Details Of The South African Air Force Apprenticeship Programme 2024/2025
Apprenticeship
Trade training is offered in a Mechanical, Electronic, Electrical or General Avionic support field.
The requirements to be accepted as an apprentice in the SAAF are as follows:
- Must be a South African citizen
- Age: At least 18 years and a maximum of 22 (26 with a tertiary qualification) when starting Basic Military Training
- Classified medically fit for duty by the Surgeon General
- Candidate must undergo prescribed psychometric evaluation
- Be recommended by a selection board
The academic requirements are:
- Grade 12 or N3 Certificate with English as a passed subject
- Grade 12 with Mathematics and Physical Science NSC level 3 as passed subjects or N3 in a technical field
- Tertiary qualification: N4 – certificate passed with at least 60% and N5-N6 certificate passed with at least 60% in a technical field and English (compulsory) as a passed subject
Training:
Following the completion of Basic Military Training (22 weeks), members will receive Basic Technical Training, including a School Block (12 weeks) and a Workshop Phase (12 weeks). Trade workers will only then be selected for further Trade Training based on their performance thus far.
Trade Training includes Trade Theory, Trade Practicals and exposure to the avionic environment at a depot or a base.
Duration:
After serving one year of the original two year MSDS contract, members will migrate to the Core Service System. Trade workers who have successfully completed the first year of development and who are not selected for Trade Training will be utilised as Technical Assistants during the second year of their contract.