The South African Military Health Service Mobile Military Health Formation is the SANDF military special operations health capability. The formation operates two regular force medical battalions, with 7 Medical Battalion GroupAnon., 2008. 7 Medical Battalion Group - a unique unit. The South African Soldier, 15(), p. 38–39. providing support to the South African Special Forces Brigade and 8 Medical Battalion Group focusing on airborne operations. Three reserve units, 1 Medical Battalion Group, 3 Medical Battalion Group and 6 Medical Battalion Group fall under the command of the formation.

The formation specialises in various types of operations including emergency medicine, disaster response, medical rescue, hostage negotiation and CBRNE warfare defence.

Similar to most special operations units, the Mobile Military Health Formation has a high attrition rate with most candidates failing to meet the strict physical and academic requirements.

The Mobile Military Health Formation's current structure is the result of extensive restructuring Le Roux, L., 2005. The post-apartheid South African military: Transforming with the nation. Evolutions and Revolutions: A Contemporary History of Militaries in Southern Africa. Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies, pp. pp.235-68.. that occurred during the transition to democracyWessels, André. "The South African National Defence Force, 1994–2009: A Historical Perspective" (PDF). humanities.ufs.ac.za/. University of the Free State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014. in South Africa Charney, C., 1999. Civil Society, Political Violence, and Democratic Transitions: Business and the Peace Process in South Africa, 1990 to 1994. Comparative Studies in Society and History, 41(1), pp. 182-206. and military reforms from the Defence Review 1998.Vrey, F., 2012. Paradigm shifts, South African Defence Policy and the South African National Defence Force : from here to where?. Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies, 32(2), pp. 89-118. Through its designation as the SAMHS primary force preparation entity, the formation has a broad mandate to ensure the delivery of comprehensive medical health services to the SANDF during conventional operations. In light of recent advancements in warfareArreguín-Toft, I., . How the weak win wars: A theory of asymmetric conflict. [Online] Available at: http://web.stanford.edu/class/polisci211z/2.2/Arreguin-Toft%20IS%202001.pdf [Accessed 2 7 2023].Allen, M. A., Bell, S. R. & Clay, K. C., . Deadly Triangles: The Implications of Regional Competition on Interactions in Asymmetric Dyads. Foreign Policy Analysis, 14(2), p. 169–190. and the ongoing threat of global terrorism,Forest, J. J. & Giroux, J., 2011. Terrorism and Political Violence in Africa: Contemporary Trends in a Shifting Terrain. Perspectives on terrorism, 5(), p. .Fine, J., . Contrasting Secular and Religious Terrorism., (), p. . the SANDF recognised a need to shift attention towards more mobile and adaptable military operations, specifically with a focus on disaster response.Mabogunje, A. L., . The Environmental Challenges In Sub Saharan Africa. [Online] Available at: http://web.mit.edu/africantech/www/articles/EnvChall.htm The SAMHS have adapted its approach to healthcare delivery in tandem with other SANDF services and divisions.

History

The history Coghlan, M., 2002. The Natal volunteers in the Anglo-Boer War, September 1899 to July 1902: reality and perception, Durban: UKZN Press. of the Mobile Military Health Formation dates back to the Boer WarsAnon., . First Anglo-Boer War 1880-1881. [Online] Available at: http://www.sahistory.org.za/south-africa-1806-1899/first-anglo-boer-war-1880-1881 [Accessed 2 7 2023].Anon., . Boer War – Imperial Yeomanry Battalions. [Online] Available at: http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/ImperialYeomanryCompaniesBoerBn.html [Accessed 2 7 2023]. with ambulance detachments of the Natal Volunteer Medical Corps (NVMC), the Volunteer Staff Corps in the Cape Colony, and the Transvaal Volunteer Staff Corps.

The Corps played a notable role in the Anglo-Boer War, the Rand Strikes, and World War I. In 1939, they were granted the honour of wearing the Mackenzie Tartan. During World War II, the unit formed part of 10 and 11 Field Ambulances Mohlamme, J., . Botched Orders or Insubordination:The battle of Berea revisited. SA Military History Journal, 10(1), p. . and saw service in the Western Desert and Italy.

As of July 1, 1979, the South African Medical Corps (SAMC),Waag, I. V. d., 2012. MILITARY NURSING IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1914-1994. Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies, 25(2), p. . previously a part of the Army, transitioned to become the South African Medical Service (SAMS), which became the fourth arm of the South African Defence Force (SADF). During the military exercise Ex Jumbo in 1980, the formation of 11 Medical Battalion tested the newly developed Medical Battalion concept, which involved combining all field ambulances.

1 Field Ambulance merged with 17 Field Ambulance to become 1 Medical Battalion Group in November 1981. The first special operations medical unit, 7 Medical Battalion Group, was conceptualised in the early 1980s when the South African Defence Force was involved in various unconventional operations such as Project Barnacle and Project Coast.

8 Mobile Hospital was disbanded on 5 November 1981, when the majority of the serving and active members were incorporated into 6 Medical Battalion Group. Subsequently, all existing Medical Battalion Groups were re-constituted and re-formed to create the Mobile Medical Brigade’s five Medical Battalion Groups in September 1992.

The disbandment of 8 Mobile Hospital occurred on 5 November 1981, with most of the serving and active members being integrated into 6 Medical Battalion Group. Following this, the South African Medical Service formed five Medical Battalion Groups in September 1992 by re-establishing and re-forming existing Medical Battalion Groups.

