fbpx
Wikipedia

Singapore Armed Forces

December 27, 2022

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military services of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A military component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the armed forces have four service branches: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Digital and Intelligence Service. An integrated force, it is one of the most capable, robust, technologically sophisticated and powerful militaries in Southeast Asia and the surrounding regions.[4] The SAF is headed by the chief of Defence Force, who holds the rank of a Lieutenant-General or Vice-Admiral, and is appointed by the president of Singapore.

Singapore Armed Forces
Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura (Malay)
新加坡武装部队 (Chinese)
சிங்கப்பூர் ஆயுதப் படை (Tamil)
Crest of the Singapore Armed Forces
Flag of the Singapore Armed Forces
Motto
  • Yang Pertama dan Utama
    The First and Foremost (English)
Founded9 August 1965; 57 years ago (1965-08-09)[1]
Service branches
HeadquartersSingapore
Leadership
PresidentHalimah Yacob
Minister for DefenceNg Eng Hen
Chief of Defence ForceLieutenant-General Melvyn Ong
Personnel
Military age17 with parental consent, 18 without and to serve in combat
Conscription22–24 months[2]
Available for
military service		>1,255,902 males, age 18–49
Fit for
military service		>2,105,973 males, age 18–49
Reaching military
age annually		>52,466 males
Active personnel71,000[2]
Reserve personnel352,500[2]
Expenditures
BudgetS$15.36 billion (FY2021)[3]
Industry
Domestic suppliers
Foreign suppliers
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of Singapore
RanksSingapore Armed Forces ranks

The SAF consists of four service branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS).[5] The SAF protects the interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Singapore from external threats. In recent years, the SAF has also taken on a more active role in counter-terrorism efforts both domestically and abroad.[6]

Since its inception, the SAF has been involved in various operations, both within and outside of Singapore's borders. These include peacekeeping missions in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Nepal and Timor Leste, as well as the humanitarian aid operations in various countries, such as the Hurricane Katrina in 2005.[7][8] In addition, the SAF has also assisted the United Nations (UN) to oversee and supervise the electoral process in countries such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, Namibia and South Africa.[9]

It has an approximate active strength of over 71,000 full-time personnel and is capable of mobilising over 352,500 reservists (also known as National Servicemen, or NSmen) in the event of national exigencies or a full-scale war. It also has a large pool of conscripts (also known as Full-time National Servicemen, or NSFs) in the active and reserve forces, with about 50,000 reaching military age annually.

History

 
Soldiers from the Singapore Army in training
 
F-15SG Strike Eagle
 
RSS Fearless
See also: Military history of Singapore

Pre-independence

Singapore's military role stems from its strategic geographical location, an asset exploited by both local settlers and foreign colonists alike. Archaeological excavations have discovered remnants of fortresses and other forms of military fortifications in pre-colonial Singapore. Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, chose Singapore in 1819 to establish a new British colony with the security concerns of the British in the Far East in mind against the Dutch. Thus, Singapore, which attained the Crown colony status, played an active role in British military interests for decades, particularly in the years leading up to the First and Second World Wars.

The Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps (SVRC) was first created in 1854 as a private organisation, with the governor serving as its first Colonel. It was later gazetted in 1857. However, participation in the SVRC was weak and it was disbanded on 16 December 1887 in favour of forming an artillery corps instead.[10] This was to be the Singapore Volunteer Artillery (SVA), which was formed in 1888 to operate the gun emplacements around Singapore,[10] and is also considered to be the predecessor of the artillery formation of the Singapore Armed Forces.[11] In 1901, additional non-artillery units were set up in, including a Chinese infantry company, Eurasian infantry company, and the Singapore Volunteer Engineers, leading to the force being renamed as the Singapore Volunteer Corps (SVC). It assisted in suppressing the 1915 Singapore Mutiny. In 1921, the SVC was combined with other volunteer forces from Malacca and Penang as the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force (SSVF).[10]

During World War II, the SSVF took part in the Battle of Singapore but most of its members were captured on 15 February 1942 when their positions were overrun by Japanese forces. After the end of the war, the SSVF was re-constituted in 1948, but the SVF was absorbed into the Singapore Military Forces (SMF, predecessor of the SAF) following the disbandment of the SSVF in 1954. Subsequently, in 1961, SMF was renamed to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Post-independence

When Singapore achieved independence in 1965, its military consisted of only two infantry regiments, commanded by British officers and made up of mostly non-Singaporean residents. Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971, leaving behind only a small amount of British, Australian and New Zealand forces as a token military presence. The last of the British soldiers left Singapore in March 1976. The New Zealand troops were the last to leave Singapore, in 1989.[12]

