24 Aug 2015

111 Medium Artillery Regiment (111MAR) from Sir Seretse Khama Base are the champions of  Botswana Defence Force (BDF) s Exercise Tough man 2015. The team managed to beat other 17 teams, walking away with medals and a trophy.

Second and third positions went to 166 Air Defence Artillery Regiment (166 ADAR) and 163 Air Defence Artillery Regiment (163 ADAR) respectively.

The coordinator of the exercise Lieutenant Colonel Mothata Makgasane said the three-day exercise was aimed to validate the level of proficiency of the participating units in physical fitness, mental robustness, endurance, teamwork and skill at arms.

He explained that the exercise was conducted in three phases and consisted of 580 participants from Namibian Defence Force, South African National Defence Force and the BDF. 

He said in phase one, participants were expected to cross 21 selected obstacles of the assault course at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB).  In Phase two, they embarked on a 32-kilometre endurance march, which started from SSKB and continued through Metsimotlhabe and Gamodubu villages finishing at Makanke Shooting Range.

Whilst Phase three involved firing of personal weapons and for all the three phases, 111MAR collected a total of 1882points. The 166ADAR team collected1821 points while 163 ADAR gained 1771 points for all the three phases.

Makgasane said their hope is to continue featuring other Southern Africa Forces in the exercise and promote the bilateral relations within the forces. He also said the exercise has seen a few female military officers participating adding that in the next exercises they hope to include some of the BDF female officers. 

 He further pointed out that one female officer made it through the whole exercise. 29 years old Sergeant Martha Sekhu from SANDF described the exercise as the toughest but fun as well adding that he implore other female officers to take their chances and experience the endurance.

Giving a word of encouragement during the closing ceremony of the exercise last week Commander of Ground Forces Major General Molefi Seikano said it takes real guts and commitment for one to go through the exercise and he commended all the participants to have made it through the exercise in an improved record of time compared to other years since the inception of the exercise. 

He said however, the need to work as a team was the driving force adding that the sister teams form Southern Africa also participated as a form of forming friendship saying through it; they will become a coherent force.

For his part, the team captain of SADF, Nndwamato Netsianda said they had a good experience as a force and they have learnt a lot of skills from the exercise more especially the 21 obstacles which he presumes were challenging. He said as a force they came to compete friendly with other forces adding this was their second time to participate in the exercise and are looking forward to continue participating annually. ENDS