DURBAN - As of Thursday, the Air Force Base Durban will get a new commanding officer after Colonel Barend Johannes Jurie Fourie takes a final salute during the parade called Change of Command, where he will hand over to his successor, Colonel Lennon Mercu Atchanna.Colonel Fourie had rose through the ranks and made significant strides in his career.
South African Air Force spokesperson Brigadier General Mongezi Kweta said the parade would take place on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 10am at Air Force Base Durban.
Kweta said a parade of that magnitude invokes emotions to the outgoing officer commanding, owing to the relations that were forged during the tenure as the Officer Commanding of a base.
In the same vein, Colonel Fourie will officially hand over the command to Colonel Atchanna. Not only will Colonel Atchanna receive a baton, he will receive a capable team of experts who will enable the smooth running of Air Force Base Durban.
“Tasked with the mandate of ensuring that the people of South Africa are and feel safe, Colonel Atchanna will continue to maintain the relationship that was established by his soon-to-be predecessor Colonel Fourie; by supporting and collaborating with civilian aviation entities who extinguish fires as well as conducting search and rescue operations,” Kweta said.
Colonel Atchanna dons the wing as a qualified Oryx helicopter pilot. It is expected that he will use the same platform to bring festive cheer to the Air Force Base Durban community and aviation enthusiasts.
Colonel Atchanna was born and raised in oThongathi, north of Durban, but later relocated to Phoenix.
He joined the blue uniform (SA Air Force) in 2000 and successfully completed his Basic Military Training and Officer-Forming course in the same year.
Colonel Atchanna is a recipient of the Royal Air Force Training award, Silver and Gold category, where he came in first place.
He also achieved the Commandant's Award for Best Research paper in 2020, while he was enrolled for Junior-Senior Command and Staff Course at SA National Defence Force's War College.
In an article published by sister publication POST in 2011, Colonel Atchanna was awarded the Long Service award after serving the South African National Defence Force for more than 10 years. Then, he had described his job as “awesome”.
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