The Military Academy's Exercise Trans Enduro took place over period 27 November – 5 December 2015 and a total of 200 Academy students participated in the event this year. The planning for the exercise already started in February under the umbrella of Section Military Development and the instructors guided the students during the reconnaissance in June as to the objectives and required outcome of the exercise.
The advance team left on 25 November to ensure everything was in place for the main team's arrival. On Thursday 26 November, under the leadership of CO Bruce Senoamadi (Trans Enduro Commander), the students embarked on the nine-day endurance race by land and sea to do some charity work, as well as raise funds for charity. The money will go towards community development projects run by MASIZA, the Military Academy's community service organisation.
Each year, the Military Academy raises funds by planning, organising and participating in a unique event called Exercise TRANS ENDURO. Three teams – a land, cycling and sea team – travel from Port Elizabeth to Saldanha over a period of nine days, staying over in towns along the way. This year a fourth team was added – the running team – who completed at distance of 10 km each day.
The exercise got off to a good start on the 27th of November, with a parade in Port Elizabeth, opened by the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Mr Danny Jordaan. Although cloudy, the weather conditions were perfect and the sea team could complete all the legs of the race for the day. The cycling team, launched successfully, with the blessing of the Commandant of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha and Mr. Jordaan set of the race. Following the cyclists, were the runners with the Brig Gen Mbatha as part of the team. Masiza and the Land teams joined forces and they took to the streets of Port Elizabeth for their outreach program and to collect money.
It is also a tradition that the mayor of each town writes a short letter of goodwill to the mayor of the next town. The letter is handed to the exercise commander who delivers it to the mayor of the next town. Thus in Port Elizabeth, Mr Danny Jordaan, Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality addressed the students and handed over the letter of goodwill - then it was off to Jeffrey's Bay.
The next day they travelled to Plettenberg Bay where they stayed until Sunday, 29 November. During their rest-period in Plettenberg bay, the members were surprised with a visit by Mr Brian Molefe, interim Chief Executive Officer of Eskom, who liberally donated to MASIZA from his private funds. The members also had the honour of the GOC Training Command, Maj Gen Andries de Wit who honoured them with his presence at Plettenbergbay.
On Monday, 30 November, they moved on to George and on Tuesday, 1 December they participated in the World Aids day activities in George, before they departed to Stilbaai. On Wednesday, 2 December, they departed for Struisbaai, the next day it was off to Hermanus, and arrived in Cape Town on 4 Dec. They left from Houtbaai Harbour on Saturday, 5 December for the last leg of the race back to Saldanha, where a councillor of the Saldanha bay Municipality, Mr Wilfred Arendze received the members.
The whole event was again concluded with a gala evening on Saturday 5 December where certificates were handed out to all students who participated, as well as staff from the Military Academy and supporting units. In his speech to the members, the Commandant thanked everyone for their noble intention of making a difference where it is mostly needed and where it matters most. He also thanked the sponsors in absentia – without their support the exercise would not have been possible.
The exercise was again a huge success and the guiding role of the Commandant with his continued attendance was centre to this success. Lt Col Shadrack Ramokgadi (Chief Editor of the Trans Enduro Book), from the CEMIS department of the Military Academy, again documented the achievements and events of the exercise in the book for 2015. The Trans Enduro book was initiated by Brig Gen Mbatha during the exercise in 2014, and it plays a pivotal role to advertise the event in the DOD and for members of the DOD to understand the importance of the exercise. Like Brig Gen Mbatha said in his speech: "Ex Trans Enduro is aimed at empowering the students on the concept of professional military leadership and command. Whilst at the same time being tested on the limit of endurance which in essence is the crux of the Ex."
Article & Photos: Maj Engela Meintjes
Photo Captions:
1 - Sea team members explaining to Mr Danny Jordaan their role in the exercise.
2 - Sea team in the water
3 - Running team
4 - Cycling team
5 - Brig Gen Mbatha (left), visited by Mr Brian Molefe, interim Chief Executive Officer of Eskom (Right)
6 - Maj Gen Andries de Wit (GOC Trg Comd) addressing the members.
7 - Brig Gen Mbatha handing over a certificate to SSgt Passenz at the Gala Evening
8 - Mr Danny Jordaan (Mayor of Port Elizabeth) addressing the members.
9 - Everybody ready for the launch in Jeffreysbay
10 - Members at the Gala evening
11 - Students collecting money in the towns.
