Republic of Botswana - Government portal

The BDF recruits Privates and Officer Cadets. The Recruits/Privates training circle is six months in Pandamatenga Base Camp while Officer Cadets training cycle is 12 months at Paje Military Training Academy.

Officer Cadets

The BDF currently recruits for both male and Female Officer Cadets. Their training phase is 12 months. It encompasses Basic Military Training and Leadership Skills.

Privates

Currently the BDF recruits for male Recruits/Privates only. The duration for this training is six months. The training encompasses Basic Military Training.

Pandamatenga Training Camp

Paje Officer Academy

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Animal Training personnel

Force Training Establishment personnel were trained on behavioural characteristics of wild animals and are currently the custodians of these animals. At present, the park has a significant manpower of 29 qualified animal handlers.

Basic Military training

Basic military training is done at Pandamatenga Training Camp for Privates Paje Officer Academy for Officer Cadets. During Basic Military Training, trainees can be taken to other parts of the country to perform military tasks.
In some cases, some Officer Cadets are sent to overseas institutions for basic military training.

Entry requirements for the BDF

Botswana citizens aged between 18 and 24 years. On exceptional cases, age may be waived to recruit someone who is already holding a profession e.g. Medical Doctor.

Military career

The BDF has a positive record of being a professional and disciplined force which can rightly be called the pride of the nation. Soldiers enlisting to the BDF are servants and defenders of the nation, and their duty as new entrants is to keep this record unblemished. The profession newly recruits take is a profession that places duty and a country before self.

The BDF Recruits

On average the BDF recruits Privates and Officer Cadets. For basic military training, the Officer Cadets Basic Military training cycle is 12 months while the Privates train for six months.

Female cadets

The BDF initial enrolment of women has been received very well both Nationally and Internationally. It has its teething problems but nothing to affect the programme. The female cadets are finding it very tough hence the high attrition rate, but the male recruits have no reason to feel insecure - No one will get favours, more so with career progression guidelines in place.

Defence Command & Staff College

Following a decision taken in 2004 by the Defence Council, Botswana Defence Force established the Defence Command and Staff College (DCDC) in January 2008 under Commandant, Colonel(now Brigadier) Gotsileene Morake.

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