2025 MSDS applications open: SANDF forms, requirements & closing date

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has announced that its Military Skills Development System (MSDS) applications for the 2025 intake are now open.

In various social media posts on Monday (12 February), SANDF said the closing date is 15 March 2024. It also revealed other details such as the requirements and where applicants can get application forms in PDF.

MSDS applications for 2025

“The recruits will receive military training and further functional training in their first year of service. During the second year of service, they will be deployed where needed and given opportunity to apply their knowledge and develop their skills,” SANDF said.

The recruitment will see approximately 2,000 young South Africans joining the SA Army, SA Navy, SA Air Force or SA Military Health Service in 2025. “If you have not been contacted by 31 December 2024, kindly consider your application to be unsuccessful,” SANDF said.

Upon completing the two-year MSDS programme, recruits will subsequently join the full-time force or the Reserve Force. The programme usually attracts a high number of applications, which numbered around 180,000 in the previous cycle.

Requirements

There are both general requirements as well as specific requirements for more specialised roles such as support careers, pilot, navigator, engineering/technical, combat and health service.

The general requirements are as follows:

• RSA Citizen (No dual citizenship).
• 18-22 years of age (Grade 12).
• 18-26 (3 years Tertiary Qualification or N6) when reporting.
• Successfully completed Grade 12.
• Have no criminal record or pending cases.
• Comply with medical fitness requirements for the appointment.

SANDF MSDS application forms for 2025

You can view or download the SANDF’s MSDS application forms in the links below:

• SA Army
• SA Air Force (support careers)
• SA Air Force (Pilot/Navigator)
• SA Navy
• SA Military Health Service

You can also find them on the Department of Defence forms webpage in PDF for download. Each of the forms contains general and specific requirements for the option you choose. It is therefore important to read them carefully and understand the role you’re applying for.

How to apply

Although the forms are available online and at SANDF’s regional recruitment offices countrywide, there is no online application system. Applicants must therefore download the form online or collect them at the recruitment offices, fill them as required, and hand deliver them at their nearest recruitment office.

Alternatively, they can post the form to the following postal addresses (which are also indicated in the forms):

• SA Army HQ, Chief Directorate Army Corporate Services, Directorate Army Human Resources, Recruitment Section, Private Bag X981, Pretoria, 0001 (for SA Army applications).
• Air Force Base Swartkop (West) – Recruitment Section, Private Bag X05, Valhalla, Pretoria, 0001 (for SA Air Force applications).
• SA Navy Recruitment Centre – Department of Defence, Private Bag X104, Pretoria, 0001 (for SA Navy applications).
• SAMHS Recruitment Office – Department of Defence, Private Bag X102, Centurion, Pretoria, 0046 (for SA Military Health Services applications).

Address and contact details for regional recruitment offices are as follows:

• Regional Office Free State. Army Support Base Bloemfontein Recruitment Office, Pappa Brits Street, Tempe, Bloemfontein, 9300 – Enquiries: 051 402 1262.
• Regional Office Western Cape. Castle of Good Hope Recruitment Office. Block C, C/O Buitenkant and Darling Street (Opposite Parade Ground), Cape Town, 8000
• OR: Regional Office Western Cape. Department Of Defence School of Logistics and Training, Youngsfield, Welton, 8000 – Enquiries: 021 787 1023/4.
• Regional Office Limpopo. Army Support Recruitment Office Building, 145 Gate Way Road (Next Polokwane Airport), Polokwane, 0700 – Enquiries: 015 299 3318.
• Regional Office KwaZulu-Natal. Recruitment Office, Lords Ground Military Base, 186 Old Ford Road (K.E. Masinga Road), Durban, 4000 – Enquiries: 012 5718/5754/5703.
• Regional Office Eastern Cape. Army Support Base Recruitment Office, Willow Drive, Forest Hill, Port Elizabeth, 6013
• OR: Regional Office Eastern Cape (ASBEC) de Beer Street, Forest Hill, Gqeberha, 6001 – Enquiries: 041 505 1101/1268.
• Regional Office Northern Cape. Army Support Base Recruitment Office Kimberley, General Khan Van Der Spuy Drive, Diskobolos, Kimberley, 8301 – Enquiries: 053 530 3204
• Regional Office North West. Army Support Base Recruitment, C/O Grobler St (R53) and Eleazer Road, Potchefstroom, 2531 – Enquiries: 018 289 3322
• Regional Office Gauteng. Recruitment Office, C/O 218 Visagie and Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria Central, 0001- Enquiries: 012 339 5718/5703
• Regional Office Mpumalanga. Army Support Base, 8 Spruit Street, Mbombela, 1201 – Enquiries: 013 756 2113/2181 OR: 4 South African Infantry Battalion, do Dr Beyers Naude and Boncker Street, Middleburg, Mpumalanga, 1050 – Enquiries: 013 249 3534