South African Navy Research Articles

Systematic comparison of resilience scales using retrospective reports: A practical case study using South African data

The availability of different scales measuring similar constructs challenges scientists and practitioners when it comes to choosing the most appropriate instrument to use. As a result, systematic comparison frameworks have been developed to guide such decisions. The Consensus-based Standard for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) is one example of such a framework to examine the quality of psychometric studies. This article aimed, firstly, to explore the psychometric characteristics of resilience measures used in the South African Navy (SAN), in that context. Secondly, it aimed to illustrate the application of the COSMIN guide for comparing psychometric scales and employing data from the aforementioned resilience measures, as a practical case study. The study drew on both published and unpublished data from seven SAN samples, using eight psychometric scales associated with resilience. It assessed structural validity, construct validity, internal reliability and predictive ability. The outcomes were tabulated, and the COSMIN criteria were applied to each data point. All eight scales provided some degree of evidence of validity. However, it was at times difficult to differentiate between the scales when using the COSMIN guidelines. In such cases, more nuanced criteria were necessary to demonstrate more clearly the differences between the psychometric characteristics of the scales and ease in subsequent decision-making.Contribution: This article illustrated the application of COSMIN guidelines to systematically compare the quality of psychometric study outcomes on local South African data. It further offered evidence of validity for a range of resilience-related measures in a South African context.

Prevalence Estimate for Adjustment Disorders in the South African Navy.

Adjustment Disorder is among the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in the armed forces, with a mean prevalence estimated at 7.4% across military populations. The prevalence in South African military populations is not known. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Adjustment Disorders in the South African Navy and to explore potential risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 714 sailors completed the International Adjustment Disorder Questionnaire, and also provided information from their biennial occupational health assessment mental health screening, which included other clinical screeners of mental health and adjustment history. The estimated prevalence of Adjustment Disorders in the South African Navy was 6.9%, and was proportionally distributed across gender and age categories. Depression and PTSD were the main comorbid conditions. Risk factors included a) history of adjustment difficulties during military deployment or family adjustment difficulties, b) domestic discord (difficulties in relationship with spouse/partner or immediate family), and c) the experience of stress overload (i.e., that the demands of life are overwhelming available resources). The estimated prevalence was similar to the expectation of military personnel generally, although the self-report data needs to be interpreted cautiously. The contributing risk factors offer possible direction for targeted intervention, e.g., skills training and relationship counselling to enhance coping with military service and family challenges, and cognitive behaviour therapy generally to address sailors' experience of stress overload.

Factors influencing the usage of e-procurement in the South African Navy

This research examines the factors influencing the utilisation of e-procurement in the Department of Defence, with a specific focus on the South African Navy. Although e-procurement was introduced to streamline the purchasing and supply function, reduce costs, and simplify the process, procurement managers in government still face challenges such as corruption, noncompliance, overspending, and wasteful expenditure. To gather data, the study employed a qualitative research approach, conducting interviews with 17 procurement members from the SA Navy. The findings show that e-procurement system inefficiencies, unreliable power supply due to load shedding, issues with the Central Supplier Database, partial automation of e-procurement processes, capacity and system integration challenges, and a lack of technical knowledge about the system were the main factors affecting the use of e-procurement in the South African Navy. To address these challenges, the paper recommends investing in infrastructure, improving supplier verification processes, adopting standardised documents, enhancing human resource capacity, improving system integration, and strengthening legislation on supplier data protection.