The Defence Review 2015 emphasised the need for the SANDF to maintain a core Rapid Deployment capability that will consist of Special Forces and Special Operations Forces. While the Defence Review was later criticised for being difficult to implement due to funding concerns, the SANDF has confirmed its commitment to reform into a lighter mobile force with response capacity for domestic and international operations.

As a result, the SAMHS reviewed its own organisation in order for it to be well established to provide optimal health support for the future defence force. In early 2023 the Surgeon General approved a restructuring of the Mobile Military Health Formation to better underscore its status as the ready multidisciplinary rapid deployment health capability of the SANDF.

Structure

The Mobile Military Health Formation headquarters consists of command element under a Brigadier General, brigade staff (S1 - S9), and a disaster response/ CBRNE defence Rapid Response Group.

The formation has three subordinate multi-role reserve Battalion Groups and two special operations Battalion Groups.

Reserve Battalions

1 Medical Battalion Group

3 Medical Battalion Group

6 Medical Battalion Group

Regular Force Battalions

7 Medical Battalion Group (South African Special Forces Multidisciplinary Health Support)

8 Medical Battalion Group (South African Army Airborne Force Multidisciplinary Health Support)

World Wars

World War I

The Natal Medical Corps (Hospital London, 1904) was activated in 1914 and served in the South West African Campaign.Park, M., 1916. German South-West African Campaign.. Journal of the Royal African Society, pp. 15(58), pp.113-132.. During this time, they established the 6th Stationary Hospital in Swakupmond and operated the hospital ship 'Ebani'. Another group from the corps participated in the battle for Gideon against German forces. When the SWA Campaign ended, the Field Ambulance joined the 1st Infantry Brigade and travelled on the HMS Kenilworth Castle from Cape Town to receive training at the Royal Army Medical CorpsDunning, F., 1936. Personal reminiscences with a mobile veterinary section in the South-West African campaign, 1915.. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 7(1), pp. pp.7-10.. Twezeldown on October 10, 1915.Kleynhans, E., 2016. A critical analysis of the impact of water on the South African campaign in German South West Africa, 1914-1915.. Historia, 61(2), pp. pp.29-53.. After completing their training, the unit was transported to Egypt on the HMT Corsican and arrived in Alexandria on January 13, 1916.

As part of the Natal Corps of the 1st South African Field Ambulance, the unit actively participated in significant battles such as the Somme, Deville Wood, Ypres, and the Menin Road.

World War II

During the war,Headrick, R., 1978. African Soldiers in World War II. Armed Forces & Society, 4(3), pp. pp.501-526.. the medical units were combined and given new unit numbers starting from 10. The members of the 1st Field Ambulance became the main personnel of the newly formed 10 and 11 Field Ambulances, distinguishing themselves by wearing the Mackenzie Tartan behind their cap badges. These two units provided medical support in the Western Desert and Italy. Another unit, 17 Field Ambulance, was formed during the war and served alongside Australian forces, but unfortunately, it was captured when Tobruk fell in 1942. After the war, the Field Ambulances returned to their original numbering system.

Domestic Operations

During the Civil Disturbances Mohlamme, J., . Botched Orders or Insubordination:The battle of Berea revisited. SA Military History Journal, 10(1), p. . in June 1913 and 1914, 1 Field Ambulance Transvaal (later known as 6 Medical Battalion Group) was mobilised to provide first aid. They operated from the Drill Hall in Johannesburg and later set up a 50-bed hospital in the Wanderers Club building in the same city.

During the Rand Strikes of 1922, the Natal Medical Corps was mobilized alongside other Natal Regiments and deployed to the gold Reef.

Operation DUIKER and Operation LETABA

In 1959/60, Ops DUIKER saw the mobilization of 1 Medical Battalion Group in response to the Cato Manor Riots.Popke, E., 2000. Violence and memory in the reconstruction of South Africa's Cato Manor.. Growth and Change, 3(12), pp. pp.235-254.. Then, during Ops LETABA in 1961 which took place in Voortrekkerhoogte, helicopters were utilized for the first time to evacuate casualties. This marked a significant milestone as members of 1st Field Ambulance were informed that they were at the cutting edge of modern warfare.

Operation JAMBU

Mobile military Health Formation units deployed during Operation JAMBU Faulkner, D. & Loewald, C., 2008. Policy change and economic growth : a case study of South Africa. [Online] Available at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/extpremnet/resources/489960-1338997241035/growth_commission_working_paper_41_policy_change_economic_growth_case_study_south_africa.pdf (stability operations during South Africa’s first democratic election over the period 15 April to 15 May 1994. All medical task teams were responsible for providing medical support to the elements of the SA Army.

Operation BATA

In 2007, during a long civil service strike,Banjo, A. a. B. S., 2009. A descriptive analysis of the 2007 public sector strike in South Africa: forum section. South African Journal of Labour Relations, 33(2), pp. pp.120-131. the SAMHS was requested to manage hospitals and other public facilities (known as Operation BATA). The Mobile Military Health Formation was responsible for carrying out the operation. As a recognition of their efforts, the participants of the SAMHS were bestowed with the Tshumelo Ikatelaho medal, which was given to all those involved in this operation.

Operation CHARIOT