Great talk, well done. I was a 7 med ops medic, spent some time at Buffalo in early '89 helped with the relocation to Pomfret. Thanks for your passion and recollection.
Very enlightening Oliver. Such a pleasure knowing and working with you. Honesty, Loyalty and Justice are definitely values you live by. Thank you for sharing.
A well told account of dedicated service to the SADF. Thank you for your story and your service to our country. Honoured to have a brave soldier like you as my friend. Salute.
I spent my high school years with my friend Oliver. My family & I have always known Him as a good human being & an honourable Man whom was always very proud of his military time in 32 battalion in contrast to people like myself whom simply archive there time in the army. However, lest we forget those that we lost & I am not surprised Oliver has taken the time amongst others to reflect on this sad time for those that perished.
Thank you Oliver. I really enjoyed your story a lot. Like the Generals(Oom Borries, Mc Gill Alexander, Roland De Vries etc..) said, we all had a duty to do and contributed to the success of the SADF. Your contribution was far more than many(myself included) and I salute you for it(eventhough you were a Corporal, the most hated and feared rank in the SADF😂😂). God bless
Enjoyed it..Salt of the earth...Humble,unselfish absolutely motivated .Yes good training and leaders count but without NCO's like you, competently carrying out the mundane , one get PRD ( Putin Russia Defense )"Force".
It is facsinating to hear these stories. Completely different to my Army experience. I shot 5 rounds in basics and ended up spending about 20 months at Army HQ writing computer software for logistics! In the bigger picture I suppose we all did something and without the people at Army HQ there would have been no supplies for the people at the pointy end.
@@mrd7067 SA Army. 1984-85. I think it was around this time that the SA Army really realised they had to fix their logistics. They really pushed computerisation hard and were deploying their second generation logistical software. The first generation was really difficult to use and there were lots of errors. For example a classic error was getting the demonination of quantity wrong. eg. the unit for ordering toilet rolls was 100 rolls. If you wanted 2000 rolls then you type in 20. If you by mistake typed in 2000 then you had ordered 200,000! There was also a mess with serial controlled items (firearms, vehicles etc) and nobody knew where stuff was. The first generation was still a paper system for many people who then faxed in order forms. The second generation software was much better allowing logistics to flow much faster and keep track of things better. I was part of a world-first trial where we were cutting bar codes onto rifles so that we could scan the serial numbers with barcode scanners. THis made it much easier to track rifles properly because manual entry was often fraught with mistakes. So that is how I spent my 2 years. Writing programs, designing software systems. Easy life!
@@mrd7067 I had a very non-typical national service. I was in Personnel Service School for most of basics, then Ordinance Services School for the rest. The first is mainly for clerks (but also a lot of people who are going to do professional work in the army go through there) and Ordiance Services is logistics (mainly those going to be storemen). I fired 5 rounds in Personnel Services. At logistics services I fired zero rounds when we went to the shooting range because they forgot to bring the ammo... Neither were for combat-oriented troops and training was about as mild as could be and still be in the Army. A lot of people in Personnel Services were older like me with degrees. I was 22 in basics. They didn't see much point in treating us badly. I then went to Army HQ where we didn't get too worried about rank. Sure you saluted etc, but we walked past generals every day so nobody was freaking out about rank. Everyone understood you were there to do a job and that mattered more. I don't know what happened to the barcode project after I left. There is a huge problem tracking vehicles and rifles etc, especially when people clear out after service (especially those doing camps). Often there would just be piles of rifles and the poor stored guys trying to make sense of it all after everyone has flown home. Yesterday I was talking to a guy who worked on similar projects for the Israeli Army in the 1990s. Like every Army in the world, their effectiveness was reduced by lost equipment and they had a 10 year project developing systems to track their equipment better. You wonder how people can lose a tank in a transport park. Somehow they manage to do it! I strongly believe that sorting out the logistical computer problems in the mid-1980s was a game changer for the SA Army. You can see the transition in effectiveness around this period. You can't run a Mech Infantry (Ratels etc) without an excellent supply chain bringing ammo, spares, fuel etc. The difference really kicked in in 1985 or so. That is why I find these talks so interesting. You can see how pieces of the puzzle fit together and how programmers working on systems in Pretoria actually changed the way war could be fought on the border (of course taking nothing away from the heroics of the actual guys on the border).
@@mrd7067 By the way, the computers built into the guns these days also do things like listen to the sound of the firing to determine the state of the gun (eg. does it need servicing). Some can use the round counting to automatically compensate the aim for barrel wear etc. The computer software is the most complicated part of many bits of military equipment these days.
Hi Oliver I have really enjoyed your honest story of your time in 32. It also took me back in time. Much appreciated. Stay well. Until we meet again… As agreed to put on From Tai Theron my echo company commander.. pasted fro. His comment to Me on WhatsApp
Hey Oliver great to view your story on this platform..our generation missed the compulsory service and most of us are not even aware of sacrifices made by many such as yourself.
Great talk I Oliver thank you for sharing
Great talk, well done. I was a 7 med ops medic, spent some time at Buffalo in early '89 helped with the relocation to Pomfret. Thanks for your passion and recollection.
I can only be proud of my son Oliver. He is a good son and a valid soldier. Times gon will never be back. Glory to South Africans soldiers.
Very enlightening Oliver. Such a pleasure knowing and working with you. Honesty, Loyalty and Justice are definitely values you live by. Thank you for sharing.
Met Oliver at Witbank High School. I would go into battle with him any day. Great interview.
Great to hear stories like this from people who lived it. Respect "Sab" 👍
Wow thanx
A well told account of dedicated service to the SADF. Thank you for your story and your service to our country. Honoured to have a brave soldier like you as my friend. Salute.
