Military Staff Leaving the SADF.
South Africa's military top brass have warned that the rate at which soldiers, sailors, pilots and technical personnel are being poached from the SANDF poses a serious threat to the country. The loss of pilots to the Australian Air Force alone recently prompted C Air Force, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, to appeal to his Australian counterpart for an end to the poaching. The military officers were presenting the SANDF's strategic plan for the next three years to the national council of provinces' select committee on defence and constitutional affairs.
The SAAF lost 218 technical specialists last year and 253 the year before. Fifty more packed their bags in the first three months of this year and April alone saw 23 technicians leave for greener pastures. Pilots are also leaving in droves. "I have lost my Cheetah Squadron Commander, my Hawk Squadron Commander, my senior instructor on the Hawks and the most knowledgeable person on the Oryx helicopter for the Australian Air Force," complained Gagiano. All in all, the SANDF lost 910 technicians in 2007, more than 11 percent of its entire technical staff. It has caused a juniorisation of technical staff, leaving only a handful of experienced personnel to guide and mentor the rest who average two or three years of experience.
Chief of the SA Navy, V-Adm Johannes Mudimu, sketched a dismal picture of sailors, divers, submariners and navy engineers leaving for higher wages elsewhere. "Many divers are going to Nigeria to work on the oil rigs. Others are going to the Central African Republic to work in their oil industry. We have members who have left for Australia, New Zealand and the British Royal Navy," he said. Note. A universal law determines that if you are not happy, you leave.
http://www.samagte.co.za/phpbbs