Military Service
He matriculated in Standerton High School in 1951. He joined the South African Defence Force and obtained the degree B.Sc (B. Mil) at the University of Pretoria in 1955.
Viljoen received a degree in military science in 1955 and joined the South African Army in 1956. In 1974 he was made the Director General of Operations at the army headquarters and he subsequently became Principal Staff Officer to the chief of the defence force. In 1977 he became Chief of the Army and in 1980 the Chief of the overall Defence Force. He was the senior officer in the campaign in Angola in 1975-1976.
Viljoen planned the Battle of Cassinga, the first major airborne assault by South African forces. Although he was at the time Chief of the Army, he was present at the scene of battle, typical of what has been described as a swashbuckling front-line leadership style that made him revered among whites.
Read more about this topic: Constand Viljoen
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