| Atlas Commando | |
|---|---|
 Atlas Commando emblem | |
| Disbanded | February 14, 2003 (22 years ago) (2003-02-14) |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Kempton Park |
Atlas Commando was alight infantryregiment of theSouth African Army. It formed part of theSouth African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
The Atlas Commando was formed to assign males of military service age to meet their commitments at theAtlas Aircraft Corporation[attribution needed], a facility considered important to their Air Force's equipment requirements.
During this era, the unit was mainly engaged in area force protection, search and cordons as well as other assistance to the local police.
As an urban unit, this commando was also tasked with protecting strategic facilities as well as quelling township riots especially during the State of Emergency in the 1980s.
This unit, along with all otherCommando units was disbanded after a decision by South African PresidentThabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[1][2] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to theMinister of Safety and SecurityCharles Nqakula.[3]
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officer | To |
| From | Regimental Sergeant Major | To |
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