUIDELINES

LEVELS 2 AND 3 MUST BE GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY

REPRESENTIVITY AND TRANSFORMATION MUST BE FOCUSED ON

10% OF POSTS TO BE FILLED BY 31/03/04

FULL EXPLANATION OF RES F SYSTEM TO BE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT TO EACH CANDIDATE BEFOREHAND

SERVICE CONDITIONS MUST BE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT TO THE CANDIDATES DURING SELECTION BOARD

MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE MAY BE PLACED IN A POST

RECRUITMENT GUIDELINES (CONT)

MUST BE A SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZEN

MUST BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE ENGLISH FOR TRG AND COURSE PURPOSES

MUST NOT BE AREA BOUND

PREFERABLY EMPLOYED OR BE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON A PART TIME BASIS

MUST HAVE A SATISFACTORY MILITARY

DISCIPLINARY AND CRIME FREE RECORD.

RECRUITMENT CENTRES

THE FOLLOWING GP HQs/PLACES ARE EARMARKED TO BE USED AS RECRUITMENT CENTRES:

BRIEFING DATES

LIMPOPO. GP 14 (PIETERSBURG) 11 OCT 03

MPUMALANGA. GP 33 (NELSPRUIT) 18 OCT 03

FREESTATE. GP 36 (BLOEMFONTEIN) 25 OCT 03

EC. GP 6 (PORT ELIZABETH) 15 NOV 03

WC. GP 1 (CAPE TOWN) 22 NOV 03

NC. GP 22 (KIMBERLEY) 29 NOV 03

RECRUITMENT CENTRES (CONT)

BRIEFING DATES

NW. GP 20 (MAFIKENG) 06 DEC 03

KZN. GP 10 (DURBAN) 13 DEC 03

GAUTENG. GP 18 (DOORNKOP) 20 DEC 03

UMTATA. GP 46 (UMTATA) 10 JAN 04

EACH RECRUITMENT CENTRE WILL BE MANNED BY RES F PERSONNEL (1 X SGT, EXCEPT FOR GAUTENG,

APE TOWN AND DURBAN, WHERE THERE WILL BE 2X SGTs)

SUMMARY OF RES F POSTS AVAILABLE

LEVELS 2 AND 3 (DIRECTORATES AND

FORMATIONS)

-OFFICERS: 99

-NCOs: 87

-TOTAL 186

LEVEL 4 (RES F UNITS)

-OFFICERS: 1257

-NCOs: 11613

-TOTAL 12870

ARMY TERRITORIAL RESERVE: STRENGTH

Ser no

Province No of comdos

Totalmembers

%B/C/A

1 Eastern Cape 22 10 729 44,1

2 Freestate 33 7 385 26,7

3 Gauteng 26 4 950 36,8

4 KwaZulu/Natal 15 4 525 54,0

5 Limpopo 12 4 837 25,3

6 Mpumalanga 19 5 890 35,7

7 Northern Cape 17 4 393 40,4

8 North West 21 5097 34,6

9 Western Cape 18 5 185 56,9

TOTAL 183 52 991 39,4

PHASING OUT OF THE ROLE OF THE ATR

The SA Army is working on the basis that the role of the ATR will be phased out in the

extended medium-term and will give effect to this planning.

PHASING OUT OF THE ROLE OF THE ATR

The SA Army is working on the basis that the role of the ATR will be phased out in the

extended medium-term and will give effect to this planning.

