SA Army Chief, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, was on hand at 3 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion in Kimberley to see 1 600 plus Military Skills Development System (MSDS) recruits officially become part of the landward force following basic military training (BMT). Ten awards were presented to recruits for outstanding achievements in specific fields with Rct (Recruit) MB Chiloane’s effort earning the Chief SA Army prestige award. This year’s MSDS intake saw 1 591 recruits going to the SA Army, 460 to the SA Navy, 337 to the SA Air Force, and 150 to the SA Military Health Service. In July, 442 Navy MSDS recruits graduated at a passing out parade at SAS Saldanha. Basic military training is first up followed by specialist mustering training, dependent on service and then deployment to a division, unit or base.