TRAILBLAZER
Writer: Kgaogelo Letsebe
Major Louw’s sky-high accomplishments Psychologist Major Liz Louw is one of the first women in South Africa to qualify as a military free-fall parachutist.
M
ajor Liz Louw (35)
sky with no attachments connecting
from the South African
them to the aircraft,” she explains.
Military Health Service
Louw explains that there are
(SAMHS) is one of only two
various types of parachuting
women to qualify as a free-faller
disciplines in the military, which
in the history of the 7 Medical
progress from one to four. These are
Battalion Group.
basic static line, advanced static line,
This elite unit is the specialist airborne medical battalion of the SAMHS. The battalion’s main task is to render medical support to the South African Special and Airborne Forces. Louw is an industrial and organisational psychologist at the
(high-altitude low opening). “My next goal is to qualify for the advanced operations,” she shares. Louw says parachuting skills are needed when medical units support the special force during operations.
She first qualified as a basic static
More than just war and operations
line paratrooper in 2016 and worked
Louw, who holds a master’s degree
her way up the ranks to qualify as a
in Industrial and Organisational
basic free-faller in July 2022.
Psychology from the University of
unit, based in Centurion, Gauteng.
“Free-falling refers to a discipline
28
basic free-fall and advanced free-fall
Johannesburg, says it was never her
whereby a member will exit the
intention to be part of the military.
aircraft from an altitude of up to 13
“As part of our master’s programme
000 feet (about 3 962.4 metres).
in 2010, our lecturers invited several
From the time the free-faller exits,
companies to give a brief overview of
up until the opening altitude, the
the internship programmes that they
member will be falling through the
offered.
Public Sector Manager • August 2022