DEPLOYMENT

	Operational deployments move people from their customary environments, causing stress to themselves and to members of their families. The nature of any operational deployment requires intensive personal support to members of the force in order to produce combat ready soldiers, airmen and women, sailors and medical personnel. The Chaplains Service of the SANDF offers this intensive support.
Chaplains are responsible for the following operational functions and tasks: Spiritual growth of deployed members Social support for deployed members and their dependants Ethical conduct – self and deployed members Administration Liaison between all role players Religious guidance to commanders In operational circumstances, chaplains minister to members of the task force and their dependants in close co-operation with medical officers, social work officers and psychologists.

SUPPORT GROUPS

During land, sea and air operations Support Groups are frequently established. These groups are responsible for the establishment and maintenance of communication between families and deployed personnel. Owing to the relationship between chaplains and deployed members and their families, chaplains, in conjunction with Military Welfare Officers (Social Workers) and representatives from families, fulfill an important role as members of Support Groups.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CO-OPERATION

The Chaplains Service Mission Statement states that the Chaplains’ Service ensures that members of the SANDF and their dependants are cared for by the provision of spiritual, social and ethical support. The chaplains’ primary responsibility is spiritual welfare and consequently, they render social support, together with other disciplines, as members of a multi-disciplinary team.

FOREIGN RELATIONSHIP AND MINISTRY

Chaplain General of the SANDF is a member of the SADC Inter-State Defence Security Council (ISDSC) and attends regular meetings of the association. The purpose is to ensure co-operation of each member state in giving spiritual and moral support to all our members.

Chaplain General also provides a pastoral support service to South African diplomatic missions abroad. Regular visits are made to missions in South America, United States of America, Canada, Europe, Far East, Middle East, North East, Central and West Africa, Asia and Russia.

Chaplain General maintains ongoing contact with Chaplain Generals of the Defence Forces of most countries with which South Africa has diplomatic relations.

CHAPLAINS’ TRAINING

All chaplains appointed within the SANDF undergo development training consisting of the following:

• Induction Phase
• Orientation Phase
• Officers’ Formative Course

Further professional and functional training available to chaplains comprises:

• Theological Enrichment Courses
• Professional Tertiary Training

Certain chaplains that have been identified for future managerial post also undergo the following military courses:

o Junior Command and Staff Duties Course
o Joint Senior Command and Staff Duties Course
o Executive National Security Programme (ENSP)

The identification of chaplains for courses is the responsibility of Chaplain General in consultation with the SSO of the various Services and the SSO Education Training and Development (ETD).