Regiment Noord-Transvaal


Regiment Noord-Transvaal is a reserve mechanised infantry unit of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

History

Regiment Noord-Transvaal was a reserve unit formed in 1963 and came into service in January 1964. Regiment Noord-Transvaal was initially an armoured unit. Its headquarters is close to the SA Army Headquarters complex. In those days 1RNT was part of 16 Armoured Brigade and later 81 Armoured Brigade.

With the SADF

With 16 Brigade

1 RNT was one of the original units utilised in this era to develop the mechanization of a conventional force for the SADF under typical South African conditions.

With 81 Brigade

Mechanised training was originally conducted in soft-skinned vehicles which then progressed to Saracens and finally to the Ratel Infantry Fighting vehicle by 1976. 1 RNT was the first unit to be completely outfitted as a mechanised battalion during Exercise Mainstay around 1977.

The second battalion

In 1969, the regiment was split into two battalions 1RNT and 2 RNT

Operations

In 1975, the regiment re-mustered to a reserve mechanised infantry unit and took part in the South African Border War in Namibia and at home in counter insurgency operations.
RNT stayed involved in that conflict to the end, taking part in Operations Moduler, Hooper, Packer and Prone in 1987-8.

With the SANDF

Name change

In August 2019, 52 units of the Reserve Force were renamed to align to the current diversity of the SANDF.
In light of this, the unit was renamed Job Masego Regiment, in memory of one of the country's best black soldiers of the Second World War.

Leadership

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

Insignia

The cap badge of RNT was loosely based on the SAS badge but the wings had a different shape and the dagger pointed upwards.
RNT were the first to wear an infantry beret bar with a Ratel Fighting Vehicle on top of the colours.

Previous Dress Insignia

Current Dress Insignia