SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the framework underpinning the South African military in a democratic society 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
253914  Demonstrate an understanding of the framework underpinning the South African military in a democratic society 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Military Professional Development 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Sovereignty of the State 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will equip junior officers at entry level with a basic understanding of the strategic context within which the SANDF operates, the provisioning of military capabilities and the macro structure of the DOD and doctrine applied by the SANDF in fulfilling national imperatives in departmental strategy.

Qualifying learners will be able to:
  • Explain the strategic context in which the SANDF operates.
  • Explain the SANDF capabilities in terms of operational systems.
  • Explain the DOD's macro-structure in terms of the national management framework.
  • Explain SANDF doctrinal concepts pertaining to conflict. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in:
  • Communication at NQF Level 3 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the strategic context in which the SANDF operates. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The characteristics of the battle space in which the SANDF could be expected to operate are explained in terms of strategic dimensions. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Dimensions include geographical, economic, social, security, technological and political.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The mandate and posture of the SANDF are explained in terms of the Regulatory Framework. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Regulatory Framework includes the RSA Constitution, Defence Act, White Paper on Defence and Defence Review.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The role of international and regional bodies responding to conflict is explained in terms of its impact on the SANDF. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    International and regional bodies refer to the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the South African Development Community (SADC).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The legal framework, within which the SANDF operates, is explained including its deviation from International Humanitarian Law (IHL). 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The legal framework refers to the law of war and the law in war.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The universal continuum of conflict is explained in relation to the RSA military strategy. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • The military strategy includes the force employment strategy, military strategic objectives and missions.
  • Continuum of conflict refers to the full spectrum of modern conflict, ranging from absolute peace at the one end of the spectrum, to full-scale war at the other end of the spectrum.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Explain the SANDF capabilities in terms of operational systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The tactical level operating systems are explained in terms of the military and force employment strategies. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Tactical level operating systems refer to command and control, manoeuvre, firepower, logistics, protection, intelligence and air defence.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The one force concept is explained in terms of combat readiness. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The one force concept includes Regulars, Reserves and Public Service Act Personnel.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The components and sub-components of the SANDF are explained in terms of their contribution towards tactical level operating systems. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Components and sub-components refer to SANDF Services and Divisions, combat, combat support and combat service support, functional corps and musterings.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Platforms in use by the SANDF are explained in terms of their contribution to a particular tactical level operating system. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Platforms in use by the SANDF refer to specific vehicles, ships and aircraft, offensive and defensive weapon systems and functional capabilities to be found within the SANDF Services and Divisions.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Explain the DOD's macro-structure in terms of the national management framework. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The national macro-structure is explained in terms of the National Regulatory Framework. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The national coordinating mechanisms are explained in terms of the cabinet committee clusters in which the Department of Defence participates. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The DOD macro-structure is explained in terms of the Defence, Public Service and Public Financial Management Acts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The role and functions of Services and Divisions are explained in terms of the DOD's mission statement. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Mission statement includes vision, mission, values and critical success factors.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Departmental Coordinating Mechanisms are explained in terms of governance. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Departmental Coordinating Mechanisms include the Council of Defence, Plenary Defence Staff Council, Accountability Management Committee, Secretariat Council and Military Council,
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Explain SANDF doctrinal concepts pertaining to conflict. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Doctrinal concepts refer to levels of war, the two main theories of war, principles of warfare and phases of warfare. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The levels of war are explained in terms of their interrelationship and outcomes at any point in the continuum of conflict. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The SANDF principles of warfare are explained in terms of the military strategy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The manoeuvrist and attritional approaches to war are explained in terms of the military strategy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The dimensions of the battle space are explained in terms of their application in the SANDF. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Dimensions of the battle space refer to the dimensions of reach, width, depth, height, subsurface, extraterrestrial, electromagnetic spectrum, time and the psychology.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The phases of warfare, as a framework to military operations, are explained in terms of offensive and defensive operations according to SANDF doctrine. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Phases of warfare refer to the advance, the attack, the defence and retrograde operations.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any provider offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard or assessing this Unit Standard must be accredited as an ETD Provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • This unit standard will be assessed by an assessor and moderated by a moderator registered with the relevant accredited ETQA.
  • An assessor should be in possession of a relevant qualification that is at least one level higher than the level of this unit standard.
  • Training Providers must be accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment should include both formative and summative assessments. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The essential embedded knowledge is included within the unit standard and will be assessed through the assessment of the specific outcomes and critical cross field outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identifying and solving problems in which responses show that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made eg when platforms in use by the SANDF are explained in terms of their contribution to a particular tactical level operating system. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organise and critically evaluate information is demonstrated eg when the components and sub-components of the SANDF are explained in terms of their contribution towards tactical level operating systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, conceptual and language skills when platforms are explained in terms of their contribution to a particular tactical level operating system. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems is demonstrated by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation when the levels of war are explained in terms of their interrelationship and outcomes at any point in the continuum of conflict. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contributing to full personal development of each learner and the social development of the society at large, when the role and functions of Services and Divisions are explained in terms of the DOD's mission statement. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  59889   Further Education and Training Certificate: Military Operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2010-01-25  Was SAS SETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Core  78143   Further Education and Training Certificate: Military Operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.