Singapore believed that it needed a larger, capable yet economic-efficient defence force to protect and defend itself as it is surrounded by several larger neighbouring countries in the Southeast Asia region that are often hostile to them. At that time, Singapore enlisted the covert assistance of Israel, which sent its military advisers who helped Singapore set up a defence force modelled in part after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).[13][14] Jungle warfare techniques were taught so that the Singapore Army could engage in combat conflict in the jungle areas of its neighbouring countries, if need be. The army also procured battle tanks from Israel, doing so before neighbouring Malaysia acquired theirs, thereby gaining an advantage.[13]

On 1 July 2018, Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen announced that the SAF would transition from its current third-generation technologies to fourth [next-gen] technologies by overhauling its current arsenal.[15]

On 27 February 2019, the office of Inspector-General of the Armed Forces was set up to ensure that safety protocols are applied and enforced throughout the military following the death of Aloysius Pang who was the fourth training related fatality in 18 months following 2017.[16]

Singapore has been described as "a military powerhouse with the best air force and navy in Southeast Asia."[17] Singapore's vast wealth allows it to acquire and make the best equipment available as well as incorporate high-end technological equipment into its nation military forces.[17] The SAF is also called "the most technologically advanced armed forces across the Association of Southeast Asian Nation states"—referring to ASEAN.[18]

A key recent example was Singapore's decision to acquire four Lockheed Martin's F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, which the United States Congress approved, with the option to acquire a further eight more and beyond.[19][20] This acquisition is significant as "Singapore will fly the most advanced fleet of fighters in its region" which reflects its security relationship with the United States.[20] In addition, the F-35Bs have a significant impact to Singapore's air power since the land limited country no longer needs to depend on "long, vulnerable runways" to operate the aircraft due to the fifth-generation's fighter jet's short-takeoff-and-vertical landing capability.[19] The jet's advanced network-enabled capabilities would be additionally advantageous for Singapore which is seeking to modernise its military.[19] Furthermore, Singapore stands out from all the other countries in Southeast Asia with its technological sophistication and equipments that "operates at a very high level of capability" and are "all integrated into a single cohesive fighting force."[17]

Armed Forces Day is commemorated by the SAF annually on 1 July, with a parade held at the SAFTI Military Institute.

Recent years

Contribution in times of national crises

On 15 March 1986, the six-storey Hotel New World, a 15-year-old, one-star budget hotel situated at the junction of Serangoon Road and Owen Road collapsed. SAF soldiers aided in rescue operations, and had worked alongside members of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to remove the rubble. RSAF UH-1H helicopters were on standby at the nearby Farrer Park football field to evacuate rescued victims to the Singapore General Hospital.[21]

On 26 March 1991, Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked by four Pakistanis en route to Singapore. Upon landing in Changi Airport at 8:15pm SGT, the hijackers demanded the release of several Pakistan Peoples Party members. Negotiations faltered, and after the hijackers gave their ultimatum to have their demands fulfilled at 6.15am SGT of the following morning, Commandos from SAF's Special Operations Force (SOF) stormed the plane and shot all of the hijackers dead and rescued the hostages.[22]

During the SARS outbreak in 2003, SAF paramedics were deployed at Changi International Airport to screen incoming passengers from places hit by SARS such as Hong Kong, China, Hanoi and Toronto.[23] The SAF also deployed 220 servicemen with operations such as screening for SARS, contact tracing and enforcing home quarantine orders. The team also managed other major operations such as the quarantine of 1,500 staff from the Institute of Mental Health.[24]

In 2004, the Singapore Armed Forces also responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. In addition to the human tolls, being one of the nearest neighbors to the tsunami-hit countries and a nation that was not directly affected by the recent disaster, Singapore has been able to render prompt help as part of the global relief efforts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, over 1,500 SAF servicemen were called upon to pack 5.2 million masks and transport them to distribution centers across Singapore in time for the start of distribution on 1 February that year. A MINDEF personnel also ran the National Call Centre to address public queries on the collection of reusable masks, which were distributed in April. Personnel manning the phone lines included volunteers from MINDEF and the SAF, as well as clan associations, grounded staff from Singapore Airlines, and other retrenched workers, who were employed by MINDEF on short-term contracts.[25] The SAF also deployed manpower to assist in manning thermal imagery machines at the airport to pick out travellers with symptoms.[26][27]

To aid in operations, MINDEF had also recruited former SAF regulars as the inter-agency task force handling the spike in cases from foreign worker dormitories, including “personnel with operational experience.” They were to augment the Forward Assurance Support Teams (FAST) deployed at various foreign worker dormitories.[28] Both regular and full-time national servicemen were deployed to provide healthcare services for patients at one of the CIFs set up in the Singapore EXPO halls.[29]

The SAF also housed about 3,000 recovering migrant workers with COVID-19 in six military camps across Singapore. The Jurong, Bedok, Amoy Quee, Guillemard, Tanjong Gul and Lim Chu Kang camps had been converted into community recovery facilities (CRFs). Operational since 28 April 2020, the CRFs are for COVID-19 patients who remain well at Day 14 of the disease and do not require further medical care.[30]

