Jan Breytenbach

Jan Dirk Breytenbach DVR SD SM MMM was appointed by the Founder of the South African Special Forces Brigade – General Frits Loots – as the first commander of 1 Reconnaissance Commando – the first unit founded within the South African Special Forces. He was also appointed as the first commander of the 32 Battalion, known colloquially as Buffalo Battalion, as well as 44 Parachute Brigade

Military career
He attended the Army Gymnasium in 1950 and was awarded the Sword of Peace in 1953 and joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm after serving in the Armoured Corps and saw service in the Suez Crisis in 1956. He rejoined the South African Defense Force in 1961 and soon after completed one of 1 Parachute Battalions courses. He founded 1 Reconnaissance Commando in 1971. He attended Staff College in 1977 and was promoted to Colonel, becoming Senior Staff Officer for Operations at Northern Transvaal Command

He commanded 44 Parachute Brigade from 24 September 1980 to 31 December 1982. He founded the SADF Guerilla school which he commanded until his retirement.

Breytenbach retired from the military in 1987, and has written a number of books since then. He is the brother of South African poet and writer Breyten Breytenbach and of war correspondent/photographer Cloete Breytenbach. During the 1980s, Breyten and Jan Breytenbach held strongly opposing political viewpoints, so with his brother opting for a more moderate approach, this influential family effectively covered the political spectrum.