SANDF Selection Process 2025-2026 | Full Details

We are pleased to keep you informed about SANDF Selection Process 2023/2024- See Full Details

How can I join SANDF?

Joining the South African army is never automatic; you must prove yourself to be fit and capable of working with them. Once you complete and submit the form, if you are one of the selected candidates for the MSDS program, there are some processes that you will go through. For instance, in your first year of service, you will undergo medical evaluation in the week of commencement to qualify for the Basic Military and functional training. Also, you will be subjected to other sets of training such as Corp specific training and combat-ready training exercises before the junior leaders are eventually selected.

Then, in the second year of the programme, as a junior leader, you will receive what is known as leader group corps training as well as that of Young Officers Formative training. More so, at this period, officers who would be allowed to study at the Military Academy would be selected. Apart from that, focus would also be given to the utilisation and deployment of troops that have been produced from the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) programme.

What are the requirements to join the Army in South Africa?

If you are desirous of joining the South African Army, there are specific requirements that you must meet up with. Specifically, to qualify to be a part of the 2019 MSDS programme, the following are the things that you must bear in mind:

• You must be a citizen of South Africa. While this is a must, note that if you are a dual citizen, your application will not be considered except you relinquish it.
• You must have no criminal record or any case that is pending, else, you would be automatically disqualified.
• Medically, you must be fit based on the requirements or appointment set up by the South African National Defense Force.
• Your age must be within 18 and 22 if you are applying with your grade 12 certificate. However, if you are a graduate, then, you must not be more than 26 years of age, and also, your degree certificate must be from a recognised university.
• While your marital status may not really count, it is advisable that you should apply if you are single as those in that category will enjoy preferential consideration.
• There must be a readiness to take part in essential military and functional training. Then, you must be ready to serve in the military uniform.

The requirements listed above are the same for anyone who desires to apply for the South African Special Forces or any of the other forces based on the SANDF recruitment 2019. Besides, there are some other specialised added requirements for anyone who desires to apply for any of the other forces apart from the army. So, for instance, if you check through the official website of the South African Air Force, you can get to know about the added requirements.

Moreover, if you are applying for the SA Navy, there are other requirements that you must note also. As an engineer or technician, together with your completed Grade 12, you should have Mathematics and Physical Science with a minimum of level 3. Besides, as a graduate, in Mechanical, Marine, or Electrical Engineering, you should have N6 with Trade Test Certificate.

How do I apply for SANDF?

To be able to work with the SA Army, the first thing that you need to do, now that you have known the requirements, is to download the SA Army application form

 from the Department of Defence’s official website. This Defence Intelligence application form must be carefully filled with the relevant information, and upon submission, please note that you will have to submit with the following documents:

• A valid means of identification/ID card;
• The authentic and verifiable copy of your grade 12 certificate. On the alternative, you can submit an attestation if you are presently in your 12th grade or you have not received your certificate;
• Your up-to-date Curriculum Vitae;
• The certificate of highest academic qualification which you have obtained so far.

Kindly note that if you are also interested in the South African Navy application forms or you desire to apply for the SA Airforce

, you can also download the form of each of them from their official websites. And once you have completed the form, note the following addresses also where you can submit the form to depending on which you are applying for:

1. SA Army contact address

The South African Department of Defense,

Directorate Human Resource acquisition,

Private Bag X2381,

Pretoria, 0001.

2. SA Navy contact address

The Department of Defence,

SA Navy Headquarter (Recruitment Center)

Private Bag X104,

Pretoria, 0001.

3. SAAF contact address

SA Air Force Headquarters (Directorate of Human Resource Services),

Private Bag X199,

Pretoria, 0001.

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Military Skills Development System (MSDS) 2025-2026 | SA Army

The South African Army invites unemployed youth to apply for the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) 2025-2026

The duration of this Training Programme is 12-24 months taking place in all 9 provinces around SA.

Military Skills Development System (MSDS)

The Military Skills Development System (MSDS) is a two-year voluntary service system that allows young South African citizens to serve in uniform.

Successful MSDS candidates will receive basic military training, specific mustering, and functional training in the first year and be utilized or deployed internally or externally in the second year of the MSDS.

After the 2 years, you will either continue as part of the Reserve Force or receive a contract offer to join the Regular Force.

What kind of training can you expect?

In the first 2 years of voluntary service, you can expect to receive the following training.

First Year of Military Skills Development Service

• Basic military training and functional training.
• Corps-specific training.
• Participation in practical military exercises.
• Combat-ready training exercises.
• Selection of junior leaders.

Second Year of Military Skills Development Service

• Junior leaders (Officers) are receiving leader group corps training.
• Undergo Young Officers Formative training.
• Selection of Officers to study at the Military Academy.
• Focus on utilization and deployment of Military Skills Development System troops.

More information

Military Skills Development System members will receive wages for the duration of their two-year full-time training and utilization.

If you are interested in joining the Military Skills Development System, you can contact SANDF’s Western Cape recruitment offices at 021 787 1144, or you can contact SANDF’s head office at (012) 355 6999 or via email at info@dod.mil.za.

Requirements for the MSDS program

To qualify for the MSDS program, you have to meet the following requirements:

• Be a South African citizen only. (No dual citizenship).
• Grade 12 Applicants must be between the ages of 18 – 22 years.
• Graduates and/or other Tertiary Qualifications up to the age of 26 years.
• Completed Grade 12 with (Average of 50% or level 4) (Mathematics and Science will be advantageous).
• Admission Point Score (APS) of 17 excluded Life Orientation (LO).
• Leadership potential.
• Not to be area bound.
• Have no criminal record or pending cases.
• Comply with medical fitness requirements for the appointment (Minimum height Females 148cm, Males 155cm and Minimum weight Females 48kg, Males 52kg (Within average height/weight ratio.

How to apply

Applicants have to complete an application form for the army, navy, or air force and submit it with the following certified documents:

• Copy of ID,
• copy of Grade 12 certificate/statement of results,
• highest achieved qualifications (e.g. Degree, National Diploma or N6), and
• a short CV.

Once your application form is completed, and all your documents have been certified, you can post it to:

SA Army HQ
Chief Directorate Army Corporate Services
Directorate Army Human Resource
Private Bag X 981
Pretoria 0001

Specific related inquiries can be directed to 012 339 5803/5781/5243. Further information can be obtained at www.dod.mil.za and www.army.mil.za.

You can also follow up on your application by contacting SANDF’s human resources department at 012 339 5803/5781/5243 or via email: at dhracq@gmail.com.

Applications close on 29 February 2020. If you don’t from SANDF by 31 October 2020 please consider your application unsuccessful.

Note: Requirements to join the South African Air Force (SAAF), Navy (SAN), and the Military Health Service (SAMHS) may differ from that of the SA Army, please contact to SANDF at 021 787 1144 to find out more.

Application forms: SA Army, SA Navy, SA Air Force pilots and engineers, SA Air Force technical support, and SA Military Health Services.

SA Army Intelligence Traineeship Programme

The MSD program is a two-year voluntary service system with the long-term goal of enhancing the SA National Defence Force’s deployment capability. Recruits are required to sign up for a period of two years, during which they will receive Basic and Functional Military Training in their first year of service. Recruits wishing to join the Special Forces can complete any of the other Services’ MSD programs during the first year. During the second year of service, potential candidates will attend the Special Forces Basic Training Cycle.

• South African citizen (No dual citizenship)
• Age between 18 and 22 (graduates 26)
• Currently in Grade 12 or completed
• Not area bound
• No record of serious criminal offense or offenses
• Preferably single
• Comply with medical fitness requirements for appointment in the SANDF

How to apply

Application for SA Army MSDS will be available here for download, you can check the picture of the application below.

Attach CV with certified copies of qualifications and ID to this application form and send to the SA Army Headquarters, Chief Army Corporate Services, Directorate Army Human Resources, Private Bag X981, Pretoria 0001.

Notifications

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MSDS Military Health Service Recruits intake 2025-2026

We are pleased to inform you about the SA MSDS Military Health Service Recruits intake for 2025-2026| read full details below

The National Defence Force’s ongoing contribution to job creation – the military skills development system (MSDS) – this year shows a slight improvement in the number of young people who made selections and are now doing basic military training (BMT).

Figures supplied by the SA National Defence Force’s (SANDF) Directorate: Corporate Communications show the Army was allocated 1 172 recruits who reported for service at the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn earlier this month with a further 245 recruits making the grade for entry into the SA Air Force (SAAF). The SAAF recruits reported for duty at AFB Zwartkop in Centurion. defenceWeb previously reported the SA Navy had taken 228 recruits “aboard” at SAS Saldanha.

The SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) was not allocated any MSDS recruits for the current two-year training cycle. Last year 150 MSDS recruits entered the military health service.

This year’s intake of 1 645 is slightly up on the 2018 figure of 1 552 but less than the previous year’s 2 066.

On successful completion of basic military training, the 2019 intake will undergo further training in musterings ranging from fire and emergency services to chefs and other support functions in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF). Combat musterings for further training in the landward (SA Army) and maritime (SA Navy) services are also possible.

MSDS recruits spend two years in uniform and while this service is no guarantee of further – permanent or semi-permanent – employment in the South African military, there are instances where those who have completed the two years of voluntary service are offered short-term employment contracts in the national defence force’s full-time component. The Reserve Force is generally where MSDs who find themselves not accepted by the full-time force go to apply and utilise their military skills.

The Navy is currently seeking applications for the 2020 MSDS intake and makes specific mention of posts in the combat, engineering, technical and support fields as well as the maritime reaction squadron (MRS). The application form can be obtained from any SANDF recruitment office or downloaded from the Navy website -https://www.navy.mil.za

To qualify for the MSDS programme, applicants need to be South African citizens between 18 and 22 years old (graduates up to the age of 26 years); be currently busy with the National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or have completed it; not be area bound; have no record of a criminal offence; be preferably single; comply with medical fitness requirements for appointment in the South African National Defence Force; and be prepared to do Basic Military Training, Functional Training and to serve in uniform.

In the first year of voluntary service, members can expect to receive basic military training and functional training; corps-specific training; participation in practical military exercises; combat-ready training exercises and selection of junior leaders.

During the second year of training, junior leaders (Officers) receive leader group corps training. Members also undergo young officers’ formative training and officers are selected to study at the Military Academy. There is also a focus on the utilisation and deployment of Military Skills Development System troops.

Military Skills Development System members will receive wages for the duration of their two-year full-time training and utilisation.

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