Separately, more than 1,300 SAF personnel were also deployed to make calls to do contact tracing and check compliance with stay at home notices. These contact tracers worked with Ministry of Health officials to fill gaps in the activity maps of confirmed or suspected cases. Defence Science and Technology Agency Engineers also developed tools to automate the extraction and fusion of data for analysis. The contact tracers were reported to make between 1,000 and 2,000 calls a day.[31]

Defence policy

 
Soldiers of the SAF speaking with local contractors at the site for the Singaporean-funded Bamyan Regional Health Training Center in Afghanistan

Deterrence and diplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of Singapore's military defence policy. Through the years, the military has developed extensive links with armed forces from other countries. In recent years, there has also been an increased emphasis on international peace-keeping and relief operations, notably the peace-keeping operations in Afghanistan, East Timor, the Persian Gulf and disaster relief in the Indian Ocean earthquake-tsunami of 2004, the 2005 Nias earthquake and 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake both in Indonesia, Hurricane Katrina in the United States and the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China.

According to military and strategic analysts, such as Tim Huxley in Defending the Lion City,[32] Singapore is well poised to be using a forward-defence military doctrine. Singapore is, after all, a relatively small country of about 850 km2 (330 sq mi) and therefore lacks the hinterland for a defence in depth strategy. In historical news archives, there were also defence analogies used by Singapore founders that Singapore must be a poison shrimp and later, porcupine. Thenceforth, if a wartime military battle is to take place on the island of Singapore, the effects would be devastating to both the people and infrastructure. Press statements from Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) describe the SAF as a deterrent force.[33] The SAF's declared mission statement is to "enhance Singapore’s peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor".[34]

Today, a career military force of 39,000 is supplemented by 46,800 men on active National Service duty, the latter generally filling up the lower ranks. This group of just over 80,000 officers and servicemen/women staffs the command structure, advises the government, manages the bases, teaches at the tri-service SAFTI Military Institute, flies the on-call jets, crews the ships on-patrol and stands watch over the straits. They comprise both the top command structure and what might be called the "Standing Forces" which can go into a humanitarian relief or combat situation instantly.[citation needed] The main force actually comprises 400,000 or so Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (ORNSmen). This is the full mobilization force that can be called up within a few days. They are the 10-year ORNSmen with regular training and call-up cycles. Full sets of light equipment stands ready for them in armories and heavy equipment for their units is maintained in dedicated bunkers. Singapore is very high tech and individuals can be reached almost instantly; thus the system is highly flexible, so only the units and numbers needed for a particular task can be summoned. If called up they would be integrated into, augment and dramatically expand the "Standing Forces" up to five times its peacetime size, fully staffed and equipped, while maintaining a cohesive structure.[citation needed]

The SAF's policy towards Malays, who share religious and ethnic ties with Singapore's largest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, has been a source of controversy over the years. Malays were virtually excluded from conscription from the beginning of the draft in 1967 until 1977[35] and, after the policy was eased, were assigned mainly to serve in the police and civil defence (fire brigade), not active combat roles.[35] In 1987, BG(NS) Lee Hsien Loong (then Second Minister for Defence) stated that "If there is a conflict, if the SAF is called to defend the homeland, we do not want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may be in conflict with his religion"[36] and in The Roar of the Lion City (2007), military analyst Sean Walsh claimed that "official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret".[37] The Ministry of Defence contests the charge, noting that there are "Malay pilots, commandos and air defence personnel" and stating that "the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist and officer training is similar to the proportion for eligible non-Malays."[38]

Women are exempt from full-time National Service, but can sign on as a career regular soldier in both combat and non-combat roles, some as combat officers, but mostly in clerical and logistic positions in the earlier years.[39] The range of positions available to women has been expanded gradually, with some exceptions in vocations.[37] In July 2007, the SAF held an exhibition highlighting the contributions of women in the armed forces.[40] Annual women career seminars are conducted to inform Singaporean women of careers in the SAF facing competitive factors in the labour force. In recent years, some women have taken higher positions, such as BG Gan Siow Huang, who is the highest ranking female officer and the first female General in the SAF.[41]

In 2014, a governmental Committee to Strengthening NS (CSNS) decided to establish a SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC).[42] This will enable women, first generation Permanent Residents and new citizens to contribute to national defence and strengthen support for NS. The volunteers will undergo a four-week course to gain basic military skills and values. They will be orientated to their operational and professional roles in the SAFVC.[43]

National Service

 
Singapore Armed Forces Basic Military Training passing out parade ceremony
Main articles: National Service in Singapore and Enlistment Act 1970

Under the Enlistment Act 1970, conscription is mandatory for all "persons subject to [the] act", defined as those who are not less than 16 years and 6 months of age and not more than 40 years of age, with some exemptions and with no specific bias to gender (not limited to males).[44] In practice however, it is only compulsory for all fit and able-bodied Singaporean men who have reached 18 years of age, and are not deferred for certain reasons, to be conscripted in military service, or Full-time National Service (NSF).