A Century of South African Naval History: The South African Navy and its Predecessors, 1922–2022

A Century of South African Naval History: The South African Navy and its Predecessors, 1922–2022

President Mandela’s Admiral: The South African Navy’s Story of the 1990s: Challenging Politics, Radical Transformation, Ambitious Voyages and the Quest for New Ships and Submarines

President Mandela’s Admiral: The South African Navy’s Story of the 1990s: Challenging Politics, Radical Transformation, Ambitious Voyages and the Quest for New Ships and Submarines

Swans of the 70s: The First Women of the South African Navy’s Permanent Force

Swans of the 70s: The First Women of the South African Navy’s Permanent Force

Psychometric properties of the Brief Sailor Resiliency Scale in the South African Army

Serving in the military is considered one of the most stressful occupations; therefore, because of the potential mitigation effect resilience has against stressors, it has often been incorporated as a component in predeployment programmes for soldiers. Consequently, assessing, facilitating and sustaining resilience is of particular importance in military environments. The Brief Sailor Resiliency Scale (BSRS) has been utilised within the South African Navy (SAN) environment, where it yielded promising results as a measure of resilience. The aim of this article is to investigate the psychometric properties of the BSRS and the applicability thereof to the South African Army (SA Army). The study utilised a sample of SA Army soldiers (N = 418) that completed the BSRS along with the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Dispositional Resilience Scale – II (DRS-II). The psychometric properties of the BSRS were examined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM), together with construct validity and internal reliability. The model yielded acceptable fit, and the construct validity was supported with high internal reliability of the scales. Findings provided confirmatory evidence for the application of the BSRS as a resilience screening tool in the SA Army. The utilisation of the BSRS as a valid screening instrument, together with the aligned interventions, can potentially contribute substantially to the combat readiness of the SA Army.

Promoting psychological adaptation among navy sailors

The mandate of the Institute for Maritime Medicine (IMM) is to support and enhancethe operational performance of sailors of the South African Navy during maritimeoperations, while also ensuring positive long-term mental health outcomes of sailorswho serve their country at sea. To achieve this, the IMM proposes to re-orientate themobilisation and demobilisation programmes used for ship-based maritime operationstowards a predict-and-promote (P&P) approach, to enhance the psychological adaptationof sailors to the emotional demands of deployment as well as to support more adaptiveforms of mental health resilience, both before and after sea-going operations.First, this article aims to present the proposed P&P approach for enhancingpsychological adaptation during and after seaward deployments, with a specific focuson assessing personal emotional regulation (ER). For effective implementation, thisapproach is contingent on several clinical assumptions about ER in the operationalenvironment, namely: the absence of significant psychopathology; the stability ofthe ER measure; the role of dispositional factors in operational adaptation; and theavailability of population-specific normative data, which act as an interpretative guideof ER profiles for sailors. The second aim is to consider support for these assumptions,using previous experience during the mobilisation and/or demobilisation of shipsinvolved in maritime operations. Support was found for all four assumptions, indicatingthe clinical and operational utility of the P&P approach at the IMM broadly, and theassessment of ER for sailors in particular.

Common mental health conditions among navy divers: A brief report.

A recent article reported on common mental health conditions among recreational scuba divers, and observed that the prevalence mirrored national population figures. This raised the question of the extent to which this might also be the case among professional divers. No data on commercial divers could be located; this paper presents the situation among navy divers. Mental health survey data from 132 South African Navy divers were reviewed to describe the 12-month prevalence of common mood, anxiety, and alcohol misuse disorders. Prevalence of common mood and anxiety conditions appeared to reflect local general population estimates, and the occurrence of alcohol misuse was higher than local population figures, although the usefulness of the population data could be challenged. It appeared that common mental health conditions in both sport and navy divers may generally conform to their respective local general population estimates. If this were to be the case in the broader professional diving environment as well, the inclusion of some form of formal mental health screening during commercial diving medical examinations may be beneficial.

The Endorsement of Traditional Masculine Ideology by South African Navy Men: A Research Report

Although the study of masculinity/ies in South Africa has been a point of academic interest, especially since the fall of apartheid; there has been little focus on masculinity/ies peculiar to the South African military establishment. Where there has been, this has focused on the army environment and adopted a smaller-scale qualitative approach. In contrast, this study focuses on the South African Navy. The study provides a brief report of findings from the administration of a traditional masculine ideology scale with 1,185 South African navy men, between 19 and 59 years of age (mean of 25 years). Descriptive statistics, a multiple regression analysis, one-sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were run to analyze the data. Results demonstrated that this sample of navy men significantly endorsed constructs of self-sufficiency, physical toughness, and emotional restrictedness, as dimensions of traditional masculine ideology. Avoidance of femininity and risk-taking were not significantly endorsed.

