New boss' for Makhado units

Kim Helfrich

THE new security boss at AFB Makhado has a daunting job being in overall charge of protection for a base that houses state-of-the-art fourth generation military jets and all the sophisticated equipment that makes them South Africa's first line of defence.

But the woman entrusted with protection of the base, its people and all the systems on it is not at all fazed by what lies ahead. After all she can boast she was the country's first female VIP protection unit commander to take up a foreign posting. That was in Burundi in 2009 and before that she had polished her protection and
security skills at AFB Waterkloof, the SAAF College, Air Force Gymnasium and the then Department of Defence Mobilisation Centre at De Brug in Free State. Lieutenant Colonel Iris Owen is the new officer commanding of 515 Protection Squadron at the Limpopo air force base, the most sensitive in terms of tactical
positioning and what is it home to.

The SA Air Force's future jet fighter pilots hone their aerial skills here using Hawk MK120 lead-in jet fighter trainers after hours of simulator and theoretical
work at 85 Combat Flying School. The school was moved to Makhado when the airborne arm of the SA National Defence Force acquired its new Gripen medium jet fighters as
part of the strategic arms procurement package in the nineties.

Now the Hawk pilots train almost alongside their peers, flying Gripens after having successfully completed the rigours of jet fighter pilot training.
The protection of these men and women and the high-tech platforms they fly and systems they use is now in the hands of the petite, Bredasdorp-born, 35-year-old.
She was officially entrusted with command of the base protection squadron on Friday taking over from Lieutenant Colonel Sello Nukeri and he has no qualms about giving
her the reins.

She is one of my people and I know she will do an exceptional job," he said after the change of command parade.

During the parade the SAAF's sharp end 2 Squadron was also handed a new commander in the form of Lieutenant Colonel Musa Mbhokota, who takes over from Lieutenant Colonel
Glen Gibson.

The new commander of 85 is Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Ogden who replaces Lieutenant Colonel Lance Wellington.

Source: The New Age