| Meet The Team - Johannes Oosthuizen (JP) - Pathfinder South Africa |
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Johannes Oosthuizen (JP) Pathfinder South Africa IC
Johannes (or JP as
he likes to be called) was born in South Africa and after completing his
high school education in Johannesburg, was called up to do 2 years National
Service, stationed at 5 South African Infantry Battalion (5 SAI) in
Ladysmith, Natal. Due to the Border war on the South West Africa /
Namibia border with Angola, training consisted of 3 months basic
training, 3 months conventional warfare training and 3 months
counter insurgency operations, before being sent to the Operational area
for the reminder of the 2 years. During this period, JP applied
for officer training in the South African Air Force and once successful,
was transferred to the Air Traffic Control College in Pretoria and spent
two years as a candidate officer in training. He obtained his
commission as a full lieutenant in 1982 and for the next 5 years served
as an Air Traffic Controller in 8 different Air Force bases, working
with trainee pilots at Central Flying School in Dunnottar, to the
squadrons of Mirage jets based in the Northern Transvaal. JP conducted
6 tours of operational service in South West Africa / Namibia, serving
in Rooikop, Grootfontein, Rundu and Ondangua. During this time he
was awarded the Pro Patria medal for the prevention and suppression
of terrorism and ended his service in 1988 with the rank of Captain.
In civvy street, JP
continued as a Civilian Air Traffic Controller at Johannesburg
International Airport, during which time he also obtained his private
pilots licence. In 1998 he emigrated to the United Kingdom,
settling in Bournemouth. He joined the Dorset police as a police
officer and is currently an operational custody sergeant based at Poole Police
station.
His involvement with
parachuting began with the 60th celebration of D-Day in Normandy in July
2004, when he assisted in the ground crew planning as part of the South
African Para team represented there. In July 2004 he participated
in the Estonian challenge organised by Pathfinder UK obtaining his
Estonian parachute wings. A few months later he attended the Dutch 'B'
wing course, also arranged by Pathfinder, at Texel in Holland, where he
obtained his Dutch wings.
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