SOUTH AFRICAN MARITIME FOREIGN POLICY: RETHINKING THE ROLE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY

The military is one of the instruments that states use in the implementation of foreign policy within the security domain. As an arm of service, the South African Navy is the instrument of implementation of foreign policy in the maritime domain, playing a role in maritime safety and security as well as environmental protection. Although the concept of a maritime foreign policy is not defined in the literature, Van Nieuwkerk and Manganyi propose a working definition in this publication and it is against the background of this definition that the article reports on the traditional roles and classification of navies against the practical reality of an evolving maritime security context. The discussion then turns towards the maritime threats specific to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) while considering South Africa’s importance within the region and consequent maritime security responsibility. Considering the SADC Maritime Security Strategy and South Africa’s response to maritime insecurity, the study on which this article reports, questioned whether the South African Navy is in fact equipped to deliver on South Africa’s maritime foreign policy in its current de facto role of maritime diplomacy.

A Brief Sailor Resiliency Scale for the South African Navy

Resilience constructs and measures in the military context are of particular interest because of their association with general performance and mental health outcomes. However, in spite of the reported advantages, the use of resilience assessment models faces two challenges: firstly, measurement and, secondly, operational application within the military environment. This article aimed to provide preliminary validation for a Brief Sailor Resiliency Scale (BSRS) for use in the South African Navy (SAN) in order to discuss its operational application for individuals and groups. The study used a sample of active-duty SAN sailors, distributed throughout the fleet. Participants (N = 1312) completed the BSRS, together with established measures of resiliency and emotional regulation, and also provided socio-demographic information. The psychometric structure of the scale was examined, firstly, through confirmatory factor analysis within structural equation modelling, and secondly socio-demographic effects and construct validity were also explored. The model yielded acceptable fit and high internal consistency. Furthermore, the results support the construct validity of the scale. The data appear to support the contention that comprehensive resilience screening measures, while still brief and time-effective, could be employed to the benefit of navy personnel. This would facilitate a ‘screen-and-stream’ approach which allows military mental health practitioners (1) to screen military personnel comprehensively and (2) to identify and stream quickly those whose resilience appears to be compromised for further assessment and targeted intervention by appropriate support providers.

Tidal characteristics of South Africa

The tidal characteristics of South Africa are explored in the present study by means of a calibrated and validated regional numerical model. The coastal tidal characteristics and semi-diurnal resonance of the South African coastline have yet to be accurately quantified. Model development was conducted in the numerical code Delft 3D for a two year simulation period. A horizontal model resolution of 1/16th geographical degree was employed. The results were calibrated against long-term measured water levels provided by the South African Navy Hydrographic Office. Model validation was performed for each major constituent's amplitude and phase lag at nine coastal locations around the South African coastline. Regional, two-dimensional comparisons were also made between this study's model results and those of the data assimilative TPXO 8 African regional model. The tide was characterized in terms of constituent amplitude and phase lag, Form Factor and tidal ellipse eccentricity regional by means of map plots. The model was particularly sensitive to bathymetry-related friction and model resolution. Accurate model results were obtained, providing the first identification and quantification of the semi-diurnal coastal resonance around South Africa. The phase lag associated with the shallower shelf areas is also clearly observed with Form Factor calculations confirming the semi-diurnal dominance of the South African coastline. The intermediate and shallow water friction-induced phase lag of the mixed progressive and standing tidal wave is also mapped, together with the tidal current phase lags.

