My Life in the SADF as a Sapper

 2 Field Engineer's Main gates

My name is Ian Buchanan, I lived in Durban, South Africa, the year was 1986. I received my call up papers for February 1987 intake - 2 Field Engineers Regiment in Bethlehem, Orange Free State just before my finals in Matric, what a blow.

February 1987: Off to army -

At Durban station I board this train with no windows, wave goodbye to family, friends and my girlfriend. I find out from one of the many armed guards that we are very valuable cargo and we are also quite a target - great!!!

No windows were allowed, they all had to be blacked out and locked. I boarded and joined another lost soul in our compartment.

The train arrives in Bethlehem in the Orange Free State at 04:30 and as some are half pissed like me, we alight the train into the darkness under armed guard. After we are all herded like sheep we are led off into the darkness by at least 20 to 30 MP's for a 10 minute walk to the camp. We arrive at 21 Field Engineers, also known as main base and we are given our first taste of army cuisine, coffee and a rusk. This was actually very welcome considering the time and the outside ambient temperature being about -15. We then are led off to get a couple of hours sleep in a huge hall.

At 08:00 we are woken up to start our first day as a troep (soldier), do the medicals, get classified G1K1 and your in. Then off to do the dreaded paperwork which was loads and literally sign your life away to the SADF. I started to worry when I was asked to fill in a last will and testament!!!!!

Kit Issue Item	Description	Quantity
Clothing : Boots Takkies Plakkies - "Moses Shoes" Balaclava Boshoed Balkie Beret Browns Shirts Browns Shirts Browns Pants Overalls Socks Underpants Vests PT Shorts PT Shirts Jersey Groot Jas Bush jacket - Bosbaadjie Raincoat Scarf Web belt	Long Sleeve Short Sleeve	2 pairs 1 pair 1 pair 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 pairs 3 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1

We then get issued our uniform and kit which is listed above and then head off to have our hair virtually shaved off, I have never been so bald in my life, I felt and looked like a criminal. Now that we all look the part things then got interesting as we were no longer civvies. Now we are being shouted and screamed at, told we no longer have a mother to run to and protect us and this idiot who I remember as Cpl Kiss is now the only person in the world that cares for me. And then of course the language and the insults used at us, I was by no means an angel but!!!!! Where did the army get these ingrates of society they called corporals. In hindsight he was worse than what I remember later on into training.

 Us Roof's (Newbies) waiting at the barber to get our heads shaved yet again.......

I then realised life was to be very different indeed, as our training had started, I felt like all these fools who were training us were cruel devout devil worshipers.

The running, drilling and PT training then started, on the parade ground in the far corner stood a concrete drainage pipe stuck in the ground and painted like a cigarette with a name being LIFE brand. This we had to run around every two minutes if we did'nt do something right, come to think of it we ran everywhere, even when we ate if the corporal saw fit. As time went on we started to get fit and we also started to learn team work, we were actually getting this army thing.

Charlie bungalow - ready for inspection

Now I guess we have all heard about basic training and how tough it is - well believe it. I do not believe I was ready for what was coming, the physical training, drilling, being screamed at all day and physically and mentally abused - all this for three months for the sole purpose of breaking you and then re-programming you. In essence starting over with a new you.

During my training I did learn a lot about my body and pain, I did things I never dreamed I could achieve after loads more hurt, sweat and team work the next thing you know we have passed basic training and are off home for a 3 days pass for a well deserved rest and my first drink in my three month stint.

An Op Fok (Corrective Behaviour Training)

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