7 Medical Battalion Group
| 7 Medical Battalion Group | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country |
 South Africa
|
| Allegiance |
Republic of South Africa
|
| Branch | South African Military Health Service |
| Type | Special Operations |
| Role | Airborne Search and Rescue, Medical Evacuation, Chemical and Biological Warfare, Diving medicine, Aviation medicine, Special Operations, Close Protection |
| Garrison/HQ | Lyttelton, Centurion |
| Motto(s) | "Audacissimos Servamus" Serving the bravest |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col Mcebisi Zukile Mdutywa |
| Notable commanders |
Doctor Wouter Basson |
7 Medical Battalion Group is the specialist Airborne Medical Unit of the South African Military Health Service. The Battalion's main task is to render medical support to the South African Special and Airborne Forces.
Other specialties of the Battalion include Combat Search and Rescue, CBRNE detection, verification and decontamination, Diving and Aviation medicine and numerous other skills associated in supporting Special Forces.
Little is publicly known of this elite medical unit primarily because of its association with the South African Special Forces. The unit's founder Commandant Wouter Basson led the research on the SADF Chemical and Biological Warfare program.
Other tasks of the battalion include but are not limited to medical support to the South African Police Service Special Task Force and other elite units, the South African Air Force's Search and Rescue units and the Presidential Protection Unit.
The unit is on a general six-hour standby and is ready to deploy nationally and internationally, most recently in advisory and support roles during natural disasters.
The unit retains a limited Defensive Chemical Biological warfare (CBRNE) capability.
In the early 1980s the South African Reconnaissance Commandos (now the South African Special Forces Brigade) identified the need for a special medical unit to support Special Forces on operations and the Detachment Medical Special Operations was formed. Under command of the Surgeon General, a group of 9 doctors with Commandant Wouter Basson at the head, founded what would later become 7 Medical Battalion Group at Special Forces Brigade Headquarters (Speskop) south of Pretoria in 1984. The Battalion officially received its Unit flag and Colours on 14 April 1987 when it was named 7 Medical Battalion Group and incorporated into the South African Medical Service (now the South African Military Health Service). The year 1987 is considered the unit's birth year although the exact date is unknown.
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Wikipedia