In addition to putting South Africa’s military equipment and skills on display at Armed Forces Day (AFD), in actual fact a week-long event, this year also has an educational component.
Importantly, it concentrates on what the education profession calls the STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – subjects with Military Academy staffer Lieutenant Colonel Doctor L Monaledi taking the lead.
This year’s AFD events, currently underway in and around Thohoyandou in Limpopo and culminating in a brigade level parade with SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Commander-in-Chief President Cyril Ramaphosa taking the salute in the erstwhile Venda capital on Saturday, have seen demonstrations of military skills and military health professionals providing services to Limpopo residents.
On skills and specifically defence and military applications, SANDF personnel are manning career guidance and information stands. This dovetails with the Saldanha-based officer’ specialised maths and science lessons aimed at local grade 11 and 12 scholars at the AFD fan park.
On the intricacies of mathematics and science, the DoD/SANDF has it these can be intimidating but instructors are on hand to break down barriers. High school students attending are taught innovative, “easy way” methods to tackle complex equations and scientific theories, proving with the right guidance, no problem is unsolvable. The effort is, in addition to assisting matric students, promoting the importance of STEM careers in the SANDF.
An indicator of the importance attached to the AFD maths and science effort came in the form of a hands-on call from Lieutenant General Malungisa Sitshongaye, DoD Human Resources Division Chief. He is also a regular sight at the various service career exhibitions.
