Young Seychellois learn about the SAF during open day |11 April 2014

Students of secondary schools and post-secondary institutions have since yesterday been visiting the Seychelles Air Force of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces to learn what really goes on there.

The open days are being organised by the Seychelles Air Force as part of a recruitment drive following the request of SPDF’s Commander-in-Chief, President James Michel, to see more young people join the army.

The recruitment process is being done through advertising and talks to post secondary institutions, namely the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) where the skills needed by an individual to join the air force are being taught.

“Lots of people do not really know the role of the air force, what officers of the unit do and their responsibility. They think it’s just about being a pilot but there are many more careers available within the air force and we want to introduce those to secondary and post secondary students,” said captain Rodney Zarine, adjutant pilot officer of the SAF.

“There is the management side of it, administration, electrical, store and technical,” said captain Zarine, adding that a lot of people know of the air force being involved in anti-piracy activities but do not really understand what the force is all about.

He said that a recruitment drive was organised last year but only SIT students were targeted as the SAF needed more technicians to be trained following the acquisition of new planes by the force.
The air force managed to recruit eight former SIT students and they have followed training in India and are now qualified technical personnel at the SAF.

As the SIT recruitment drive was very positive we decided to include other students from secondary schools too.

When talking to the young professionals at the Imagery Intelligence Unit of the SAF, second lieutenant Wilven Jean said this unit is considered a very important one as it is there that they make all reports and plan the force operations which vary depending on the situation they are dealing with. These are search and rescue, patrol, medical evaluation, aerial intelligence to name some.

They also take part in operations performed by international forces.

He said two of their primary missions are the fight against piracy and the protection of our exclusive economic zone which is a huge area. Second lieutenant Jean added that they have sophisticated cameras which cost more than an aircraft itself.

Also present yesterday was an officer of the EUCAP Nestor, Byron Erlandsson.