As a career (28 years) combat arms Officer and NCO (including nearly 7 years as a Paratrooper) in a foreign Army this is a tough entry level selection course by any standard. To be very proud of.
All four of my brothers served in the SA military from 1980 to 2007. All 4 passed away. My mother used to cry every time she saw a soldier in Durban. Now i do the same crazy cry. Have a lot of respect for our military.
Those negative comments come from those who belonged to the dark past and they wished transition and change should have never taken place. They will try all the tricks in the book to discredit anything good about SA. We usually don't pay attention to such bitterness.
I was a '95er. In Bloemfontein the tunnel crawl was water filled. We also did two rounds of boxing and a round of wrestling. The canister run was tough, but the stretcher run absolute hell.
In the USA we also wear the maroon beret. Its cool to me to see how similar the training is. Altho i will have to say our run requirement is less in my opinion. We need to do a 2 mile ( 3.5km) in 15 min in pt uniform ( shorts and t shirt or pants and long sleeve) where as you tough troops do it in 18 min in full kit ( in what i can only imagineas super hot conditions) . Much respect.
I think all young South Africans must for some military training. Nothing as intense as this but something that will instill discipline, nationalism and some self-defense skills and the ability to defend the country from domestic and external threats if the need ever arises.
I so agree with you Iggy. I feel it will do a lot of difference in our society. Beside, I heard, their discipline is much needed in this now generation. I know self-discipline is key, but we really need their help now
@@colinmasekwameng3124 Unfotunately, ill-discipline & lawlessness are not solved by national service, many are broken before they enter national service and remain broken or are even more spiteful of authority should they fall foul of military discipline. The appropriate candidates for PF or NS are those with honor, respect, self-dscipline and a pride in their Country which is either inherent in their characters irrespective of personal circumstance or is imparted upon the individual by social norms of the nuclear family unit, schooling and faith (the laws of the land which respect the inalienable rights of all living things). To distinguish between right and wrong. The other traits are in the category of higher order thinking which come with maturity and advanced forms education, barring indoctrination. Most NS I met had no racial qalms, our purpose was to serve our Country, to protect our borders, way of life, and all the peoples within the Republic of South Africa. I spoke to a Kenyan UCT Masters student this year, the tudent was surprised to learn that model C schools during my era taught one of or a combination isisXhosa, isiZulu and Sotho amongst the optional curricular subjects which also included French and German. The US/EU/Nato UN propaganda has indeed done a marvellous job in disseminating ignorance and falsehoods. imho.
My dad Johannes Diederik Swanepoel was proud of many things but being a Maroon beret had to be number 1. He was only 17 when he got his wings and at the time the first one with Asthma to get it. About 1966/67. R.I.P Outop.
Back in the day, they were delayed parachute high explosive ordnance or in Afrikaans vleis bombe, hats off to the virgins the test is under fire. Rip to the roll of Honour in the C.A.R. may your memories live forever.
Dit is vir my so snaak hoe die weermag mekaar name gee soos wat die parabats vir die pantserskool waar my pa opgelei was het hulle my pa hulle die noddiekarretjies genoem 😂
This easier said than done, i failed a para.. entry level at Oudtshoorn 2006 because of chin splints.This is emotional to watch for some of us with first hand experience.
Every time I watch these videos they just tend to uplift me and rejuvenate my love for the SANDF. actually applied in February 2016 in the Army and Im still waiting with my fingers crossed.. #Gladium Practamus!!!!
As A American who’s Son has been A Special Forces Doctor for many years now and started as a paramedic with the First Armored I am very Proud of these Men. Yes even those who came so close but failed the selection. You are still Men of Honor in My eyes. I say this because I have known many including My Uncles who went to battle in WW2 with far less time to train. They were no better than Many of those who tried and failed this course . They faced all kinds of adversities. I was always told that it was 99% luck and 1% training that anyone survives heavy prolonged combat. My Uncle Who was a Machine Gunner in Italy was in more consecutive days of combat than many other’s who fought in other area’s. Training is very important but temper it with the knowledge that even the very best soldiers can fall to a untrained youth.
