SAI and Cuito Cuanavale (1. South Africa's Border War. SAI7th South African Infantry Battalion. MEMORIES OF MY SADF EXPERIENCESBy. D. Kirkman, Section 1, Platoon 3, Alpha Company, 7 SAI. See the Photographs. 7 th South African Infantry Battalion. MEMORIES OF MY SADF EXPERIENCES. Kirkman, Section 1, Platoon 3, Alpha Company, 7 SAI.John Milton’s career as a writer of prose and poetry spans three distinct eras: Stuart England; the Civil War (1642-1648) and Interregnum, including the. Why become an HU Member? We're not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown a hobby into a full time job and a labour. Official entry point to South African government provides news and information along with background material about the land, its people and history. Latest breaking news, including politics, crime and celebrity. Find stories, updates and expert opinion. Introduction: Due to a question that was recently raised by a friend, I feel compelled to explain the difference between an Infantry Sharpshooter and a Sniper, so there are no misconceptions. There is no real comparison between the two. A sharpshooter was a person who attended basically what could be called a `Advanced Shooting course' not the . The SADF, like most professional armies, did have these types, equipped with State of the Art Rifles and accessories. A Sharpshooter's job was basically the same as every other member of his section/platoon. The prerequisite was that one could using his Standard issue R4, shoot a group under a inch using 5 rounds, at 1. From there he was issued a R1, both with and if the situation demanded it a 4 x scope, the same criterion applied except at 8. After 7 months of Bush Training we did not need to learn how to make use of available cover or leopard crawl to a suitable position. It was only on certain assignments that we were employed in the conventional `Sniper Role' and our limitations were quite strict, far more so than the MAGGER's or other Special Weapons Gunners. We were either under direct control of our Platoon CO, or were only to shoot should weapons or a reasonable threat present itself. We used standard issue equipment, R1's or our R4's. Our job was simple, to accurately take out any immediate threat, posed to our vehicles or personnel i. LMG groups, RPG gunners etc. Secondly, to try to take out any or all Rank of the enemy, thereby depriving them of their leadership, while the rest of the section etc, shot every bush, tree, rock or any possible place that might conceal an enemy. We did both that while trying to identify the main threats to ourselves and neutralize them with accurate fire. During vehicle attacks, our job was similar; take out immediate threats, then Tank Commanders, Rank etc. There was nothing glamorous about it. It was just a normal job, as everybody in the section had theirs, as you will see in the photo's most of the R1's used did not have scopes, because they would get knocked around while Bundu bashing. The R1 was mostly used only because it had a more powerful bullet and longer range, which was why I was so keen to get a Dragunov SVD. The only sniping we did was done by ourselves, was during lulls in the war situation, and from a long range (They had Heavy machine Guns and Mortars) so it was a matter of finding a target anything from a Helmet, Keppie or a hole used for observation and taking a couple of shots at it and then buggering off before you got blasted and to be truthful, due to the large bunkers etc, it was probably more of an annoyance than anything else, unless someone was stupid enough to show themselves, we could not even be sure of a hit or not. CHAPTER 1. When I went to Sturrock Park to . Before we even got there, I was tense and nervous, so not much was said, all good- bye's were rather formal and stiff. It was not so much that I did not agree to conscription or doing my duty to my country, it was more apprehension that I was not ready for this myself but now I had run out of options. I could have studied more even though I had been at Technical College since I was 1. I had changed courses 4 times already. There was also tension between myself and my father that was growing worse. My family has quite a long history of warfare, my mother's father was a Major in the Springbok's during WW2. My other Grandfather and his before him were in the Royal Highlanders. My father fought in Kenya and again in Rhodesia. He never spoke about it so I have no idea which units etc. I will never forget the feeling of loneliness and abandonment I felt that day. The time had come even though I knew it, I still was not very happy to be leaving my comfy Zone. While we were waiting on the grass, at least 3 Police vans arrived, dropping off some of my soon to be comrades in arms, one of them Desmond or . I don't know what the others did, but judging from later actions, it could have been anything. After that our kit was searched for drugs, weapons (not very well I might add ) etc. We spent most of the +- 1. My hair was very long at that time 4. I did not cut it before I went. One of the guy's, Dick, from Natal, had longer hair than myself, but cut it on the train up, leaving me with the longest hair there. When we arrived at Phalaborwa, the shouting started, whistles blowing, we were ordered into waiting