(University of the Free State, 2007) Esterhuyse, Abel
English: The recently tabled parliamentary report on the South African Military Academy did
not pose the most fundamental question concerning the existence of the Military Academy:
why is it important that soldiers should become academically educated? Does
sound military training not offer sufficient professional preparation for soldiers? This
article attempts to explain why soldiers need to be academically educated, while considering
the influence of the “military mind” on the education of armed forces. The
underlying argument is that soldiers need to be empowered by acquiring a thorough
academic understanding of three particular environments: the higher order politicosecurity
environment, the defence environment, and the military environment.