Breytenbach attended the Army Gymnasium in 1950, and was awarded the Sword of Peace in 1953 and joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm after serving in the Armoured Corps and saw service in the Suez Crisis in 1956. He rejoined the South African Defence Force in 1961 and soon after completed one of 1 Parachute Battalion"s courses. He attended Staff College in 1977 and was promoted to Colonel.
He was also appointed as the first commander of the 32 Battalion, known colloquially as "Buffalo Battalion", as well as 44 Parachute Brigade. He founded 1 Reconnaissance Commando in 1971. In 1975 Breytenbach lead Operation Savannah, the SADF"s covert intervention in the Angolan Civil War.
The remnants of this group became the infamous 32 Battalion.
In 1978, lead the SADF air assault on Cassinga, and has continued to the present day to contest opposing versions of the event in the press He became Senior Staff Officer for Operations at Northern Transvaal Command and commanded 44 Parachute Brigade from 24 September 1980 to 31 December 1982.
He founded the SADF Guerilla school which he commanded until his retirement. Breytenbach retired from the military in 1987, and has written a number of books since then
He is the brother of South African poet and writer Breyten Breytenbach and of war correspondent/photographer Cloete Breytenbach.
Van Riebeeck Decoration (DVR) Southern Cross Decoration (South Dakota) Military Merit Medal (MMM) Pro Patria Medal (with Cunene Clasp) Southern Africa Medal General Service Medal Good Service Medal, Gold (30 Years) Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years) Good Service Medal, Bronze (10 Years) Naval General Service Medal (United Kingdom).
During the 1980s, Breyten and January Breytenbach held strongly opposing political viewpoints, so with his brother opting for a more left-wing approach, this influential family effectively covered the political spectrum.
