The 6SAI Battalion held its medal parade on Wednesday, where over 400 awards were made.
The parade was also the inauguration of the proficiency badge of Air Assault which was designed by 6SAI member Major Werner Klokow.
The 6SAI Battalion held its medal parade on Wednesday, where over 400 awards were made.
The parade was also the inauguration of the proficiency badge of Air Assault which was designed by 6SAI member Major Werner Klokow.
Klokow was one of the first 6SAI members to take part in the Air Assault course and thought there should be something to distinguish the Air Assault members from other South African military officers.
He designed a badge in 2005 and it was first awarded at this week’s medal parade. The 325 6SAI members who completed the Air Assault training are the first in the country to wear the badge.
In his speech at the medal parade, Officer Commanding 6SAI, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Gopane said the unit achieved “what was our mandate as prescribed by the General Officer Commanding Infantry Formation, Major General Themba Nkabinde”.
A number of members were promoted during the course of the year, which Gopane said “proved beyond reasonable doubt that whoever performs his/her duty is being rewarded accordingly”.
Gopane also noted that the 6SAI were the best unit during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) exercise Golfihno in Lohatla in September where they “played a pivotal role as opposing force to the entire SADC Brigade and they executed the task immaculately”.
Gopane confirmed that “with that participation the unit is combat ready to act as SADC standby force. Congratulations.”
The lieutenant encouraged members to wear the medals with pride and dignity saying “the president of the Republic of South Africa has conferred those medals to you as result of your dedication to serve the Republic of South Africa with pride and dedication".
