Caption AHOY! . . . Military Skills Development members salute while doing duty at SAS Saldanha. The SA Navy is becoming increasingly representative of the country's populationPicture Fani Mahuntsi

She is young, black, and energetic, and she has chosen to defend the country from the sea.

Lizzy Lebelo (18) of Mamelodi is one of the few black women to enrol for military training with the South African Navy.

Being black and female, she is proof of the SA Navy 's plan to change its composition to be more inclusive and open to all racial groupings. She is among 66young African women, aged between 18 and 22, who are currently undergoing the first course in military skills development (MSD) at the SA Navy base, SAS Saldanha, in Saldanha Bay.

Lebelo applied for training after matriculating with maths and science last year ``I was called for the training after I passed the interview and the selection test. I decided to join the Navy because I perceived it as a challenging unit of the defence force.''

MSD training is a new concept introduced at the beginning of the year as part of the human resource strategy 2010. According to the chief of naval staff, Rear Admiral Johannes Mudimu, the new system comprises three career stages, namely the MSD, core service system and senior career system. There are currently 413 MSD trainees, including men and women of all racial groups.

``Transformation in the SA Navy is progressing well. Racial targets have been set and the service is progressing well toward the attainment of these. Currently 33 percent of those serving in the Navy are black and they are aiming to increase the number to 60 percent,'' Mudimu added.

The MSD programme comprises of three phases induction into the SA Navy, orientation to the maritime environment, and the initial naval military phase. Including training programmes in sailing and seamanship, English, mathematics and computer literacy are also taught, as are first aid, marine fire fighting, sea survival, workplace safety, swimming, financial education and firearm training.

``Training commences at SAS Saldanha, thereafter selected candidates go to the SA Naval College in Gordon's Bay where they will undergo intensive officer training before filling posts in the combat, logistics, personnel and engineering branches of the SA Navy.

``After a period of two years service, suitable MSD members will be accepted into the core service system.

``The remainder will be transferred to the reserve for a period of five years where they will be used in prominent posts to compliment the full time force,''said Mudimu.

SAS Saldanha commanding officer, Captain Robert Shelley, says ``By the end of the course in October, we intend to provide lifeskills to the learners that they can apply not just in the defence force but also in the civilian sector.''

With acknowledgements to Matefu Mokoena and City Press.