South Africa has a strong military tradition, with many young people joining the armed forces after high school. But what if your son or daughter wants to join up even earlier?
Military schools in South Africa offer both boys and girls the chance to train as soldiers while they’re still at school – so they can be ready for active duty when they graduate.
In this article, we explain the exact process of enrolling your child in a military school in South Africa, what options you have, and the benefits of having your kids train early.
If you think your child might like this option, here are some questions you might have about military schools in South Africa.
What are Military Schools?
Military schools in South Africa are for people who have the ambition to enter the military or just equip themselves with security awareness training. They teach the students military skills and discipline, and students can join the army or other paramilitary outfits upon graduating from these schools.
Are Military Schools in South Africa Free?
Before you can even think about applying for a military school in South Africa, it is important to know that most of them are not free. The costs will vary depending on the type of school and the type of course you want to do, but typically we can expect this to cost around R50 000 – R100 000 per year.
Fortunately, there are some scholarships available that can help ease these costs slightly and make it more manageable for learners who really want to attend these schools but might be unable to afford them otherwise.
How to Enroll in a Military School in South Africa
Basically, to enroll in a military school in South Africa, these are the easy steps:
- Apply to the school
- Send in your documents
- Pay the school fees
- Attend the school
However, there are important requirements that must be met by the applicants. Many of these military schools in South Africa are intended for students who have completed high school.
Using Stellenbosch University’s Military Academy, these are the requirements for enrolling in a military school in South Africa:
- You must be between the ages of 18 – 22 at the time of your application.
- You must be a member of the South African National Defense Force. Here’s how to join.
- You must comply with the requirements for medical fitness as laid down by the Surgeon General.
- You must be computer literate before commencing with studies.
- You must be in possession of a matriculation exemption with a minimum of D-aggregate.
- Have no criminal offense record.
- Be currently busy with the National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or have completed it.
- Be preferably single.
Benefits of Sending my Child to a Military School
- Attention to detail. Military schools teach their students the importance of paying attention to detail, which is something that will help them in their future careers.
- Discipline and respect. Some people may think that military schools are harsh and cruel, but they are actually much more focused on discipline and respect than most other schools. This can be extremely beneficial for your child if you want them to learn how to be respectful towards others in their lives as well as how to follow rules without question or hesitation.
- Innovation and creativity. Military schools are known for having a very creative environment where students can express themselves freely without fear of judgment from others around them (or any other form of negativity).
Skills Required to Join the Military
If you’re thinking of joining the military, you’ll need to be prepared for a few things.
The military is not for everyone. It’s not just about following orders—it’s about being able to take orders and follow them well under pressure. It’s also not just about being in shape—it’s about being able to work out on a regular basis and keep up with your fellow soldiers so that you can all accomplish your mission together.
Before you sign up, it’s important that you know what to expect from life in the military. Here are some things you should be able to do before you join:
- Be willing to relocate at short notice
- Be willing to work shift work
- Have good eyesight and hearing
- Be able to lift heavy objects
- Have good communication skills
How Long Does Military Training Take?
The length of military training depends on the school, but it’s usually a minimum of three years. While the Telematic Education Platform is usually four to six years.
In the end, you need to determine what is important to you when choosing between these schools: cost or length.
Also, for students who wish to be drafted into the military directly, it will take 22 weeks for them to complete their Basic Military Training (BMT). After which they can move up the ranks from there.
Where Can I Study in Military Schools in South Africa?
Military schools are located in different cities, provinces, and countries. Military schools are also located on different continents.
Military schools offer you a good opportunity to study the core subjects of your choice while at the same time getting trained in military matters like leadership skills and discipline.
The skills that you acquire at these military schools can be applied to any sector of life since they are applicable to any profession or field of work that you may pursue after graduation.
The following are the military schools found in South Africa:
South Africa Military Academy, Saldanha
South Africa Military Academy is a military school located in Saldanha, South Africa. It was founded in 1950 and is one of the oldest military academies in the country.
The school was established as an academy unit of the SANDF; it houses the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University.
The academy offers a range of courses to its students, including a military course, a police course, and an engineering course. This diversity allows students to choose their own path after graduation.
These courses offered include:
- Military Geography
- Computer and Information Systems
- Aeronautical Science
- Nautical Science
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Education Technology
- Military Technology
- Accounting and Auditing
- Development Management
- Economics, and many more.
