Krupert Nel

Brigadier General Krubert Eric Nel SD, SM, MMM
Died	Alive
Allegiance	South Africa
Service / branch	South African Army and Special Forces
Years of service	January 1978–31 March 2012
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	School of Engineers, Kroonstad
Commands	OC 4 Special Forces Regiment CoS Special Forces Bde GOC Special Forces Bde CoS Infantry Fmn
Awards

Brigadier General Krubert Eric Nel SD SM MMM is a retired South African Army officer who also served in the South African Special Forces.

Military career

Brig Gen Nel joined the South African Defence Force at the School of Engineers in January 1978 as a National Serviceman, where he later became an officer. In 1980 he completed the Special Forces Cycle Training and was transferred to 4 Reconnaissance Regiment in Langebaan.[1] In May 1985 he participated in the ill-fated incursion into Cabinda - Operation Argon - that resulted in two Special Forces operators being killed in action and a third being captured by MPLA forces.

From 3 January 1994 to 13 March 1998 he was the Officer Commanding of 4 Special Forces Regiment and then served as the Chief of Staff of the South African Special Forces Brigade from 1 March 1998 until 31 December 2002, becoming the General Officer Commanding on 1 January 2003.[1]

In January 2006 he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the South African Army Infantry Formation.[1][2]

Brig Nel took early retirement from the SANDF on 31 March 2012.[1]

Awards and decorations

Medals

Gen Nel has been awarded the following medals:[2]: Photo 

• Southern Cross Decoration (SD)
• Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM)
• Pro Patria Medal
• Southern Africa Medal
• General Service Medal (South Africa)
• Unitas (Unity) Medal
• Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years))

Proficiency and Qualification badges

Gen Nel qualified for the following:[1][2]: Photo 

SA Special Forces Operator's Badge (Qualification) Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Dagger enclosed with a laurel wreath

Attack Diver (Qualification) Bronze Black on Thatch beige, Embossed The badge depicts a great white shark swimming past the Neptune trident, which is mounted on the mouthpiece of an Oxygears 57 and is enclosed within the tubes of the Oxygears 57

Free Fall Paratrooper (Qualification) Advanced, Freefall Black on Thatch beige Small Black wings

References

1. Meyer, Maj M. (October 2012). "GOODBYE "ROGER KEN"" (PDF). SA Soldier. 19 (10): 8. ISSN 1609-5014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
2. Rakoma, Ally (March 2011). "Honouring the heroic deeds of fallen infanteers". SA Soldier. 18 (3): 19. ISSN 1609-5014.

Military offices
Preceded by Brig Gen Clive P van Schalkwyk	Chief of Staff SA Army Infantry Fmn 2006–2012	Succeeded by Brig Gen Xolani Mankayi
Preceded by Brig Gen Les Rudman	GOC Special Forces Brigade 2003–2006	Succeeded by Brig Gen Rudzani Maphwanya
Preceded by Col Roelof du Plooy	Chief of Staff Special Forces Brigade 1998–2003	Succeeded by Col Doibie Coetzee
Preceded by Col Hannes Venter	OC 4 Special Forces Regiment 1994–1998	Succeeded by Col Julius Engelbrecht