The South African National Defence Force Reserves is a voluntary and part-time directorate of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The reserves provide guidance, assistance and expertise to our armed forces, and they’ll respond to crises that arise.
Requirements to join the reserves
If you would like to join the army reserves, you have to meet the following requirements:
- A South African citizen.
- Medically, mentally and battle fit.
- Between the ages of 18 and 26 years (the required age varies according to the category of training/service) when joining for the first time. This age restriction does not apply to applicants with professional or critical skill qualifications required.
- You must have the attributes and qualifications which are required for your training.
- You must be able to perform the service or duties attached to the post for which you apply.
- If you are employed, your employer must be willing to grant special leave for military activities within reasonable demands.
- Have no criminal record.
Training is provided to new recruits but due to the nature of the system, longer courses are presented in shorter flexible modules.
Other corps may require you to have existing qualifications in that specific field. For example, to join the Air Force Reserves an applicant must have aviation related expertise.
Training
In the first two years of voluntary service, you can expect to receive the following training.
First-year of MSDS
- 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 MSDS
- 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 utilisation and deployment of MSDS troops.
Military Skills Development System members will receive wages for the duration of their two-year full-time training and utilisation.
However, the SANDF has historically been hesitant about providing exact salary information regarding the MSDS programme due to the high number of scams targeting prospective trainees.
Where can you join?
For more information about joining the reserves you can contact SANDF’s Western Cape regional office at 021 787 1162 defres@telkomsa.net.
How much do SA soldiers earn per month?
The average salary for a Soldier is R 11 042 per month in South Africa. Salary estimates are based on 6 salaries submitted anonymously to Indeed by Soldier employees, users, and collected from past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months. The typical tenure for a Soldier is 2-4 years.
How long does SA Army training take?
22 weeks, South African Army recruits undergo 22 weeks of basic military training (BMT), up from 14 weeks in 2005. BMT is the first of a series of training periods undertaken at the SA Army Training Depot in Kimberley.