Were you there in 2SSB Zeerust that New Years Eve? We were supposed to have a fight but it ended a big piss up with us and the parabats. Happy days lol
Brings back memories, but it's very different from when I was at 1 Para Bn in 1978-79. Our PT course was 2 weeks, followed by the less strenuous jump course, which was 3 weeks, if memory serves.
I did basics at 5sai ladysmith then went to gordons bay for san officers course in mid 80 s it was exactly like this and I will remember the pain anguish and the elation forever
In the beginning they stated that 170 soldiers started in the program or this class, but they failed to explain the number of soldiers that didn't make the cut - that is unless I missed it. I will say that for a basic parachutist school, this is far more tougher then both the US Army's Airborne School (basic) and the US Army's Air Assault School combined.
Yes, but you have to realize that this isn't the normal airforce, this is one of the special forces of South Africa and they have been famous for this kind of thing for years.
This is awesome. I always thought we had playing troops. I am even thinking of my violent lil brother who wanted to join the SANDF so badly after matric. This could humble him
these guys were working together, i m amused by one guy he said ' am not a super seyan, am super human, am also get tired.i am proud of maroon beret boys
I bet you wouldn't be once you realise how ineffective it would be against a conventional enemy and how questionable the promotions are I mean why do they have so many generals and such a small budget I mean they should atleast recieve USD 11bn
@@thapelophemelo2393 I am proud of them because this is people willing to die in order to keep the country safe so that we can have a nice and peaceful life.
I lived and grown up in South Africa and admire my friends Brothers that were in the Paratroopers Special Forces employed in the Angola border war, much Respect for them. I did my military service in the Alpìni AMF- Nato Forces and participated in Nato exercises.
+charne trout No such thing as a "Parabat Course" Charne. PT course or "Selection" and Jump course. In order to be a "Parabat" you must serve with the Parachute Battalion. Anyway that should not take away any pride that you feel. Best of luck.
I was at his jump parade in bloemfontein. his course photo says parachute regiment. and fyi hes a Marine so he is able to do the course as his platoon is trained to serve with all the divisions
Yup the photo will say Para Reg because that is where the course is done. I understand that he is a Marine. Now he is a military jump qualified Marine. A Parabat is someone who actually serves and trains with the PARAchute BATtalion. Calling the Jump course "Bats Course" is an incorrect colloquialism Anyway good for him well done!
I meant to add serves and trains with the Battalion as an actual member of the Parachute Battalion and completes their full training cycle. Members of other units can deploy with them in a support role if they are jump qualified. Eg Sappers, Artillery etc. All these jump qualified members of other units return back to their units once having successfully completing the jump course. Or at least in my day they did only the Ops Medics that were originally part of the Para Bn returned to the Para Bn to deploy full time in Parachute Bn company.
I have been wanting to a soldier oneday from the age of 4, i remember..growing up with no motivations and inspirations ended changing my mind, now I'm busy with my diploma in MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, But allow me to say men i have all my respect for you,..i salute your passion and love & pride in what you do...
I was in the Paras in July 1980- July 1982. It is easy to comment here just looking at the video alone. The stretcher run looks tough indeed as it devastates the wrists, but honestly, how tough is this selection really and in general? Those "battery tests" were not that hard if you were basically fit. The true afkak were those endless PT training and running with full battle gear for kilometers on end. Up to 25 km, and many other surprises you can only discuss with a fellow bat.
@@sdhus3811 Definitely not SASF, they are specialised airborne infantry, they don't fall under JOPS (joint operations), however many SASF (South African Special Forces) operators are from the 1 parachute battalion (the Battalion these soldiers are trying out for).
I love the way they said "Equal Standards" I wish the fucking US Army would do the same. I don't know how actually how true that is I hope some South African Paratroopers will tell me. The reason is the US Army Airborne School has different standards for men and women. Some women can run just as fast as the guys because most of the women were athletes during their teenage years and progressed as Officer Candidates in West Point Military Academy or College ROTC. Very few women in the enlisted ranks are true athletes. From what I saw in this video the forced road marches and runs in full battle gear is a true equalizer. The obstacle courses which weeds out both sexes is outstanding. US Army Airborne School only teaches you just to jump out of an airplane which is easy. True selection is what the SADF have got right.
The US Army Airborne School is way easy. The first females in the US Army to graduate Airborne School was in 1974. Before that it was brutal to WWII standards for all males.
