Major General Ben Uuyamba Kadhila is a retired Namibian military officer whose last appointment was as Chief Joint Operations of the

Namibian Defence Force The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) comprises the national military forces of Namibia. It was created when the country, then known as South West Africa, gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Chapter 15 of the Constitution of Nami ...

(NDF). He served as the first Commander of the

Namibian Special Forces The Namibian Special Forces is a special operations command of the Namibian Defence Force responsible for special forces component commands army and marines. The command consists of Namibian Army Commando and Paratrooper, and the Namibian Marine ...

, and retired in July 2018.

PLAN career

During the Cuito Cuanavale battles Kadhila was the commander of PLAN'S Tiger battalion attached to FAPLA and Cuban forces. He also served as the Chief of Staff PLAN eighth Battalion.

NDF career

Major General Kadhila was inducted into the NDF in 1990 with the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. He progressed through various ranks until he was promoted to

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

and appointed as senior staff officer current operations. He was the first contingent commander of Namibian forces deployed to the DRC under operation Atlantic as from 1998 to 2001. In 2005 as a

, Kadhila attended the Kenya National Defence College, after which he joined the Special Forces earning his parachute jump wings and appointed as commander

Special Forces Special forces or special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

. He was promoted to brigadier general and appointed as deputy joint operations chief. His last appointment was as chief of staff Joint Operations

Retirement

After retirement General Kadhila was appointed as managing director of Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik.

Qualifications

*2005 NDC - Kenya *psc qualification - Zimbabwe

Honours and decorations

Namibian Army Pioneer Medal. * NDF commendation ribbon

NDF Commendation Medal * Grand Command of the Most Excellent Order of Namibia 2nd Class * Army Ten Years Service Medal Ribbon

Army Ten Years Medal *

Army Twenty Years Service Medal

Proficiency and Qualification Badges

*Parachute Wings(Static line) *Special Forces Operator Badge

References

1958 births Living people People's Liberation Army of Namibia personnel Namibian military personnel {{Namibia-mil-bio-stub