Mental Health and Personality Functioning of Naval Specialists Working in Extreme Environments

This study aimed to describe the mental health profile of South African Navy specialists working in extreme environments and to investigate the incidence of expressed psychopathology among them. The authors used the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 to describe major patterns of psychopathology and abnormal personality functioning in a sample of 161 divers and 152 submariners and compared them with a sample of 139 general Navy employees. Navy divers and submariners displayed desirable mental health profiles, although occupational-specific markers of atypical behavior patterns were found, such as slightly elevated scores on the Hypomania scale among divers and on the Responsibility scale among submariners. There was a strong expression of masculine gender role identification among divers and submariners and the general Navy. In the cases in which atypical behavior dynamics occurred, it could be interpreted as adaptive rather than psychopathological in the specific context of the operational environment in which those individuals operated. Practically, this study provides contemporary MMPI-2 profiles and the accompanying occupational-related normative deviations for South African divers and submariners, possibly allowing for more accurate interpretation of profiles from these groups, resulting in enhanced mental health monitoring in these environments.

The Appropriateness of Using the Self-Directed Search Questionnaire in Developing Countries: A Pilot Study with South African Navy Divers

In contested labour markets in developing countries, vocational interest inventories could potentially match applicants to speciality occupations. This descriptive study investigated the appropriateness of career interest, represented by the SDS, to guide vocational placement in a developing country. The study applied Holland’s concepts of congruence, differentiation, and consistency of vocational profile to South African Navy divers as a case study. The 81 navy divers generated an S/R/E code, but with questionable congruence, and poor differentiation and consistency. The results suggested that the profile might reflect socioeconomic dynamics rather than the expression of personality-vocational matching, and such scales might not be useful for vocational placement in local environments. The study cautions the use of vocational guidance instruments in context of developing countries, where socio-economic considerations may outweigh personality characteristics in career choices.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot se sogenaamde omstrede nuwe fregatte: Hulle eerste dekade van diens, 2004-2014

Nie baie Suid-Afrikaners waardeer die feit dat Suid-Afrika 'n seemoondheid is nie. Gevolglik is vlootgeskiedenis 'n verwaarloosde onderwerp. Toe die Suid-Afrikaanse regering in 1998 aangekondig het dat - as deel van 'n omvattende wapenpakket - onder meer vier nuwe fregatte vir die Suid-Afrikaanse (SA) Vloot aangekoop gaan word, was daar diegene wat die sinvolheid daarvan bevraagteken het. In hierdie artikel word die rol wat die vier Valour-klas-fregatte in die eerste dekade van hul bestaansgeskiedenis (2004-2014) gespeel het, onder die loep geneem en ontleed. Vrae wat aan die orde gestel word, sluit in: Was die besluit om Duitse Meko A-200-fregatte aan te koop geregverdig en die regte keuse? Was die aankoop van die fregatte dus werklik 'n omstrede besluit? Watter funksies het die skepe die afgelope tien jaar in diens van die SA Vloot vervul? Die rol wat die vier Valour-klas-fregatte tydens vlootoefeninge in Suid-Afrikaanse waters met skepe van ander lande gespeel het, word bespreek, soos ook die besoeke van die SA Vlootfregatte aan Suid-Afrikaanse hawens (as deel van die Vloot se plaaslike openbare skakel- en uitreikaksies). Heelwat aandag word aan die fregatte se rol as grys diplomate gewy; met ander woorde, wanneer hulle op buitelandse vlagvertoonvaarte die land oorsee verteenwoordig ten einde bestaande diplomatieke betrekkinge uit te bou of nuwe bande te help smee - en tegelyk ook aan skeepsmaneuvers oorsee deel te neem. Hulle rol tydens teen-seerowerpatrollies in die Mosambiek-kanaal en in soek-en-reddingsaksies word ook belig. Die artikel dui ten slotte aan dat, alles in ag genome, die SA Vloot se nuwe fregatte (en dus ook hul bemannings) hulle in die jare 2004-2014 besonder goed van hul taak gekwyt het en dat die Vloot dit nie kan bekostig om nie oor fregatte te beskik nie.

