The South African Military Academy is based on similar principles as that of the Military Academy system of the United States (West Point, Annapolis, and the AFA), and was established on 1 April 1950 under the auspices of the University of Pretoria

University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...

, as a branch of the South African Military College (now the South African Army College) in Voortrekkerhoogte (now Thaba Tswane). The Academy is a military unit of the South African National Defence Force

South African National Defence Force

The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...

 (SANDF) housing the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch. It prepares candidate officers

Officer (armed forces)

An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...

 and midshipmen

Midshipman

A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...

 of all the Arms of Service morally, mentally, and physically to be professional officers in the SANDF. It is situated on the West Coast in the town of Saldanha, set against the scenic slopes of Malgaskop, overlooking Saldanha Bay

Saldanha Bay

Saldanha Bay is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa, north west of Cape Town. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality in 2000. The current population of...

. About 300 men and women represent the four Arms of Service. There are forty eight member of the Faculty of Military Science who are an integrated group of military and civilian lecturers. A Bachelor in Military Science (B. Mil) is awarded to students upon graduation in December. The B. Mil is the generic title for the degree which may be undertaken in three different fields, these being Natural Science (equivalent to B.Sc), Social Science (equivalent to BA) and Commercial Science (equivalent to B.Comm). Traditionally, Natural Science has been considered as the premiere degree due to its highly quantative nature of its course contents (i.e. Mathematics, Physics). After graduation, they rejoin their Arm of Service to serve as officers.

R Adm (JG) Derek Christian is the Commandant of the Military Academy.