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Maritime Reaction Squadron Platoon 2 back from
Burundi .
Article by Lt Cdr P.G. van den Berg
Photos by LS M. Venter |
“You must go back to your families and tell them
of the great job that you did in Burundi for our Navy
and our country”.
These are the words that the Chief of
Fleet Staff, R Adm (JG) R. Higgs, used to welcome 38
members of the Maritime Reaction Squadron back from a 6
month deployment in Burundi.
Adm (JG) Higgs addressed the MRS members after the
welcoming on the parade ground.
The sailors formed part of a South
African Infantry Company stationed in Bujumbura, Burundi
since January of this year. R Adm (JG) Higgs
congratulated them on their sterling work, but
emphasised the brilliant disciplinary record of the
sailors in Burundi. He reiterated the message of the
Chief of the South African Navy, V Adm J. Mudimu, who
said that there is no room for ill-disciplined sailors
within the Navy team. This platoon’s behaviour in
Burundi must serve as an example of how disciplined the
sailors within the SA Navy actually are.
He also sketched the broader picture of
the SA Navy’s past, current and future deployments and
emphasised that the MRS is an integral part of the SA
Navy’s vision and mission. He told the sailors how
important it is for all SAN members to be conscious of
the good name of the organisation, and not to tolerate
any behaviour that can tarnish it.
The sailors can now look forward to a
well-deserved leave period, where each member must
utilise their deployment leave as soon as possible.
Judging by the high spirits of the sailors it is evident
that they are going to enjoy their leave to the full.
We can all be justifiably proud of the
achievement of these young sailors, because through
their selfless sacrifice they have contributed to making
our continent a safer place for all our people.
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