Introduction to the Site.

This site reflects on the history of and personal memoirs about National Service in the South African Defence Force prior to 1994, including duty in South West Africa / Namibia during the Border War.

One can travel through the two year period of conscription for a National Serviceman in the S.A. Defence Force to discover the lifestyle, events, problems, and other experiences which would have surfaced during each person's term of duty. The site will reflect on the good and the bad aspects of service in any Force in the world.

During National Service each person coped with different events in a different manner, and this site aims ultimately to allow the participants, and non-participants of National Service, to learn from the experiences of those who progressed through "the system". We wish to show members of the Defence Forces that it is acceptable and normal to talk about what you may have gone through. There should therefore be a mechanism whereby one can "release the pressure valve", and this then results in the person making sense of any prior events and thereby reaching closure. While, as with any war or military action, there are things that the human mind blocks out, this "blocking out" is never permanent and memories of these events can recur for long periods of time afterwards. In some cases they have recurred at periods of ten years later, or even longer. In one way many members who did service in SWA/Namibia use a mental block of "they hated the border", and yet on a return there they find that the place has a natural beauty, and is very tranquil. It perhaps wasn't the place that they hated but some other stimuli.

We also aim to show the "other" side of the country that gave many of us a chance to go to a place that we never intended to visit.

One should also remember that the purposes of a country's Defence Force are to defend the country and to serve the government of the day, and when such a "Master" changes then it is still required to be loyal to the new Master - even if the members of the Defence Force disagree with the methods, mechanisms, or policies of the new Master.

While this site is designed from a historical perspective, its content is just as apt today in terms of the effects on the human psyche, whether the conscript is in the South African Defence Force, or any other Military Force in the world.

We aim to encourage people to share their memories, and in this manner we hope to improve the lives of the many participants of any form of military action throughout the world. We do not aim to persue any form of judgement via this site nor do wish to influence any person as to pro-conscription or anti-conscription, and likewise pro-war or anti-war sentiments.

Remember :
If you put two people together in the same situation, their reactions and opinions may differ.

Thanks for joining us. Enjoy your visit.

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