This was the SADF pre-1994 24-hour ration pack, aka the ratpack. Packed with ~3,200 calories, no fridge needed, ready for long patrols in the bush. Hot or cold, every item had a purpose, from keeping energy up to lifting morale. For veterans, it’s memories. For historians, a glimpse into life on deployment. HISTORY IN THE DETAILS. #SAMHChannel #SADFHistory #MilitaryRations #RatPack #FieldRations #BushWarHistory #VeteransStories | South African Military History Channel

The Parabats were the SADF’s elite airborne soldiers, trained to deploy fast, hit hard, and operate deep behind enemy lines. From Bloemfontein to Angola, they built a reputation on discipline, endurance, and precision. Selection was unforgiving. Physical training pushed limits, ground drills demanded perfection, and the jump course tested nerve and trust. Earning the maroon beret and silver wings marked a soldier who had endured one of the toughest paths in the South African Army. During the Bor