The Lesotho Defence is actively engaged in operational duties across the country. The work we do ranges from supporting the security organs Ministries to providing disaster relief operations, from wiping out theft and reducing and blocking human trafficking routes across the country, LESOTHO
The guardsmen are fully trained combat soldiers and ready to deploy in any operation home or abroad. After the recruitment training, soldiers take two years doing the duty of guardsman with continuous training.
During such time the guardsmen duties are in various installations where there is protection of the bases, distribution of money to parts of community and peace support operations.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
There is additional training for VIP protection for deployed at the Royal Palace, State House, residences Ministers' or working as the close protection for the Honourable Ministers. The training focuses mainly in physical fitness, weapons handling and attending to the VIPs.
RADIO OPERATOR
Communication in our army, like in any military is of paramount importance. Our army has radio communication duties.
Radio communication connect troops in deployments in different locations. As a radio operator you are expected to maintain high standard of discipline, loyalty, credibility.
The radio operator has a lot of information about the deployments and the operations conducted on daily basis and should as a result must be able to keep the secrets.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
To become a radio operator, you should have certain traits of integrity. The basic training mostly an on the job training is carried out by the Unit Commanders until such time that you may be nominated for advance and formal training conducted at the Signal Company. After the training you will return to your respective units.
INFANTRY SOLDIER
The infantry soldiers carry out military operations in the front line. As an Infantry Soldier, you'll be among the most active soldiers in the Army, with an exciting role. Infantry Soldier, in the LDF allows one to take part in various kinds of operations that is from peace keeping and disaster relief to full scale fighting in a war situation.
This role is regarded as the primary task on joining the army and you'll work and train alongside other highly skilled soldiers who have been in infantry for years. The infantry is the best discipline which is first taught to all new recruits entering the military service.
The infantry role generally depicts the military culture which is seen by some theorists as the bedrock of military effectiveness. An infantry man is trained to bear and live by the four widely accepted essential elements of the military culture being cohesion and spirit de corps, professional ethos, ceremony and etiquette and discipline.
In the infantry, team spirit is vital especially in combat. Together, you'll take on adventurous Training to prepare for all kinds of challenges.
ARMY NURSE
Army nurses are responsible for general and specialist nursing to soldiers and civilians in the Makoanyane Military Hospital and out in the field. Nurses work in various settings depending on the incidents. They provide services within the hospital as a referral from the fields during operations and other occurrences.
They further deal with a wide range of medical situations, which could involve caring for civilian and military patients country wide, with casualties arising from war situation, conflict, accidents and common sickness.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
To become an army nurse you could join as a registered nurse and work as a civilian or train as a nurse when already a soldier. In the case of the latter, you shall have attended basic and formal military training where you will be taught military tactics, fieldcraft, use of weapons and all relevant knowledge needed to train a new recruit.
AIRCRAFT TECHNICIAN
Aircraft Technicians are responsible for the repair and maintenance of all Army aircraft. As a technician you will be well trained, completing first a basic apprentice, then advanced training to an artisan.
The technicians are assigned to the specific aircraft they were trained to service. You will be expected to ensure that the aircraft is safe to fly as you would have attended to it before flight.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
The Airwing Command decides when to call those interested in Aircraft Maintenance based on the vacancy at hand. The candidates must have good passes in sciences, mathematics and English Language among other subjects.
They sit for examination and the best will be selected and send to countries like Germany and South Africa as the LDF does not have school of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.
MOTOR MACHANIC
The motor mechanic is one of very important trades in our army. The army has a major mechanical workshop which is central and where all vehicles faults are reported and repairs performed.
The workshop also attends to breakdowns anywhere country wherever there is need. During military exercises, you could also be deployed outside the country to perform mechanical duties.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
Being a motor mechanics does not exempt you from being a soldier who can fight while attending mechanical faults. This therefore means you will attend a basic and formal military training where you will be taught military tactics, field craft use of weapons and all relevant knowledge needed to train as a new recruit.
You can join already a professional or could request from your units to apply to be trained as a motor mechanic at public schools.
ARMOURER
An Armorer in the Lesotho Defence Force works at army bases but can also be assigned to carry out missions as per the requirements. He or she keeps the records of all the weapons in a particular unit assigned to him, ensuring that the weapons are distributed accordingly and that every soldier signs for his weapon when taking it in and out of the armoury.
The armourer knows all the Army weapons. He holds important job that requires honesty, credibility, loyalty and love of the organisation . He also carries out repairs, maintenance and inspections to ensure weapons are fit for purpose. These can be from a tank gun to a pistol.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
After basic training, you will work in the infantry for not less than three years.
The selection for armourers is based on one excelling in handling of weapons when using them. Before your assignment is approved, there will be screening process to ensure that, among other issues, a candidate is loyal, trustworthy and reliable so he cannot be deceived and end up selling or misusing weapons.
You will have basic training home and could also travel to conduct courses from our allies including China.
CHAPLINS
The foremost task of our chaplains is to support troops at the time of need. Provide comfort in any eventualities and give advice as and when required.
They also provide counselling to the families of the military personnel when required and these can be privately or in groups.
They are being promoted ordinarily like other soldiers and wear the LDF Army uniforms and provide spiritual leadership irrespective of their ranks.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
This career is passion driven since anyone interested can apply for the job. However the majority are those who hold theology degrees, coming from various newly formed churches while others join the chaplaincy already ordained from their various churches.
CHEF
Our army has skilled chefs and prepare food for members wherever there is deployment. As an Army Chef you are expected to cook good healthy food for the soldiers.
You cook for everyone from new recruits to the Commander of the army. You will also be expected to feed Commander's visitors in the LDF in various functions.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
The army has skilled personnel who will train you and then will attend trainings depending on your performance. The LDF has cordial relationships with some hotels where you will get an advance training.
First you learn about food and personal hygiene and also have to learn to withstand pressure conditions, delivering meals to a large number of soldiers.
MILITARY POLICE SOLDIER
Our army has the role of a Military Police Soldier whose function is to uphold law and enforce discipline amongst the members of the army.
To become a military police you first have to train as a soldier and undergo military police course. Among other lessons, you will learn how to collect evidence and look after detainees.
Military police soldiers join already as NCOs or will get promotion once you have finished the training.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
Being a military police does not exempt you from being a soldier who can engage in case you are caught in the middle of war.
This therefore means you will first attend a basic and formal military training where you will be taught military tactics, field craft and use of weapons.
You will then be taught and learn about police duties, investigations, handling evidence, military law including other areas of policing. You will also be taught how to handle matters reported by civilian who claim to have been victimized by the members of the military.
PARATROOPER
You need to be a very brave person in order to pick up the role. The paratrooper has to jump out of the plane and land in a territory that sometimes can be very unfriendly given the geographical position of our country.
They are always scouting before everyone else can arrive and are privileged to know first and be relied upon. They form part and are central to the Special Forces.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
You'll start with your initial military training which will teach you how to be a soldier and the syllabus will cover everything from field craft to how to handle a rifle. To register as a paratrooper, you should have completed at least three years in an infantry.
Then after screening process which include medical, you will be trained among other important skills; survival and map reading. You will be expected to make at least ten jumps before graduating with your colleagues.