SA Army Signal Formation Vision The SA Army Signal Formation is a professional, unique and dynamic signals capability. Mission The mission of the SA Army Signal Formation is to prepare, provide and sustain signal support to the SA Army and specific signal services to the Department of Defence. Mandate The mandate of the SA Army Signal Formation is derived from Chief of the SA Army mandate and is as follows: ◾Pursuance of national defence and the prevention of war failing which to jointly and preferably multi-nationally, swiftly and decisively achieve national security goals. ◾Collaboratively promoting peace and stability internally and externally in concurrence with international obligations. ◾To contribute to the development and upliftment of South Africa its people, and the African continent. History of the South African Army Corps of Signals Colours The South African Corps of Signals’ colours are: ◾Green: Signifying Land Forces. ◾Light Blue: Signifying Air Forces. ◾Dark Blue: Signifying Naval Forces Motto The Corps Motto is “Certa Cito” meaning “Swift and Sure”. Emblem The emblem of the South African Corps of Signals is Mercurius aka “Jimmy”, the messenger of the gods and is recognised world wide as the badge of the military signaller. History Since its establishment in 1923, the role of the South African Corps of Signals has been to provide professional, specialist signal services for the South African Defence Force. In October 1984, the South African Army Signal Formation came into being. Two years later in September 1986, the then Minister of Defence, General M.A. Malan, SSA, SD, SM, officially opened the Military Base Wonderboom, providing the South African Army Signal Formation, and therefore the South African Corps of Signals with a state of the art facility, specifically designed to fit their unique requirements. Initially the units stationed at the Signal Formation were, 2 Signal Regiment, 3 Electronic Workshop, 5 Signal Regiment and the Headquarters Unit. However, in line with the South African National Defence Forces rationalisation programme it was decided to centralise all facets of signals training at the SA Army Signal Formation and in December 1997, the School of Signals and 1 Signal Regiment (is now situated at Rooiwal) were moved from Heidelberg to the South African Army Signal Formation and 4 Electronic Workshop (now known as 4 Signal Regiment), relocated from the Cape to Pretoria. In the late 1990s, as part of the Department of Defence’s transformation process, the Department of Defence decided to group various environments together, elements, which it felt belonged together such as the environments of telecommunication, information technology (IT), registries, documentation services, libraries and electronic warfare, in other words, all forms of communication. This in turn led to the establishment of the Command and Management Information Systems Division (CMIS Division) on 1 April 1999, its task being to deliver the products and services required by a modern defence force. The Command and Management Information Systems Division, which included personnel from all services (Army, Air Force, Navy and Military Health Services) was set the challenge of providing products and services to its clients within the Department of Defence, while keeping abreast of relevant changes in this, the Information Age. As part of this new Command and Management Information Systems Division, the Corps of Signals left the command of the South African Army and was totally incorporated (personnel and all equipment) into the Command and Management Information Systems Division. On 28 March 2008, certain elements of Command and Management Information Systems Division migrated back to the various Services and Divisions. The South African Corps of Signals returned to the command of the South African Army as from 1 April 2008, to be known as the South African Army Signal Formation. Its aim is to provide combat ready Signals User Systems Capabilities to the South African Army and specialist services to the Department of Defence. As part of the migration, hundred and ninety members (190) of the Command and Management Information Systems Division (all services) remained behind to continue the work of the Command and Management Information Systems Division. The three thousand six hundred (3,600) South African Corps of Signals personnel (Army) returned to the South African Army as members of the South African Army Signal Formation. Hundred and forty (140) members of the South African Navy returned, to be incorporated back into their service, while two hundred and fifty (250) South African Air Force members returned to the South African Air Force. In today’s modern army the South African Army Signal Formation provides integrated electronic warfare, command and control and general telecommunication services to satisfy the many and diverse requirements of the South African Army and its designated clients. SA Army Signal Formation also provides operational electronic equipment with related support services, temporary operational supply of power, training in and the provision of computer support and specialist maintenance of support services during operations undertaken by the South African Army and its designated clients and specialist services on request to the Department of Defence. The South African Corps of Signal is celebrating 90 Years of Signal Excellence in 2013 (1923 to 2013). The current General Officer Commanding of the South African Army Signal Formation is Brigadier General Leon L. Eggers, MMM, the Chief of Staff is Colonel M.P. Shashape and the Formation Warrant Officer is Chief Warrant Officer M.E. Mositi. The units/regiments under command are ◾School of Signals ◾1 Signal Regiment. ◾2 Signal Regiment. ◾3 Electronic Workshop. ◾4 Signal Regiment. ◾5 Signal Regiment. ◾7 Signal Group. ◾11 Field Postal Unit. ◾71 Signal Unit. ◾84 Signal Unit. army.mil.za/hq_units/signal_fmn/aboutus.htm
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:39:21 +0000
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