Proud of you Mr Sabatino. You did great and told your story…… We can only hope, younger generations will understand, respect and remember ……..
I was the same intake and was not brave enough to do the same. We will remember you. Proud of you and what you did.
Hi Oliver...I just want to mention that I was with you in platoon 3 Infantry School - Kobus Le Roux - I remember you very well...salute
Hi, hope ur are well. Are u based in Johannesburg…
@@oliversabatino5984 Hi..all good thanks...nope I'm in Cape Town
hi do u have any contacts with any other of the guys
I spent my high school years with my friend Oliver.
My family & I have always known Him as a good human being & an honourable Man whom was always very proud of his military time in 32 battalion in contrast to people like myself whom simply archive there time in the army.
However, lest we forget those that we lost & I am not surprised Oliver has taken the time amongst others to reflect on this sad time for those that perished.
I was in school with Oliver from Standard 2 until matric. Well spoken Oliver. Regards Eric.
Thank you Oliver. I really enjoyed your story a lot. Like the Generals(Oom Borries, Mc Gill Alexander, Roland De Vries etc..) said, we all had a duty to do and contributed to the success of the SADF. Your contribution was far more than many(myself included) and I salute you for it(eventhough you were a Corporal, the most hated and feared rank in the SADF😂😂). God bless
Enjoyed it..Salt of the earth...Humble,unselfish absolutely motivated .Yes good training and leaders count but without NCO's like you, competently carrying out the mundane , one get PRD ( Putin Russia Defense )"Force".
Great interview..got to love the “creative” expressions / language..👍🤣
1:47 Exactly Koos. You nailed it!!!
From a blougat infantry corporal to a conventional war battle so soon! Character building to say the least! Well done Sgt Oliver!
Superb.
It is facsinating to hear these stories. Completely different to my Army experience.
I shot 5 rounds in basics and ended up spending about 20 months at Army HQ writing computer software for logistics! In the bigger picture I suppose we all did something and without the people at Army HQ there would have been no supplies for the people at the pointy end.
@@mrd7067 SA Army. 1984-85.
I think it was around this time that the SA Army really realised they had to fix their logistics. They really pushed computerisation hard and were deploying their second generation logistical software.
The first generation was really difficult to use and there were lots of errors. For example a classic error was getting the demonination of quantity wrong. eg. the unit for ordering toilet rolls was 100 rolls. If you wanted 2000 rolls then you type in 20. If you by mistake typed in 2000 then you had ordered 200,000!
There was also a mess with serial controlled items (firearms, vehicles etc) and nobody knew where stuff was.
The first generation was still a paper system for many people who then faxed in order forms.
The second generation software was much better allowing logistics to flow much faster and keep track of things better.
I was part of a world-first trial where we were cutting bar codes onto rifles so that we could scan the serial numbers with barcode scanners. THis made it much easier to track rifles properly because manual entry was often fraught with mistakes.
So that is how I spent my 2 years. Writing programs, designing software systems. Easy life!
@@mrd7067 I had a very non-typical national service. I was in Personnel Service School for most of basics, then Ordinance Services School for the rest. The first is mainly for clerks (but also a lot of people who are going to do professional work in the army go through there) and Ordiance Services is logistics (mainly those going to be storemen). I fired 5 rounds in Personnel Services. At logistics services I fired zero rounds when we went to the shooting range because they forgot to bring the ammo...
Neither were for combat-oriented troops and training was about as mild as could be and still be in the Army.
A lot of people in Personnel Services were older like me with degrees. I was 22 in basics. They didn't see much point in treating us badly.
I then went to Army HQ where we didn't get too worried about rank. Sure you saluted etc, but we walked past generals every day so nobody was freaking out about rank. Everyone understood you were there to do a job and that mattered more.
I don't know what happened to the barcode project after I left.
There is a huge problem tracking vehicles and rifles etc, especially when people clear out after service (especially those doing camps). Often there would just be piles of rifles and the poor stored guys trying to make sense of it all after everyone has flown home.
Yesterday I was talking to a guy who worked on similar projects for the Israeli Army in the 1990s. Like every Army in the world, their effectiveness was reduced by lost equipment and they had a 10 year project developing systems to track their equipment better. You wonder how people can lose a tank in a transport park. Somehow they manage to do it!
I strongly believe that sorting out the logistical computer problems in the mid-1980s was a game changer for the SA Army. You can see the transition in effectiveness around this period. You can't run a Mech Infantry (Ratels etc) without an excellent supply chain bringing ammo, spares, fuel etc. The difference really kicked in in 1985 or so.
That is why I find these talks so interesting. You can see how pieces of the puzzle fit together and how programmers working on systems in Pretoria actually changed the way war could be fought on the border (of course taking nothing away from the heroics of the actual guys on the border).
@@mrd7067 By the way, the computers built into the guns these days also do things like listen to the sound of the firing to determine the state of the gun (eg. does it need servicing). Some can use the round counting to automatically compensate the aim for barrel wear etc. The computer software is the most complicated part of many bits of military equipment these days.
Salute / Saluut .
Interview, Peter Williams as well 🙏
Was self in Infantry Skool Golf kompanie in1981 Pelton 5 Rooiwal
We’ll done oliver
Based.
Hello
Quinze OYE Sgt Sambadimba !
Hi Oliver I have really enjoyed your honest story of your time in 32. It also took me back in time. Much appreciated. Stay well. Until we meet again… As agreed to put on From Tai Theron my echo company commander.. pasted fro. His comment to
Me on WhatsApp
Hey Oliver great to view your story on this platform..our generation missed the compulsory service and most of us are not even aware of sacrifices made by many such as yourself.