NS was initially three years for commissioned officers and two years for other ranks, but it was later revised to two years and six months for soldiers with the rank of Corporal and above, and two years for those with the rank of Lance Corporal or lower. In June 2004, a major announcement review was conducted to NS was shortened to two years for all Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), regardless of rank, due to changes in population demographics, manpower requirements and technological advancements. Combat fit NSFs (PES A/B1) who obtain a silver or gold standard in the NAPFA test will have another two months reduction, serving 22 months of NS effectively. Upon completion of their NSF stint, servicemen will be considered as having reached their Operationally-ready Date (ORD) and will be known as Operationally-ready National Servicemen (NSmen). Almost all NSmen will have to go through a 10-year reservist cycle of military training with their assigned unit deployment. Almost all NSmen are obliged to be called up annually for a maximum of 40 days per workyear for national duties, refresher trainings, mobilisations, upgrading courses and physical fitness tests and conditioning, depending on their NS unit deployment.[45]

Training

See also: Recruit training
 
The Officer Cadet School building within the SAFTI Military Institute as seen from the northwest

Prior to enlistment, pre-enlistees (recruits) are required to attend a medical examination (PULHHEEMS) to determine their medical status to assess vocational suitability postings. They will then be issued a "Physical Employment Status" (PES), which will be used as a guideline to determine for which vocation groupings they are deemed suitable.

PES A and PES B1 (combat-fit) recruits go through a nine-week Basic Military Training (BMT) program, held at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on the offshore island of Pulau Tekong. Recruits who are considered obese, are required to attend a 19-week PES Bp BMT weight-loss program. PES B2 formally PES C1 (fit for some combat vocations) recruits will go through a nine-week modified BMT programme at BMTC. PES C and PES E recruits (non-combat-fit) undertake a nine-week modified BMT program in BMTC School V at Kranji Camp II, where serviceman undergoing a four-week modified BMT programme before being deployed to various combat service support vocations such as Admin Support Assistant (ASA), Transport Operator, and Supply Assistant (SA).[46] The One-BMT programme was fully implemented in November 2017 thus all servicemen including mono-intakes with the exception of those in commandos, naval divers and service support vocation units will complete their BMT at BMTC. Mono-intake recruits will return to their unit after BMT.[47]

In standard BMT package, all recruits attend component trainings on fieldcraft, basic survival skills, weapon maintenance and a field camp, participate in live firing and hand grenade throwing exercises, go through a Standard Obstacle Course (SOC), and do daily physical training in preparation for the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). The selected ones among NS recruits in BMT are assessed via SITEST for suitability of commander trainings to become officers or specialists. They are posted to the Officer Cadet School (OCS) or the Specialist Cadet School (SCS) respectively for commander training. The majority of the rest of recruits, known as enlistees, are posted to various NS units or vocational training institutes where the newly minted privates undergo continuous, specialised and further vocational trainings to pass out successfully as a vocationalist.

Due to land space limitations on Singapore's territorial land and waters, some specialised training programmes and facilities are located overseas e.g. 130 Squadron in Australia, 150 Squadron in France.

Military education

Initially, commissioned officers were drawn exclusively from the ranks of Singaporeans who had completed their GCE A levels or embarked on tertiary studies.[48] While the requirements have since been revised, the SAF has still been criticised for "using a promotion system that is based more on education and scholarships than on proven competence".[37]

Officers receive their initial leadership training at the tri-service OCS in the SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI). As they progress in their career, they may undergo further formal military education at the SAF Advanced Schools and the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College. On the other hand, specialists first receive leadership training at the SCS. Future platoon sergeants and Company Sergeant Majors receive further instruction at the Advanced Specialist Training Wing (ASTW) in SCS. Specialists undergo further education at the SAFWOS Leadership School before receiving their appointments as Warrant Officers.

OCS and SCS both have an infantry-based curriculum; special-to-arms training for both officers and WOSPECs is conducted at various training institutes and establishments such as the SAF Medical Training Institute (SMTI), Artillery Institute (AI), Signals Institute (SI), Engineer Training Institute (ETI), Armour Training Institute (ATI), Motorised Infantry Training Institute (MITI), Supply & Transport Centre (STC) and Ordnance Engineering Training Institute (OETI).

Pointer is the official journal of the SAF. It is a quarterly publication distributed to all Officers and Warrant Officers, which helps with their ongoing professional education.

Foreign defence relations

Singapore is part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, whose other members include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. Designed to replace the former defence role of the British in Singapore and Malaysia, the arrangement obliges members to consult in the event of external threat against Malaysia and Singapore. To this end, an Integrated Air Defence System is set up in Butterworth, Malaysia involving the stationing of officers from the 5 countries at its headquarters.

