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TRAINING THE TRAINERS
70
FIVE
days, allowed the local officers to express their views freely to one another; the Advisors
on their part spoke their own language among themselves and no one will ever know what
they had to say of their local charges. But, there was no denying their pedagogic expertise
or the promise of the greater military professionalism that they offered. The SAF personnel
recognised that the course had fundamentally changed their outlook and the old ways would
be transformed. They knew that the training they were getting would have a major impact
on the whole structure and lifestyle of the SAF, which would far exceed the scale and
capability of the existing two regular infantry battalions and another two battalions’ worth
of Volunteers. It was not entirely unwelcome as it also offered the prospect of advancement
to ranks that had been hitherto regarded as unattainable.
Guests at the graduation ceremony.