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• PLAN TO RETRACT SELF ACCOUNTING STATUS OF GROUPS, INCLUDING COMMANDOS

• DOING A STOCK TAKE OF ALL ASSETS IN COMMANDO ENVIRONMENT

• ON COMPLETION INSPECTOR GENERAL DOD WILL AUDIT ALL UNITS WHEN SCHEDULED FOR CLOSURE

• PLAN TO RETRACT SELF ACCOUNTING STATUS OF GROUPS, INCLUDING COMMANDOS

• DOING A STOCK TAKE OF ALL ASSETS IN COMMANDO ENVIRONMENT

• ON COMPLETION INSPECTOR GENERAL DOD WILL AUDIT ALL UNITS WHEN SCHEDULED FOR CLOSURE

PROGRESS ON THE ATR

ESTABLISHED JOINT WORK GROUPS– STEERING COMMITTEE– BORDERLINE CONTROL– RURAL PROTECTION– CRIME PREVENTION– HUMAN RESOURCES

• REGULAR MEETINGS TO FACILITATE PROGRESS

• COMMUNICATION OF PROGRESS SEEN AS A PRIORITY

• FORMULA FOR THE PHASING OUT

ESTABLISHED JOINT WORK GROUPS– STEERING COMMITTEE– BORDERLINE CONTROL– RURAL PROTECTION– CRIME PREVENTION– HUMAN RESOURCES

• REGULAR MEETINGS TO FACILITATE PROGRESS

• COMMUNICATION OF PROGRESS SEEN AS A PRIORITY

• FORMULA FOR THE PHASING OUT

PROGRESS: ATR

ACTIVE COMMANDO UNIT– A COMMANDO UNIT THAT ACHIEVED A SCORE

OF 70% AND HIGHER MEASURED AGAINST THE IDENTIFIED CRITERIA

LESS ACTIVE COMMANDO UNIT– A COMMANDO UNIT THAT ACHIEVED A SCORE

BETWEEN 50% AND 70% MEASURED AGAINST THE IDENTIFIED CRITERIA

INACTIVE COMMANDO UNIT– A COMMANDO UNIT THAT ACHIEVED A SCORE

LESS THAN 50% MEASURED AGAINST THE IDENTIFIED CRITERIA

ACTIVE COMMANDO UNIT– A COMMANDO UNIT THAT ACHIEVED A SCORE

OF 70% AND HIGHER MEASURED AGAINST THE IDENTIFIED CRITERIA

LESS ACTIVE COMMANDO UNIT– A COMMANDO UNIT THAT ACHIEVED A SCORE

BETWEEN 50% AND 70% MEASURED AGAINST THE IDENTIFIED CRITERIA

INACTIVE COMMANDO UNIT– A COMMANDO UNIT THAT ACHIEVED A SCORE

LESS THAN 50% MEASURED AGAINST THE IDENTIFIED CRITERIA

DEFINITIONS

CATEGORISING OF COMMANDO UNITS

• URBAN COMMANDO UNITS : 20

• RURAL COMMANDO UNITS (WITH URBAN RESPONSIBILITIES) : 163

Total: 183

• INACTIVE COMMANDO UNITS : 28

• LESS ACTIVE COMMANDO UNITS :39

• ACTIVE COMMANDO UNITS : 116 Total: 183

• URBAN COMMANDO UNITS : 20

• RURAL COMMANDO UNITS (WITH URBAN RESPONSIBILITIES) : 163

Total: 183

• INACTIVE COMMANDO UNITS : 28

• LESS ACTIVE COMMANDO UNITS :39

• ACTIVE COMMANDO UNITS : 116 Total: 183

• THE SA ARMY WILL BE A RESPONSIBLE

PARTNER IN EXECUTING THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN

• THE SA ARMY IS COMMITTED NOT TO CREATE OR LEAVE GAPS DURING WITHDRAWAL

• THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN IS A JOINT EFFORT

• THE SA ARMY WILL BE A RESPONSIBLE

PARTNER IN EXECUTING THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN

• THE SA ARMY IS COMMITTED NOT TO CREATE OR LEAVE GAPS DURING WITHDRAWAL

• THE WITHDRAWAL PLAN IS A JOINT EFFORT

CONCLUSIONS ON THE ATR

Project Phoenix Phase 1 has been intense and hard work as a short term intervention in the

Army Reserves. WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

However a lot needs to be done during Phase 2 in the areas of recruitment, training and legal

backing to ensure a guaranteed, representative combat ready Conventional Reserve. This will

require substantial additional resources. WE WILL SUCCEED.

CONCLUSION