In 1975, President Chiang Ching-kuo and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew signed an agreement code-named “Project Starlight” (星光計畫, also known as Hsing Kuang), wherein Singaporean troops could conduct training exercises in Taiwan. These exercises, engaging as many as 10,000 troops at any one time, provided officers a chance to simulate wartime conditions more closely and gain experience in the command and control of operations involving several battalions.[49]

Singapore has consistently supported a strong US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.[50] In 1990, the US and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which allows the US access to Singapore facilities at Paya Lebar Air Base and the Sembawang wharves. Under the MOU, a US Navy logistics unit was established in Singapore in 1992; US fighter aircraft deploy periodically to Singapore for exercises, and a number of US military vessels visit Singapore. The US Navy's Task Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific is now located at Sembawang. The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit US naval vessels to berth at Changi Naval Base, which was completed in early 2001.

Singapore's defence resources have also been used for international humanitarian aid missions. They included United Nations peacekeeping missions in areas such as Kosovo, Kuwait and East Timor,[51] participation in the Multi-National Force – Iraq,[52] sending military equipment and personnel to assist in the humanitarian rescue and relief efforts in Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and the United States after Hurricane Katrina, sending medical supplies and personnel in response to the earthquake in Nepal and establishing medical and dental assets for use by the Afghan people.[53] The Republic of Singapore Navy contributes to anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden off the eastern coast of Somalia as part of the 25 nations coalition Combined Maritime Forces. Several of the SAF's top officers have thus overseas operational military experience.[54][55] Singapore was the only Asian country to contribute assets and personnel to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and had participated in Operation Gallant Phoenix since May 2017.

Many of the Singapore's air units are located abroad such as: No. 130 Squadron in Australia,[56] No. 150 Squadron in France,[57] or joint USAF-RSAF 425th and 428th Fighter Squadron.[58][59] Since 2009, up to 90 soldiers annually are sent to Germany for exercises of a maximum of seven weeks each time at the Bergen-Hohne Training Area and other locations.[60]

Legislation

Under the Singapore Armed Forces Act,[61] the president of Singapore has the authority to raise and maintain the SAF. The president also has the power to form, disband or amalgamate units within the SAF.

The Armed Forces Council (AFC) administers matters relating to the SAF under the Singapore Armed Forces Act. The AFC consists of:

  • Minister for Defence and other ministers who are responsible for defence matters or has been assigned to assist them;
  • the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Defence;
  • the Chief of Defence Force (CDF);
  • the Chief of Army (COA);
  • the Chief of Air Force (CAF);
  • the Chief of Navy (CNV);
  • the Chief of Digital and Intelligence Service (CDI) and
  • not more than four other members as the president may appoint if the president, acting in their discretion, concurs with the advice of the prime minister.

Military offences

Military offences are governed by the SAF and the Enlistment Act in the Singapore Statutes. However, civilian offences (e.g. against the Penal Code) may also amount to a military offence. Offences may be prosecuted by military prosecutors, through the military justice system, or through the civilian judicial system.[61][62]

Organisation

Services

The SAF consists of four service branches:

  • Army (three Combined Arms Divisions: 3 Div, 6 Div & 9 Div, two Army Operational Reserve Divisions, 21st and 25th, and one island defence command: 2nd People's Defence Forces)
  • Air Force (17 squadrons and four air bases)
  • Navy (five commands, eight flotillas, and two naval bases)
  • Digital and Intelligence Service (inaugurated in 2022)

Task Forces

The SAF comprises seven standing task forces:

Defence Agencies

Supporting the combat role of the SAF, are other governmental organisations of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), such as the Defence Policy Group, the Defence Management Group, the Defence Technology Group, and the Defence Science & Technology Agency. Within these groups are the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), Defence Cyber Organisation, and the Military Security Department (MSD). Domestic technology companies also play a role in building up Singapore's military capabilities, particularly the government-linked ST Engineering (formerly known as Chartered Industries of Singapore), which designed and built some of the SAF's more advanced weaponry and equipment based on specific local requirements which may be expensive for foreign companies to adapt and produce.[64]

Chief of Defence Force (CDF)

Main article: Chief of Defence Force (Singapore)

The position of Chief of Defence Force was established in 1990. Winston Choo, as head of the defence forces was previously known as Chief of the General Staff. The SAF is headed by the Chief of Defence Force (CDF), a three-star General (i.e. Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral) by establishment and the sole and only (active) SAF General that can be promoted or hold three-star rank; he is assisted by the four chiefs of the respective services (Army, Air Force, Navy, Digital and Intelligence Service), who are two-star generals/admirals by establishment (or Major-General/Rear-Admiral). The SAF has a Sergeant Major who currently holds the rank of CWO.[65] The CDF is supported by the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, the Joint Operations Directorate, Joint Plans & Transformation Department, the Joint Manpower Department, the Joint Logistic Department, the Joint Intelligence Directorate, and Office of the Inspector-General of the Armed Forces.[66]

Ranks

Main article: Singapore Armed Forces ranks

There are three different rank structures in the SAF. Below is the ranks in the SAF in ascending order for the different schemes of service.[67]