Samil 5. Sardine Deluxe style, everything seemed kind of spacy, as if in a dream. This I believe is normally known as `The Roofie Ride', very uncomfortable to say the least. When we arrived at 7 SAI, we unloaded onto the parade ground, where the RSM and the Colonel Swanepoel, OC of 7 SAI welcomed us, if you could call it that. During his speech he asked a bloody stupid question . I was sitting toward the middle of the Parade Ground, when a woman's voice, shrieked from the back, . His/her name was Frazer, queer as could be, yet quite a character, the Col. These Homo's later became `The Girls' in the Medic Ward, while as typical in any Army worldwide, the gay's were regularly attacked, Frazer wasn't for some odd reason, even the worst homophobes let him be, maybe because of his slim build and delicate features, they realized that he should/was a girl, at least in mind and attitude. Even the Rank let him be, but the others were fair game. We were then roughly divided up in platoons and marched off to our bungalows. All in all there were about 3. Motarist Company, 4 Fighting Companies and a HQ company. And so began our new life, the fighting companies were Alpha, Bravo (Mine), Echo and Fox- Trot. Echo and Fox- Trot were the Jails boytjies, (JL's = junior leadership, would- be officers & NCO's) Our JL's were definitely wanna- be's, and even though the Section Leaders got their two stripes, it was only later, about 3 months before Uit- Klaar. Oscar Company were the Mortarists, Charlie Company were our . I had always regarded myself as been just normal, not gifted or clever. One of my first revelations was that in fact I had been protected most of my life. It was said that once you deferred your service more than 4 times you were sent to 7 SAI as punishment, (It might not be a fact, but it certainly was with us that deferred, My first 3 were to Kimberly, 1. SSB and somewhere else, after that 7 SAI, 7 SAI, 7 SAI.) or if you were unlucky enough to have been born somewhere where lack of education was the norm, I think only 3- 5% of the entire intake had a matric, most had a Standard 8, with a fair number below that, two notable's spring to mind, one our later Section 1st in Command (1 IB) Cpl. Rosseauand his cousin Cpl Lombard. All Section Rank were supposed to have at least a Standard 8. Opperman and Platoon SGT, CPL Roos. The Camp itself was actually rather nice with a duck pond, RSM's fruit orchard, nice barracks, all in neat rows, the Kruger Park on one side, bush on the other. It was only in a day or two that I discovered why it was so pleasant to look at. I shall never forget the faces of those who had arrived before us, as we marched off in our civvies, to our Barracks, we passed a group of Roofies in Brown overalls sweeping the paths, doing the gardens etc. What got to others and myself was the totally blank, almost brain- dead look they had on their faces. They had been doing onderhoud for about a week. That, more than anything, made me want to run away. We were the reason that the bloody Camp looked so good. We had to keep it that way; . Every morning after the morning . During our off periods, as one prick of a PF Lieutenant said, . We were initially issued with the older steel mags, later we got more and of the new Nylon type, 2x blankets, 1 x sleeping bag + inner and the inevitable trommel. Loaded up we then had to run back to the barracks, about 1,5 km along the road, I must add in here, that this was a standard SADF action called . We ran everywhere, unless drilling, even though during most drilling we ended up running around any suitable object, for each mistake or for bad timing etc. The following day, we were roused at 5 a. Civvie clothes, Bags etc. It saved our browns from the rigors of training and made us feel what we were, cheep Government labour. We were then sent off to get our hair cut, army style No 2, our Cpl. Roos, took enormous pleasure in cutting a piece of my hair off (the longest piece he could find). If you ever get a chance to visit 7 SAI's barber shop, there is a board on the wall with the five longest pieces of hair for that year, a tradition. You will find my good Scottish locks, hanging 3 from the end under 1. Hair became a major symbol to us of Unity, in the Company, we risked major shite during 2nd phase, by all shaving our heads. I have to admit that it made us look quite mean, in comparison to the others. It was against Army rules, we new that, but maybe as a show of rebellious Unity, we all did it, before the RSM or others could say anything about it during a Parade, we were joined by our Staff B, complete with shaven head. That silenced all uit- kak. We still had to iron our browns for each inspection (supposed to), as with all other kit, we just tended to leave them hanging there, and only used one of each item, saving us from having to redo our inspections every night, not that it mattered much, it was always wrong. And Opfok was the punishment, so to be honest out of all the Camp's in SA, we probably had the worst inspections (By that I mean worst, not hardest), not once did we shave our beds or use shaving cream to get perfect corners, nor did we bother to remove the hollow in the middle of the beds, many a time we had to get into our .
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