Rhodesia Conflict South African COMOPS Comm Intelligence Corps Badge

For sale is a Rhodesia Conflict Period South African Defence Force COMOPS Communication Operations Beret badge, which is in good condition with its original screw back nuts. The cap badge states “exploratio”. 

About SADF COMPOS- Intelligence Corps: 

Comops was the South African Military term for all aspects of communication operations directed at own forces morale and enemy forces morale.

1978 SADF had received extensive PSYCHOLOGICAL ACTION training and briefings from the French re: their experiences in Algeria. Psychological Action included Psychological Operations i.e. leaflets and broadcasting directed at the enemy, Counter Propaganda, Civic Action - Hearts and Minds campaigns i.e. self help and humanitarian assistance - all in the desire to show the local population that the SA Army was their friend.

SA ARMY INTELLIGENCE CORPS - COMOPS 

'Kopsmokkelaars' a colloquial Afrikaans term for 'head smugglers' 

Via the SA Army Intelligence Corps, STRATCOM was undertaken via strategies such as CIVIC ACTION. Continuous infiltrations by the ANC and PAC placed a strain on administration in the rural areas and the SADF realized that, in order to contain the revolutionary war, support to the local population needed to be improved and maintained. Collapse of the administration would be chaotic and thus imperative that the administration be seen to be governing - effectively and with popular support. The SADF therefore embarked upon Civic Action programmes aimed at bolstering the administration structures. Soldiers deployed in various disciplines to create a positive image amongst the local population -i.e. 

Education: National Servicemen with educational qualifications were deployed in support if the Education Dept.

Medical: Medical orderlies formed part of patrols and provided nasic medical care. Military doctors were deployed to rural hospitals.

Vetenary Services: Vets were available at military bases and were detached to provincial governements when required.

Agriculture: National servicemen took part in agricultural training projects in rural communities.

Water Supply: NSM were detached to Water Affairs dept to assist with projects such as water purification, water provision etc.

Own Forces were trained in the need to win the 'Hearts and Minds' of the local population. Patrols made contact with the rural population and assisted them in numerous ways such as repairing windmills / water holes, minor repairs to schools, low-key medical assistance etc.

SADF Civic Action dates back to 1974 when the need was identified for the socio-economic and welfare upliftment of the mainly Black population - not only within the borders of the RSA but also in South West Africa / Namibia.

COMOPS within the SA Army framework was a sub-section of the SA Army Intelligence Corps. Training of personnel was conducted at the Intelligence School, and large cohorts of National Servicemen attended at SAINTS within the dedicated ECHO Company for COMOPS personnel.

COMOPS was an essential component of the Army force structure and was located at all Command HQ's. COMOPS - as a specialist Intelligence Corps function had as it's sub-sections, the following areas of interest:

COMOPS Population

COMOPS Enemy

COMOPS Own Forces

Media Liaison

The Rhodesian Bush War, also called the Second Chimurenga as well as the Zimbabwe War of Liberation, was a civil conflict from July 1964 to December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe-Rhodesia). The conflict pitted three forces against one another: the Rhodesian white minority-led government of Ian Smith (later the Zimbabwe-Rhodesian government of Bishop Abel Muzorewa); the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the military wing of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union; and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union.

This will be sent via 1st class signed for and dispatch within two working days.