Technology in the SAF

 
SSPH Primus, designed and produced by ST Kinetics
 
BR18 Assault Rifle, designed and produced by ST Kinetics

The SAF utilises technology as "force multipliers", especially in the area of C4I integration, which will enable its various units to fight in an integrated manner.[68] The Army, Air Force and Navy are linked via advanced data-links and networks to enable coordinated attacks and support for various units and forces. Technology is an important element in the SAF's transformation into a 3rd Generation Fighting Force.[69]

The SAF acknowledges that technology is crucial for overcoming the limitations of Singapore's small population. Having consistently had one of the largest defence budgets in the Asia-Pacific region, Singapore has focused on maintaining its spending on sophisticated and superior weaponry.[70] Research and experimentation to develop a technological edge began as early as 1971, even though the SAF then had only rudimentary capabilities. The effort started off with a three-man team. At present,[71] the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is one of the largest employers of engineers and scientists in Singapore and the SAF continues to devote considerable resources to defence research and development (R&D) and experimentation—5% and 1% of the defence budget, respectively. Singapore's education system has also produced national servicemen who can be trained to operate SAF's sophisticated platforms and systems.

In Sep 2008, the SAF officially opened its Murai Urban Training Facility (MUTF) to hone the SAF's networked urban operations capability. The MUTF resembles a typical town and allows the soldiers to train realistically in an urban setting. In the same month, the SAF's new combat uniform,[72] as well as the Advanced Combat Man System, were also unveiled for the first time.

The country also has an established military manufacturing industry that is responsible for the design and development of the following military hardware:

Uniforms

 
Old uniforms on display at the Army Open House 2022

The SAF's first-generation uniform is named Temasek Green from the army's simple flat green uniform, with brown and blue for the navy and air force respectively.

This was followed by the second-generation uniform which used a patchy camouflage pattern for the army while both the navy and air force used overalls.

The current (third generation) combat uniform, more commonly known as the No. 4, used by the tri-services are based on digital camouflage with base colors green, blue and light grey for the army, air force and navy respectively. In June 2018, the SAF introduced a new variant of the uniform for combat units which provides more effective cooling[73] similar to the ones issued to US army personnel for tropical climate.[74]