It is widely regarded as the best military school in South Africa.
SA Army Combat Training Center
SA Army Combat Training Centre is a military school located in Elandsfontein, Gauteng. It’s an academy that trains members of the SA Army.
It’s part of the SA Army, which is one of South Africa’s largest and most versatile forces. The school teaches you how to fight and survive in different environments and situations (including desert, jungle, and urban).
Defense Works Training School, Elandsfontein
The Defense Works Training School is a military and self-awareness training school that has been in operation for a long time. The school provides boarding facilities for its students. The mode of teaching that this school employs is interactive and makes self-defense enjoyable.
Students at this military school are taught about military discipline, leadership skills, patriotism, and citizenship. Students who wish to become career soldiers have to complete basic combat training before they can enter the armed forces after graduation from high school or college; they may find this training useful.
It is open to anyone who wants to learn to become better at protecting themselves in threatening situations that they may otherwise not be able to get out of.
The South African Naval College (SANC) is the only naval training college in the country. It’s also the only military school where you can train to become a naval officer. You can study towards a degree in naval architecture and marine engineering at SANC, or just take classes that pique your interest—the choice is yours.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career with the South African Navy, this should be one of your top choices for schools to attend.
SAAF College Training and Development, Centurion
SAAF College Training and Development, located in Centurion, is the only school of its kind in South Africa. It trains pilots and engineers for service in the South African Air Force. It is the equivalent of the South African Naval College.
The two-year program consists of classroom instruction as well as hands-on training that puts students through situations they might encounter while working on aircraft or other vehicles used by the military.
SA Army College, Centurion
SA Army College is a military school in Centurion that offers boarding facilities, and it trains students for the South African National Defence Force. The school has an Army camp and a Naval base to teach cadets about military life. It is the army school equivalent of SANC (navy) and SAAF (airforce) military schools earlier talked about.
SA Army College is also an academy for teenagers who wish to become officers within the South African Defence Force (SADF).
Milites Dei Academy, White River
The Milites Dei Academy, a private military school located in White River, Mpumalanga, offers boarding and day classes. While day students attend classes during the weekdays, boarding students live at the school all week long. This is a great option for those who want to get away from home but still receive a quality military education.
The academy has all the necessary accreditations, and its faculty members have strong military backgrounds and are experts in subjects ranging from history to biology.
The school also boasts excellent sports facilities that include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, cricket pitch, and rugby field to allow students to participate in various sporting activities such as rugby or netball during breaks between lessons.
Popular FAQs About Military Schools in South Africa
Here are some of the most common questions about military schools in South Africa:
What is a military school?
Military schools provide students with the opportunity to receive an education that focuses on discipline, leadership skills, and strong values. Military schools teach students how to be responsible members of society while delivering them a high-quality academic education.
What are some benefits of attending a military school?
The benefits include learning self-discipline, being able to lead other people, and gaining confidence in yourself. Military schools also place great emphasis on physical fitness as well as an academic achievement so you will get fit while you study!
What grades do I need for admission at one of these institutions?
Your grades should be above average or better than average if you want to qualify for admittance into one of these institutions because they only accept top-quality candidates who have good results from previous schools at which they studied previously.
This means that if your grades aren’t good enough, then there’s no point in even applying.
Does South Africa have a military school?
If you are looking for a military school in South Africa, then you will be glad to know that the country has one. One of these schools, arguably the best, is the South African Military Academy located in Saldanha.
There are also six other military schools in South Africa. You can go over this list to find out more.
How do you join a military school in South Africa?
See the requirements covered in this article. The requirements for joining a military school in South Africa and joining the forces have been explained.
What grades do you need for military school?
The grade requirements for military school vary from school to school. The majority of military schools require applicants to have their Grade 12 certificate or equivalent, but some may operate on a higher academic level.
However, it can sometimes be possible to get into a military academy if you are still in Grade 9 or lower. This depends on how many vacancies there are at this particular institution and on whether they have any available bursaries available for students who need financial assistance with their tuition fees.
Wrapping It Up
We hope that this article has answered all your questions about military schools in South Africa and left you well-informed on how to enroll your child in one. As you can see, there are many benefits to sending your child to a military school, so it is definitely worth considering if they show an interest in joining one. If you have any further questions or would like more information on this topic, please comment below.
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