Date: 19/02/2004
Source: South African Police Service
Title: Singh: Opening of Special Task Force training course for women
MEDIA STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE, Pretoria, 19 February 2004
Deputy National Commissioner, Mala Singh, opens first Special Task Force training course for women.
Today Deputy National Commissioner, Mala Singh, of the South African Police Service officially opened the first Special Task Force training course for women at a function at the SAPS Training College, Pretoria West.
The Special Task Force is an elite police unit which deals with high risk operations that fall beyond the scope of classic policing, such as hostage situations on land, sea and air, the handling of urban and rural terror, the arrest of dangerous wanted criminals and the interception of armed groups planning serious and violent crimes.
The Special Task Force was established in 1976 and, in the 28 years of it's existence, not one woman has ever successfully completed the strenuous training. There has thus never been an operationally active policewoman in this unit.
Recognising the constructive role that women have to play in every facet of policing, the National Commissioner late last year instructed that policewomen should be actively recruited for training as members of the Special Task Force.
Over the past four months the Head of the Special Task Force, Director Mike Fryer, has done extensive research into the training of women in the special forces, developed a training programme suitable for women and has recruited policewomen from all over the country to volunteer for selection and training.
On Monday 16 February 2004, thirty-five women began the pre-selection process. During this phase the recruits concentrate on physical training, such as completing obstacle courses, swimming, gym work and running as well as undergoing psychometric tests.
The next three week period will be the preparation and conditioning phase of the selection process which aims at developing the candidate's physical fitness levels and emotional and psychological well being in order to prepare her for the final selection phase, the endurance test.
The endurance test entails an 86 hour period of strenuous physical and mental exercises, during which the recruit survives without food or sleep and with rationed amounts of water. This test emulates real-life situations in which Special Task Force members may have to endure great hardships and challenges in order to perform their duties to serve and protect the community.
The women who successfully complete the endurance test will be competent to participate in the next four phases of training - the weapons phase, the basic rural training phase, the basic urban training phase and the parachute phase over a period of fifteen (15) weeks. Those who successfully finish all phases without sustaining injuries will be awarded their parachute wings and will become operational members of the Special Task Force.
During the opening ceremony, Commissioner Singh wished each of the 35 candidate's luck for the selection and training programme. "We must acknowledge that there are differences in physical strength and endurance between males and females and therefore it will be necessary during certain exercises and drills to adjust the weights and distances accordingly", said Commissioner Singh. "However, each and every one of these women must achieve the standards of discipline, precision, perseverance, leadership, determination and outright toughness that have already been set by the men before them", she added.
A group of approximately ninety males will also start their Special Task Force training on Monday next week. The two programmes - male and female - will run concurrently.
Top management of the South African Police Service is extremely proud of our Special Task Force, which is internationally recognised as an expert group of highly skilled members trained to deal with extraordinary policing situations. We are looking forward to welcoming women into this group and seeing them working.
Issued by: Director Sally de Beer
Issued by: South African Police Service
19 February 2004
Source: South African Police Service (http:/www.saps.gov.za)
Source: South African Police Service
Title: Singh: Opening of Special Task Force training course for women
MEDIA STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE, Pretoria, 19 February 2004
Deputy National Commissioner, Mala Singh, opens first Special Task Force training course for women.
Today Deputy National Commissioner, Mala Singh, of the South African Police Service officially opened the first Special Task Force training course for women at a function at the SAPS Training College, Pretoria West.
The Special Task Force is an elite police unit which deals with high risk operations that fall beyond the scope of classic policing, such as hostage situations on land, sea and air, the handling of urban and rural terror, the arrest of dangerous wanted criminals and the interception of armed groups planning serious and violent crimes.
The Special Task Force was established in 1976 and, in the 28 years of it's existence, not one woman has ever successfully completed the strenuous training. There has thus never been an operationally active policewoman in this unit.
Recognising the constructive role that women have to play in every facet of policing, the National Commissioner late last year instructed that policewomen should be actively recruited for training as members of the Special Task Force.
Over the past four months the Head of the Special Task Force, Director Mike Fryer, has done extensive research into the training of women in the special forces, developed a training programme suitable for women and has recruited policewomen from all over the country to volunteer for selection and training.
On Monday 16 February 2004, thirty-five women began the pre-selection process. During this phase the recruits concentrate on physical training, such as completing obstacle courses, swimming, gym work and running as well as undergoing psychometric tests.
The next three week period will be the preparation and conditioning phase of the selection process which aims at developing the candidate's physical fitness levels and emotional and psychological well being in order to prepare her for the final selection phase, the endurance test.
The endurance test entails an 86 hour period of strenuous physical and mental exercises, during which the recruit survives without food or sleep and with rationed amounts of water. This test emulates real-life situations in which Special Task Force members may have to endure great hardships and challenges in order to perform their duties to serve and protect the community.
The women who successfully complete the endurance test will be competent to participate in the next four phases of training - the weapons phase, the basic rural training phase, the basic urban training phase and the parachute phase over a period of fifteen (15) weeks. Those who successfully finish all phases without sustaining injuries will be awarded their parachute wings and will become operational members of the Special Task Force.
During the opening ceremony, Commissioner Singh wished each of the 35 candidate's luck for the selection and training programme. "We must acknowledge that there are differences in physical strength and endurance between males and females and therefore it will be necessary during certain exercises and drills to adjust the weights and distances accordingly", said Commissioner Singh. "However, each and every one of these women must achieve the standards of discipline, precision, perseverance, leadership, determination and outright toughness that have already been set by the men before them", she added.
A group of approximately ninety males will also start their Special Task Force training on Monday next week. The two programmes - male and female - will run concurrently.
Top management of the South African Police Service is extremely proud of our Special Task Force, which is internationally recognised as an expert group of highly skilled members trained to deal with extraordinary policing situations. We are looking forward to welcoming women into this group and seeing them working.
Issued by: Director Sally de Beer
Issued by: South African Police Service
19 February 2004
Source: South African Police Service (http:/www.saps.gov.za)
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