(2) In tendering any advice or making any recommendation for the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister shall act in consultation with the board referred to in subsection (1) of section eleven. (3) The Commander of the Army and the Commander of the Air Force shall be appointed for a period of four years or such shorter period as the President may determine. (4) The President shall determine the ranks and titles of the Commander of the Army and the Commander of the Air Force. (5) Subject to this Act, the terms and conditions of service of the Commander of the Army and the Commander of the Air Force shall be fixed by the President (6) The Commander of the Army shall command and control the Army and the Commander of the Air Force shall command and control the Air Force, and each shall carry out any directions given to him by the Commander and ensure that his branch fulfills its role within the Defence Forces. (7) The Commander of the Army and the Commander of the Air Force shall report to the Commander on all matters affecting the Army and the Air Force, respectively. 12 Appointment of boards (1) For the purpose of advising the Minister in the appointment of the Commander, there shall be a board consisting of the Chairman of the Commission, the Secretary, the retiring Commander and one other person appointed by the President: Provided that, where there is no retiring Commander, the President shall appoint an additional member to the board. (2) For the purpose of advising the Minister in the appointment of the Commander of the Army and the Commander of the Air Force, there shall be a board consisting of the Chairman of the Commission, the Secretary, the Commander and one other person appointed by the President. (3) The Chairman of the Commission shall be the chairman of the boards referred to in subsections (1) and (2). (4) In tendering advice on the appointment of the Commanders, the board referred to in subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, shall have regard to any general directions given by the President in terms of subsection (1) of section twenty-two. 13 Defence Council There shall be a Defence Council which shall consist of such persons and shall perform such functions and duties as the President may dete rmine. PART III APPOINTMENT, P ROMOTION, DISCHARGE AND C ONDI TIONS OF SERVICE OF M EMBERS OF THE D EFENCE F ORCES 14 Oath on attestation (1) Every person engaged for service or required to serve in the Defence Forces shall take the prescribed oath before an officer. (2) Any person who refuses to take an oath when required to do so in terms of subsection (1) shall be deemed, despite such refusal, to have been engaged for service with effect from the date of such refusal, and this Act shall apply to him as if he had taken the oath. 15 Appointment and promotion of officers (1) Subject to this section, the President may— (a) appoint by commission a person to commissioned rank; or (b) promote or temporarily appoint any officer to higher rank. (2) When appointing or promoting any person in terms of subsection (1), the President shall consider the a dvice of the Minister tendered after consultation with the Commander. (3) The Minister may, on the advice of the Commander, promote or temporarily appoint an officer to the rank of— (a) major, in the case of an officer in the Army; or (b) squadron leader, in the case of an officer in the Air Force; or any lower commissioned rank. (4) The Commander may promote or temporarily appoint an officer to the rank of— (a) captain, in the case of an officer in the Army; or (b) flight lieutenant, in the case of an officer in the Air Force; or any lower commissioned rank. 16 Retirement of officers (1) Subject to section twenty-five and to any regulations made in terms of section one hundred and thirteen, the President may place any officer on a retired list.