MILITARY TRADITIONS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOUTH AFRICA

dc.creator	J.H. Picard
dc.date	2012-02-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T20:08:55Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T20:08:55Z
dc.identifier	10.5787/20-1-368
dc.identifier	2224-0020
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/853ad21ec02b4bda89ec1a36af4a1075
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/8582
dc.identifier.uri	https://doaj.org/article/853ad21ec02b4bda89ec1a36af4a1075
dc.description	<p><strong>Preliminary Look</strong></p> <p>Within any military community one finds particular traditions, customs and ceremonies, the origin of which is often shrouded in the mists of antiquity. Even the origin of certain often used terms, so specifically martial and peculiar to the military, is generally quite unknown. This is a pity as such terms are a way of communicating to the soldier that</p> <p>(a) he is not alone but a member of an illustrious group,</p> <p>(b) he is duty and honour bound to uphold the fine traditions of the group to which he belongs,</p> <p>(c) he is justly proud of belonging to such a unit for this also raises his self-esteem,</p> <p>(d) it is more frightening to live having failed the unit or one's comrades than to lay down your life in the knowledge that you have defended the honour of your country, your unit and yourself,</p> <p>(e) such terms contribute to effective teamwork and the <em>esprit de corps </em>so important in the military.</p> <p>Traditions, then, inspire comradeship, pride, love, courage and discipline. Small wonder that their absence could lead to a disaster. In <em>Military</em> <em>Manpower </em>(1981) Canby attributes the poor discipline of USA soldiers in Vietnam (as compared with the British soldier in Ireland) to the abolishment of the regimental system with its focus on traditions.</p>
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy)
dc.relation	http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/368
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2224-0020
dc.source	Scientia Militaria : South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 20, Iss 1 (2012)
dc.subject	esprit de corps
dc.subject	Brief Survey
dc.subject	Freedom of a City
dc.subject	Regimental Colours
dc.subject	Change-of-Command Symbols
dc.subject	traditions, customs and ceremonies
dc.subject	Naval Traditions
dc.subject	Naval Officer's Sword
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.title	MILITARY TRADITIONS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOUTH AFRICA
dc.type	Article