The SAF's desert-camouflage uniforms are only issued to personnel deployed overseas to countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.[75]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "History". MINDEF Singapore. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c International Institute for Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. London: Routledge. p. 297. ISBN 9781032012278.
  3. ^ "Singapore announces defence budget increase amid growing Covid-19 concerns". from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  4. ^ Tan, Andrew T. H. (1999). "Singapore's Defence: Capabilities, Trends, and Implications". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 21 (3): 451–474. doi:10.1355/CS21-3G. JSTOR 25798469. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  5. ^ "SAF formally establishes Digital and Intelligence Service". CNA. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Mindef History".
  7. ^ "Overseas Operations". www.mindef.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  8. ^ Kamil, Asyraf (30 August 2017). "Flashback: 12 years after Hurricane Katrina, RSAF to lend US a helping hand again in disaster relief". TODAY. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  9. ^ "International Peacekeeping". www.mfa.gov.sg. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE VOLUNTEER FORCES IN SINGAPORE" (PDF).
  11. ^ "History of Singapore Artillery". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. 13 November 2006. from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  12. ^ Marsita Omar; Chan Fook Weng (31 December 2007). . National Library Board. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  13. ^ a b Barzilai, Amnon. "A Deep, Dark, Secret Love Affair". University of Wisconsin (originally published by Haaretz, July 2004). from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  14. ^ Oppenheimer, Shaina (16 March 2020). "'A Life-and-death Matter': How Israel Helped Singapore When It Needed It Most". Haaretz. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  15. ^ "SAF acquires new fighting machines to do more with less, will reveal replacement for F-16 fighter jets soon". Channel NewsAsia. from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Tan Chee Wee appointed SAF's first Inspector-General". Channel NewsAsia. from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  17. ^ a b c "How a tiny city-state became a military powerhouse with the best air force and navy in Southeast Asia". Business Insider.
  18. ^ "Singapore's Military Modernization".
  19. ^ a b c Defense News
  20. ^ a b "Explaining Singapore's Interest in the F-35B".
  21. ^ "Hotel New World 1986". www.mindef.gov.sg. from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  22. ^ "'SQ117 owes me a glass of fresh milk': The Singapore Airlines hijacking, 30 years on". CNA. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  23. ^ "CNN.com - Singapore calls military for SARS - Apr. 8, 2003". edition.cnn.com. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  24. ^ Joelynn (18 April 2018). "10 Neo Kian Hong Facts You Should Know Before He Takes Over As SMRT CEO". Must Share News - Independent News For Singaporeans. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  25. ^ "MINDEF Runs National Call Centre for Mask Collection". Facebook. from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  26. ^ hermesauto (31 January 2020). "Wuhan virus: SAF working round the clock to ensure 5.2m masks to be given out are packed by Saturday". The Straits Times. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  27. ^ "How Singapore's Military Is Fighting COVID-19". thediplomat.com. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Ex-SAF regulars called upon as 'personnel with operational experience' needed to tackle Covid-19 at dorms: Mindef". TODAYonline. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  29. ^ "SAF deploys medical personnel at Singapore Expo's community isolation centre". mothership.sg. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  30. ^ hermesauto (6 May 2020). "3,000 Covid-19 patients housed at six community recovery facilities in SAF camps". The Straits Times. from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  31. ^ "SAF making thousands of calls a day to contact trace, check stay-home compliance as COVID-19 fight hits 'critical juncture'". from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  32. ^ Tim Huxley (2000). Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore. St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 981-04-9157-3.
  33. ^ . Ministry of Defence, Singapore. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  34. ^ "MINDEF Singapore". www.mindef.gov.sg. from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  35. ^ a b A Question of Loyalty: Ethnic Minorities, Military Service and Resistance by Alon Peled, 3 March 1993. Seminar Synopses of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard. 6 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ Straits Times, 2 April 1987.
  37. ^ a b c Sean Walsh (2007). "The Roar of the Lion City: Ethnicity, Gender, and Culture in the Singapore Armed Forces". Armed Forces & Society. 33 (2): 265. doi:10.1177/0095327X06291854. S2CID 145250955.
  38. ^ . Today. 12 March 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  39. ^ Singapore: Recruitment and Training of Personnel 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Country Studies Series by Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress.
  40. ^ Women in the Armed Forces Exhibition – The Spirit of Patriotism 6 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved on 20 May 2012.
  41. ^ "Chan Luo Er, SAF promotes first female to Brigadier-General rank, (26 Jun 2015), Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 8 Oct 2016". Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  42. ^ "SAFVC Index Page". from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  43. ^ "Strengthening NS". from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  44. ^ "Enlistment Act". from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  45. ^ "NS Matters". mindef.gov.sg. from the original on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  46. ^ hermesauto (18 March 2019). "Fact Sheet - Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) School V". from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  47. ^ hermesauto (2 March 2018). "Parliament: All NSFs, except those in elite and support roles, to do Basic Military Training together". The Straits Times. from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  48. ^ Minchin, James. No Man is an Island, p. 227. Allen & Unwin Australia, 1986.
  49. ^ Lin, Sean (23 September 2017). "Presidential Office mum on 'Starlight'". Taipei Times. from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  50. ^ . AFP. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  51. ^ . Archived from the original on 23 December 2005. Retrieved 1 May 2006.
  52. ^ "Singapore to send 192 military personnel to Iraq". Agence France Presse. 27 October 2003. from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  53. ^ Ashraf Safdar (16 May 2007). "SAF to provide medical aid, set up dental clinic in Afghanistan". Channel NewsAsia. from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  54. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  55. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  56. ^ "RAAF Base Pearce". Defence Aircraft Noise, Department of Defence. Australian Government. from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  57. ^ "MFA Press Statement: State Visit by President of the French Republic François Hollande to Singapore, 26 to 27 March 2017" 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 27 December 2017.
  58. ^ "A premier alliance: 425th Fighter Squadron > Luke Air Force Base > Display" 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Luke Air Force Base, 27 December 2017.
  59. ^ "Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen" 27 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Ministry of Defence, 12 December 2013.
  60. ^ BGBl. II, 2021, Nr. 3 (9. Feb. 2021).
  61. ^ a b Singapore Armed Forces Act (Cap. 295 , 2000 Rev. Ed.)
  62. ^ Enlistment Act (Cap. 93 , 2001 Rev. Ed.)
  63. ^ [1] 24 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Kwong Weng Yap (Ed.) (2009). "Key Perspectives on Special Forces". Pointer (journal): Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces. Mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  64. ^ gov.sg – Directory 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. App.sgdi.gov.sg. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  65. ^ The Singapore Army – News Archive – New SMA Appointed; former SMA becomes SAF SM 25 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved on 20 May 2012.
  66. ^ gov.sg – Directory 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. App.sgdi.gov.sg (28 September 2010). Retrieved on 20 May 2012.
  67. ^ "MINDEF Singapore - SAF Rank Insignias". from the original on 17 July 2017.
  68. ^ Da Cunha, Derek (2002). Singapore in the New Millennium: Challenges Facing the City-State. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 145. ISBN 981-230-131-3.
  69. ^ "MINDEF – The 3rd Generation SAF". MINDEF. from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  70. ^ Singapore Defence and Security Report Q1 2009 (Report). Business Monitor International. 2009.
  71. ^ News – Lunch Talk on "Defending Singapore: Strategies for a Small State" by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean (21 Apr 05) 6 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine. MINDEF. Retrieved on 20 May 2012.
  72. ^ cyberpioneer – News – Features of the new SAF combat uniform 26 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved on 20 May 2012.
  73. ^ "Army combat soldiers get new uniforms that cool, dry faster". Channel NewsAsia. from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  74. ^ Jahner, Kyle (7 August 2017). "Soldiers wear new tropical uniforms and boots in jungle ACU field-test". Army Times. from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  75. ^ "Singapore Armed Forces pixilated desert camouflage". Strike - Hold!. 14 April 2009. from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2019.