White South Africans who live overseas will always say something negative. Stop sitting on the couch and spitting nonsense with your fingers, there’s selection every year. Let’s see how tough your fingers are.
Im a white ex- South African living overseas being in the old SAAF '83 till '95. I still miss SA very much, the old one and the new one. I really hope you guys there make SA great again. Still proud ex SA white guy.
@@DirtyMikeandTheBoys69 you can look in the official sandf site..you will see there numbers. The army is open for all south africans..colour doesnt matter
I did my training in 1993 at 44 parachute regiment , training was tough ,creating professional and brave soldier.irrespective of how tough is the situation,our motto was no retreat ,no surrender. Paratroopers don't die , they die by mistake .
Our instructors were always 5 times tougher than us. They would never wear fleece jackets while we shivered in the cold. Mechanised infantry 1sai. We did all of this also, except we didn't have to jump out of aeroplanes. Fair play to these lads.
SANDF Parabats basic selection program (72 hours): 3:50 Entry test on zero day: 3,2 km run (full battle dress) for 18 minutes First day: 5:08 "The Wall" obstacle (around 2 meters tall); 6:26 Rope Climbing to hangar ceiling (ot 5cm thick rope) 7:02 Fireman carry (in battle dress) - for 175 meters in 75 second or less (you carry someone of you own weight) 8:12 Shuttle kicks 8:36 Push ups - 40 push ups without breaking rhythm. 9:36 Shuttle runs - 40 shuttle runs (6,15 meters apart) in 95 seconds 10:13 Sit ups - 67 sit ups in 2 minutes 10:47 Obstacle course - 7 different obstacles - 1.ramp walk(for balance); 2. wall climbover; 3. pipe crawl(around 6 meters); 4. jump over wooden bar at chest height; 5. crawl on a muddy incline under barbed wire; 6. walking on small upside-down logs. 7. ???? 12:20 Night navigation exercise - cross obsticles that are between each other 1km to 12 km apart. 3 man team must carry logs for 1 km. Second day: 12:48 Canister run - 4,6 km dirt road in less the 40 minutes with full battle dress carrying a 84 mm ammunition container (unknown weight) 14:45 Boxing 16:14 Marble (rock) - push it overhead and push it when lying down; and Pole - push it when lying down as well as variations (fun!) 17:06 - Digging trenches - Third day: 18:30 Field obstacle course (for unspecified time) 21:12 a 15 km speed march (full battle gear and backpack - a grand total of 26 kg in equipment) in 2 hours and 45 minutes (on dirt road) 22:37 Stretcher run (in full battle dress, no backpack) - four man teams carry stretchers (with a weight of 75 kg) by hand for 12 kilometers in 2 hours and 15 minutes ( if the stretcher touches the ground at any time it's DQ for the entire team) Overall: a pretty decent workout!
Bats - This is the new South Africa, In the old South Africa it was 90% conscripted white soldiers R7 per day, 10% black volunteers R100 per day. Now it is nice to see, they are all career soldiers volunteering to join, hopefully all paid the same according to rank, though still this lack of balanced demographics.
Lol they probably wouldn't show too much of that if any at all. My plan when I'm finished school is to enlist and go straight to Paratroopers then train as a Pathfinder then Recce. Pathfinder school to get a taste of hard training and see what I'm made of.
Im trying to join 44. Can anyone tell me if there is a physical document that i can give to my unit for more information? I am struggling to get things rolling for the selection process.
Nice video. I really respect and I'm an admirer of SADF. They have a proud and rich history. However, I wander if these amateurs are as good as their fellows from 60's to 80's. Not only by the fact that they fought, but those are REAL warriors. All of them seem REAL ladies and they behave as if they were in a playground. Is this training and selection as hard as it was?
Hi Marco This video is the initial selection at the earliest stage of the process. This is the first what will be a number of video's on this subject. I am not qualified to say if things have changed, but stay tuned and decide for yourself! Regards
@@ginger0208 Of course that no. After Mandela's government, its capacities are gradatively going down. The real warriors were those up until 90's and, if much, the beginning of 2000's.
@@marcosambrosino And where are those warriors bangat......if they were warriors Mandela wouldn't have kicked their assessment to Australia right......?
