Armour Formation Hosts the 2019 Military Skills Competition in Potchefstroom Article by: MR K. Mogoane, Defence Reserves Division (Intern)

Photographs by: Sgt N.D. Malatji, Defence Reserves Division

Competing teams from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, Nigeria, the United

States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) started to make their way through O.R

Tambo International Airport on 20 October 2019. With the opening of the 2019 Military Skills

Competition only a day away, these international teams were picked up from the OR Tambo

International Airport and transported to Potchefstroom, where they would face each other and

the teams from South Africa in a tough Military Skills Competition.

Participants of 2019 Military Skills Competition saluting Brig Gen Mbotyi.

On the 21st of October, an opening parade signalled the start of the 2019 Military Skills

Competition. The competing teams were welcomed and introduced to the spectators.

Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Mbotyi, General Officer Commanding, SA Army Armour

Formation officiated at the opening ceremony. He welcomed the Defence Reserves, the

Reserve Force Council (RFC) and all international and South African participants. This year

there were more than 300 participants and officials making this the biggest Military Skills

Competition hosted by the SANDF since its inception in 2006.

Brig Gen Mbotyi welcoming the participants and support staff during the official

opening of the 2019 Military Skills Competition.

In his speech Brigadier General Mbotyi took the time to explain the purpose of the Military

Skills Competition to the competitors and spectators. A “Military Skills Competition evaluates

the combat readiness of the participants, combining mental and physical testing, and the

competition offers combatants the opportunity to rub shoulders and foster good

relationships”. In his closing, the General encouraged participants to persist and conquer

their fears. He conveyed his appreciation to the organisers of the event and declared the

2019 Military Skills Competition open.

Brig Gen Mbotyi and representatives of various countries and the OC of 4 Arty Regt.

The teams were orientated over a two day period. On the second day of the competition the

teams were afforded the opportunity to train and familiarise themselves with the equipment

that they would be using as well as the obstacles that they would have to navigate through.

The actual competition started off on Wednesday afternoon in all earnest. All teams had to

conquer the following challenges: Water Obstacle, Land Obstacle, Grenade Throwing, Pistol-

and Rifle Shooting.

2019 Military Skills Competition participants scoring their points on R4 shooting targets.

At the Shooting Range THE RESERVE FORCE VOLUNTEER MAGAZINE editorial member

took the opportunity to speak to some of the South African participants who expressed what

a great privilege it was to represent their Units and be ambassadors for South Africa and the

SANDF. They were also expecting to improve on the previous years’ performances and said

that they were not expecting to lose the competition to their international rivals. Command

Sergeant Major Maynard of the United States Army who was competing for the first time at

the competition said his first time in South Africa was positive and he enjoyed being in the

country and acknowledged how hard the competition organisers worked to make it run as

smoothly. He also mentioned that the competition was an excellent training environment as

the competition encourages people to work hard and that his team will always fight to win as

it was the American way. Lieutenant (Lt) Fasasi of the Nigerian Army, who was also at the

competition for the first time was looking forward to the Combat Run, Land Obstacle Course

and Water Obstacles because he believed that the excellent preparation the Nigerian team

had done prepared them from the competition. Lt Fasasi also said that “this competition helps

soldiers to do well, it creates unity and mutual understanding and a learning opportunity”.

One of the highlights of the competition was in the swimming pool (Water Obstacle Exercise),

where the Nigerian participants set the fastest times for both men and women. Private

Williams Gbekemeye clocked 26.00 seconds and Staff Sergeant Felix Yeiyah 29.00 seconds.

Their female teammates Private Selekowe Tare and Corporal Feku Fadurandce set times of

35.00 and 37.00 seconds respectively.

Private Williams Gbekemeye of Nigerian Defence Force set a record in the swimming

obstacle competition.

The last event of the 2019 Military Skills Competition was the Combat Run that took place on

the morning of 26 October 2019. This 8km Combat Run was dominated by the Nigerian team

with L/Cpl Raymond Nanribet, the fastest male finishing with a time of 28 minutes and 39

seconds, Nigeria’s Private H Adewale was the first female competitor to cross the finish line

in a time of 34 minutes and 21 seconds. The Combat Run was followed by a prize giving

ceremony later that day at 4 Artillery Regiment. Chief Defence Reserves, Major General (Maj.

Gen) Andersen, served as one of the functionaries at this prestigious event, where trophies,

medals and certificates were presented to the winners as a reward for their hard work. The

international guests also took time to show their appreciation to their hosts by presenting gifts

to the competition organisers and senior SANDF members present.

Chief Defence Reserves, Maj. Gen Andersen who was delighted to be back home at 4 Artillery

Regiment where he completed his Basic Military Training in 1966, addressed the attendees

during the awards ceremony of the 2019 Military Skills Competition. In his speech Major

General Andersen gave recognition to the attaches present and all the participants. He gave

a particularly warm welcome to the international participants. He emphasised what privilege

it was to have the outgoing Chief of Staff of the SANDF, Lt Gen V.R. Masondo present at the

awards ceremony. Maj. Gen. Andersen said that “the Defence Reserves are making a serious

difference on the borders. He is proud of the positive contribution that Reserves were making

during OPS CORONA and in the Vaal. He congratulated all winning recipients and conveyed

his gratitude to the Reserve Force Council (RFC) for their role and requested all present to

travel safely to their destinations. Lt Gen V.R Masondo declared the 2019 Military Skills

Competition closed.

Maj. Gen Roy Andersen, Chief Defence Reserves enthusiastically briefed the audience and

invited guests about the Military Skills Competition and its future plans.

Maj Gen R Andersen was delighted and honoured to present the international mens’

overall winner trophy to Lt Col Zeller from Germany at the 2019 Military Skills

Competition.

Brig Gen Kamffer, Director S.A Army Reserves was delighted to present the mens’

overall trophy to a SANDF participant.

FLTR Commodore Mustapha, Maj. Gen Andersen and Brig Gen Abdullahi

presenting token of appreciation from Nigeria.

Middle, 2nd Lt Wilson-Lattimore, an MP, representing USA Defence Force during Z88 Pistol shooting competition.