[1] Born in Britstown on 26 April 1917, Loots was educated at Theron High School.

[1] After high school in 1936, he joined the Special Service Battalion, a unit formed to train young men in military and work skills during the depression.

[1] In 1939, he joined the Union Defence Force in the Infantry Corps and served in World War II.

[1] He returned from retirement in August 1974 to found the South African Special Forces.

[1] In 1980 Loots led Operation Winter, which was undertaken to recruit former members of the Rhodesian Security Forces to serve with South Africa.