The Long Haul: The Evolution and Development of an Independent South African Navy

Peu de temps après la création de l’Union de l’Afrique du Sud en 1910, une division sud-africaine de la Réserve volontaire de la marine royale a été instituée, ses membres servant dans tous les théâtres de la Première Guerre mondiale. Un petit service naval a été constitué en 1922, mais a pratiquement disparu dans les années 1930 en raison de la rigueur financière. Le déclenchement de la Seconde Guerre mondiale a relancé le service et pendant la guerre froide, la marine sud-africaine a connu une période de croissance importante, car elle a pris de plus en plus de responsabilités en matière de la protection vitale de la voie maritime du Cap. Cependant, la politique d’apartheid de l’Afrique du Sud, a rapidement conduit à l’isolement de plus en plus marqué de la marine sud-africaine, qui, tout en protégeant son propre existence, a perdu sa capacité en haute mer au milieu des années 1980. Tout cela a changé dès l’arrivée de gouvernement démocratique en 1994. L’Afrique du Sud a rétabli, une fois de plus, une flotte équilibrée, en assumant un rôle de plus en plus prépondérant en Afrique subsaharienne.

Building South Africa's naval capability: heyday, decline and prospects

Up to the abrogation of the Simon's Town Agreement in 1975, the South African Navy acquired the bulk of its equipment from Britain. Efforts to purchase corvettes and submarines from Portugal and France were cancelled during the 1970s as a result of the pariah status of apartheid South Africa. An indigenous naval shipbuilding industry developed in South Africa and succeeded in the building six Israeli-designed missile strike craft under licence and a locally designed replenishment vessel (the SAS Drakensberg) amongst others. After the end of apartheid South Africa purchased frigates and submarines from Germany, while on-board installation and integration of weapon systems and sensors were done in South Africa in cooperation with local and international armaments companies. As South Africa retains a small commercial shipbuilding industry it is anticipated that some of the naval vessels the South African Navy would require in future might be channelled to local shipyards.

SAS DRAKENSBERG’S FIRST 25 YEARS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE SA NAVY’S FOREMOST GREY DIPLOMAT, 1987–2012

The South African Navy (SAN)’s first (and thus far only) purpose-builtcombat support ship, SAS Drakensberg, was commissioned on 11 November 1987.In this study, the ship’s first 25 years of service (1987–2012) to the SAN (and thepeople of South Africa) was analysed, with special reference to her role as a greydiplomat (i.e. the flag-showing cruises she undertook and her concomitant role instrengthening diplomatic and other ties with many countries). The Drakensberg’sother peace-time roles were also be reviewed, including –– humanitarian and related relief expeditions;– her role during exercises with other SAN warships as well as ships andsubmarines from other navies, both in South African waters and across theglobe;– her role as a training ship;– ceremonial duties; and– lately also in anti-piracy patrols.Throughout the study, the Drakensberg’s activities were evaluated againstthe background of the changing political and other developments in South Africa, aswell as internationally. In the article, it will be indicated how and why a ship thatwas conceived, designed and built in the apartheid era, in due course became themost prominent, most visible and most successful warship that thus far has been inSAN service.

Clinical Utility of the Brunel Mood Scale in Screening for Post-Traumatic Stress Risk in a Military Population

Measures of mood states and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms are commonplace in many studies. However, the conventional application of these measures conjointly raises questions whether they actually correlate, and whether mood states have a meaningful role in predicting PTS symptoms. This study aimed to assess the degree to which the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) would be useful in detecting adverse psychological experiences (e.g., PTS). A sample of South African Navy sailors (N = 103) completed the BRUMS during demobilization after a traumatic deployment, and 6 weeks later completed a repeat BRUMS and the IES-R. Significant correlations were found between some BRUMS and IES-R subscales, but the lack of other subscale correlations indicates that the two measures probably tap different expressions of psychological distress following exposure to adverse events. Greater mood distress correlated with more severe PTS. A BRUMS total mood distress score cutoff of ≥24 gave a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 79% for severe PTS 6 weeks later. Using a BRUMS score of ≥24 at demobilization to assess for possible elevated PTS response later could be useful in the screening of large groups of people.