South Africa: Officers of the Air Defence Artillery Formation bid farewell to Colonel T.J. Pule at More Restaurant. True leaders are rare. A great leader is hard to find, difficult to part with and impossible to forget.
As members gathered with Colonel T.J. Pule to express their heartfelt appreciation for the knowledge he shared with them, encouragement, and support during happy and bad times.
Thank you for preparing the young leaders for the world of tomorrow. For empowering them with knowledge, for inspiring them. For giving the organisation a huge and tremendous success. Some of the members shared their experience while working with Colonel T.J. Pule for the past years, of how he consistently performed admirably well in the organisation and how his efforts & talents would always serve as an inspiration to others.
Colonel T.J. Pule also shared a few words of gratitude. He shared his experience as the first and second group of black people to join the 1 Parachute Battalion. He chose to join the defence force because he loved the military.
He quotes,” I am a true soldier at heart, and I love seeing military being military. I believe in the progress of soldiers being promoted on merits. The defence force is an organisation that can protect and defend its people”. He also shared his deployment experiences. As the Air Defence Artillery Officers express their gratitude, they must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.
On the same day, the Department of Defence Ammunition Depot and School of Munitions would like to welcome the newly promoted Commander, Lieutenant Colonel S.H. Mfenyana, as the unit’s Second in Command.
It is important to note that promoting a commander is not just about recognising their individual achievements but also about the future success of the organisation. By developing leaders within the team, organisations can build a strong and effective leadership structure that will help them to achieve their goals and objectives.
Promoting an officer in the Department of Defence is a significant event that requires a rigorous evaluation of the candidate’s service record, leadership skills, and experience.
The goal of the promotion process is to ensure that the military is led by individuals who are well-qualified, capable, and committed to serving the country and upholding the values of the military.
Effective leadership requires a unique combination of personal qualities, skills, and experience. A great leader must be able to communicate effectively, have emotional intelligence, a clear vision, strong decision-making skills, be adaptable, and act with integrity.
We look forward to the positive contribution to the unit from the newly appointed Lieutenant Colonel as he blazes the trail.