The multi-battallion regiment: an old concept with a new relevance

This research paper argues for the adoption of a 'true multi-battalion regiment' system within the South African Infantry Corps (SAIC) to create a more cost-effective and operationally efficient force. The author uses the historical British reforms of Edward Cardwell, Hugh Childers, and Richard Haldane as a model, emphasizing the importance of linking military units to specific local communities and integrating full-time and part-time components. The paper contends that the South African Army has historically suffered from fragmentation and a lack of depth, particularly following the abolition of national service, and suggests that a multi-battalion structure could resolve issues of recruiting, reserve capacity, and coherence.

• The author proposes the 'true multi-battalion regiment' as a philosophical and practical mechanism to enhance operational capability, defining it as an "army recruiting and training unit with permanent depot and often local name, consisting of a varying number of battalions ...".
• The British regimental system, established through the reforms of Edward Cardwell (1868–1874), Hugh Childers, and Richard Haldane, created a flexible structure where one regular battalion served abroad while another served at home to replace losses, supported by Militia and Volunteer units as a second-line force.
• The author argues that South Africa has failed to adopt this system, resulting in a fragmented force where the Permanent Force (PF) consists of independent numbered battalions and the Part-Time Force (PTF) is primarily composed of single-battalion regiments.
• A critical requirement for the success of multi-battalion regiments is that battalions must be located in close proximity and share the same regimental area to ensure mutual support and a shared corporate culture.
• The Transvaal Scottish is cited as a successful South African example of the Cardwell spirit because its battalions are located in the same area (Johannesburg and environs) and share a single regimental headquarters.
• The South African Army in 1996 faces a 'lack of depth' due to the abolition of national service and a short-term service scheme that does not coherently provide for future emergencies or an organized ready reserve of ex-regulars.
• The author suggests that a Part-Time Force (PTF) of 150,000 men would be economical, noting that at the peak of the SADF, 87 percent of total personnel were part-time, costing only 2.2 percent of the defence budget.

APA

Steenkamp, W. (1996). The multi-battallion regiment: an old concept with a new relevance. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-1-get-on-parade-restructuring-south-africas-part-time-military-force-for-the-21st-century-edited-by-jakkie-cilliers-/the-multi-battallion-regiment-an-old-concept-with-a-new-relevancewillem-steenkamp-citizen-force-officer-and-

Chicago

Steenkamp, Willem. The multi-battallion regiment: an old concept with a new relevance. Institute for Security Studies, 1996. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-1-get-on-parade-restructuring-south-africas-part-time-military-force-for-the-21st-century-edited-by-jakkie-cilliers-/the-multi-battallion-regiment-an-old-concept-with-a-new-relevancewillem-steenkamp-citizen-force-officer-and-.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Steenkamp |first1=Willem |title=The multi-battallion regiment: an old concept with a new relevance |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=February 1996 |url=https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-1-get-on-parade-restructuring-south-africas-part-time-military-force-for-the-21st-century-edited-by-jakkie-cilliers-/the-multi-battallion-regiment-an-old-concept-with-a-new-relevancewillem-steenkamp-citizen-force-officer-and- |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{steenkamp1996multibattallion, author = {Steenkamp, Willem}, title = {{The multi-battallion regiment: an old concept with a new relevance}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {1996}, month = feb, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-1-get-on-parade-restructuring-south-africas-part-time-military-force-for-the-21st-century-edited-by-jakkie-cilliers-/the-multi-battallion-regiment-an-old-concept-with-a-new-relevancewillem-steenkamp-citizen-force-officer-and-}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }