APPOINTMENT OF THE SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY (SA ARMY)

16 May 2012
By Defence Corporate Communication
 

Senior Chief Warrant Officer (SCWO) Charles Alan Laubscher has been appointed as the Sergeant Major of the SA Army.

SCWO Laubscher matriculated at the Worcester High School in 1974 and joined the South African Defence Force on 8 January 1975. SCWO Laubscher started his military career as an infanteer and did basic military training at 1 South African Infantry Battalion (1 SAI Bn) in Bloemfontein and was posted to the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn. Upon completion of his leader group training, he was transferred to 11 Commando in Kimberley as an Infantry instructor. He was a founder member of the South African Army Intelligence Corps and the School of Intelligence, when the corps evolved from the then 11 Commando in 1982. SCWO Laubscher is fully qualified in both the SA Army Infantry and Intelligence Corps.

Later he was posted to the SA Army College where he was an instructor for the SA Army Sergeant Major and Senior Non-commissioned Officers’ courses, while also being utilised as the Unit Security Officer for an extended period earning him the Chief of the SA Defence Force Commendation.

He was then appointed as the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of Northern Transvaal Command Headquarters Unit, after which he was appointed as the RSM of the SA Military Intelligence College. For his service at the SA Military Intelligence College, he was awarded the Military Merit Medal.

At the time of integration into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1994, he was posted to the SA Army Headquarters, Communication Section and tasked with the establishment and running of a communication team whose task it was to keep the other ranks informed on the integration process and resulting changes in the SANDF at the time. He earned the Pro Merito Medal for this task.
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SA Army Two
This was followed by his appointment as Group Sergeant Major of Group 9 Headquarters in Pietermaritzburg and then he was transferred back to Pretoria as the SA Army Intelligence Formation Warrant Officer. During this time he also completed part-time studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA), passing the Total Quality Management Programme with distinction. SCWO Laubscher was appointed as the SA Army Warrant Officer Dress, a post he held until his appointment as Sergeant Major of the SA Army on 1 February 2012.

During his career, SCWO Laubscher was awarded the Chief of the SADF Commendation Certificate, three Chief of the SA Army Commendation Certificates and various formation and unit commendations. He is the proud holder of two merit medals, four operational medals and three service medals.

SCWO Laubscher is married to Emily and is the proud father of Meleshé and Saskia.