| ID | 131091 |
| Title Proper | Factors influencing military recruitment in South Africa |
| Other Title Information | the voices of Cape Town high school learners |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Smith, Megan ; Heinecken, Lindy |
| Publication | 2014. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This research sets out to establish how the youth in South Africa view military service, and what factors affect the ability of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to attract suitable recruits to staff its modern, technologically advanced military. Due to high levels of youth unemployment, South Africa has sufficient persons volunteering for military service. The problem lies with recruiting sufficient quality personnel with the right profile and abilities. To establish what affects enlistment, focus group discussions were conducted with learners from eight schools to determine what influences their career choices, what deters them from or attracts them to military service, their perception of the military profession, their knowledge of the military, and the influence of factors such as race and gender. The conclusion is reached that the SANDF is not considered an employer of choice due to poor service conditions, a decline in the prestige of the military, unfavourable aspects associated with military culture, a growing 'knowledge gap' and disconnect between the military and South African society, the estrangement of certain race groups, and the masculine nature of the military. These aspects need to be addressed if the SANDF wishes to attract learners with good academic credentials. |
| `In' analytical Note | African Security Review Vol. 23, No.2; Jun 2014: p.102-116 |
| Journal Source | African Security Review Vol. 23, No.2; Jun 2014: p.102-116 |
| Key Words | Military ; Recruitment ; Career Motivators ; Civil - Military Gap ; Military Culture ; Civil – Military Gap |