Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The vulnerability and risky behaviours of young people is a growing concern in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The target group for this study were young people entering the armed force to commence with their initial military training at a military training setting in the Western Cape. These recruits were from all the nine provinces in South Africa. The perceptions, views and basic knowledge of young recruits on HIV/AIDS were assessed through the application of a standardized structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study presented high levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS. However, misconceptions on the transmission of HIV are still a huge concern due to the fact that a small percentage of the respondents are under the impression that HIV/AIDS is curable. Moreover, almost all of the respondents believed that it is very easy to get HIV, in contrast to their exceptional level of knowledge on the transmission routes of HIV. In addition, some of the respondents were also under the impression that HIV can be transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. Recommendations include the implementation of routine scheduled HIV/AIDS awareness programmes with up-scaling of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness campaigns during military training. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kwesbaarheid en riskante gedrag van jong mense is nog steeds ‘n groeiende bekommernis in die geveg teen MIV/VIGS. Die teikengroep vir hierdie studie was jong mense wat vir die eerste keer met hul weermag opleiding begin het in ‘n weermagbasis in die Westelike Provinsie. Hierdie rekrute was afkomstig vanaf al nege provinsies in Suid Afrika. Die persepsies, menings, en basiese kennis van die rekrute rakende MIV/VIGS is bepaal deur die gebruik van ‘n gestandaardiseerde gestruktureerde vraelys. Data analise is gedoen met behulp van die Statistiese Program vir Sosiale Wetenskappe (SPSW). Die bevindings van die studie het gedemonstreer dat alhoewel die rekrute oor genoegsamsame kennis van MIV/VIGS beskik, wanopvattings rakende die transmissie van MIV/VIGS nog steeds kommerwekkend is deurdat ‘n klein persentasie van die respondente onder die indruk is dat MIV/VIGS geneesbaar is. Verder, reken die meeste respondente dat dit baie maklik is om MIV te kan kry, in teenstelling met hul uitsonderlike kennis oor die oordraagbare roetes van MIV. Bykomend tot hierdie stelling is sommige van die respondente onder die indruk dat MIV deur die byt van ‘n miskiet oorgedra kan word. Aanbevelings sluit in die implementering van roetine geskeduleerde MIV/VIGS bewusmakingsprogramme met opskaling van MIV/VIGS voorkomende bewustheidsveldtogte tydens weermag opleiding.