References

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Singapore Armed Forces.
  • Official websites: MINDEF, Singapore Army, Singapore Navy, Singapore Air Force
  • The 3rd Generation SAF
  • SAF Documentaries on MINDEF YouTube Channel
  • Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces – Contains scholarly articles on military issues, including those pertaining to the SAF's transformation into a 3rd Generation Fighting Force
  • GlobalSecurity.org Overview of Singapore's military forces, facilities, and equipment.
  • MINDEF, The NS Portal, Retrieved 23 October 2006.
  • Ranks and Paramilitary Ranks of Singapore 7 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 23 October 2006.

December 27, 2022
singapore, armed, forces, military, services, republic, singapore, responsible, protecting, defending, security, interests, sovereignty, country, military, component, ministry, defence, mindef, armed, forces, have, four, service, branches, army, navy, force, d. The Singapore Armed Forces SAF are the military services of the Republic of Singapore responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country A military component of the Ministry of Defence MINDEF the armed forces have four service branches the Army the Navy the Air Force and the Digital and Intelligence Service An integrated force it is one of the most capable robust technologically sophisticated and powerful militaries in Southeast Asia and the surrounding regions 4 The SAF is headed by the chief of Defence Force who holds the rank of a Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral and is appointed by the president of Singapore Singapore Armed ForcesAngkatan Bersenjata Singapura Malay 新加坡武装部队 Chinese ச ங கப ப ர ஆய தப பட Tamil Crest of the Singapore Armed ForcesFlag of the Singapore Armed ForcesMottoYang Pertama dan Utama The First and Foremost English Founded9 August 1965 57 years ago 1965 08 09 1 Service branchesSingapore Army Republic of Singapore Navy Republic of Singapore Air Force Digital and Intelligence ServiceHeadquartersSingaporeLeadershipPresidentHalimah YacobMinister for DefenceNg Eng HenChief of Defence ForceLieutenant General Melvyn OngPersonnelMilitary age17 with parental consent 18 without and to serve in combatConscription22 24 months 2 Available formilitary service gt 1 255 902 males age 18 49Fit formilitary service gt 2 105 973 males age 18 49Reaching militaryage annually gt 52 466 malesActive personnel71 000 2 Reserve personnel352 500 2 ExpendituresBudgetS 15 36 billion FY2021 3 IndustryDomestic suppliersST Engineering ST Kinetics ST Aerospace ST Marine ST Electronics ST DynamicsForeign suppliers United States Germany IsraelRelated articlesHistoryMilitary history of SingaporeRanksSingapore Armed Forces ranksThe SAF consists of four service branches the Singapore Army the Republic of Singapore Navy RSN the Republic of Singapore Air Force RSAF and the Digital and Intelligence Service DIS 5 The SAF protects the interests sovereignty and territorial integrity of Singapore from external threats In recent years the SAF has also taken on a more active role in counter terrorism efforts both domestically and abroad 6 Since its inception the SAF has been involved in various operations both within and outside of Singapore s borders These include peacekeeping missions in places such as Afghanistan Iraq Nepal and Timor Leste as well as the humanitarian aid operations in various countries such as the Hurricane Katrina in 2005 7 8 In addition the SAF has also assisted the United Nations UN to oversee and supervise the electoral process in countries such as Cambodia Ethiopia Namibia and South Africa 9 It has an approximate active strength of over 71 000 full time personnel and is capable of mobilising over 352 500 reservists also known as National Servicemen or NSmen in the event of national exigencies or a full scale war It also has a large pool of conscripts also known as Full time National Servicemen or NSFs in the active and reserve forces with about 50 000 reaching military age annually Contents 1 History 1 1 Pre independence 1 2 Post independence 1 3 Recent years 1 3 1 Contribution in times of national crises 2 Defence policy 2 1 National Service 2 2 Training 2 3 Military education 2 4 Foreign defence relations 3 Legislation 3 1 Military offences 4 Organisation 4 1 Services 4 2 Task Forces 4 3 Defence Agencies 4 4 Chief of Defence Force CDF 4 5 Ranks 5 Technology in the SAF 5 1 Uniforms 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistory Edit Soldiers from the Singapore Army in training F 15SG Strike Eagle RSS Fearless See also Military history of Singapore Pre independence Edit Singapore s military role stems from its strategic geographical location an asset exploited by both local settlers and foreign colonists alike Archaeological excavations have discovered remnants of fortresses and other forms of military fortifications in pre colonial Singapore Stamford Raffles founder of modern Singapore chose Singapore in 1819 to establish a new British colony with the security concerns of the British in the Far East in mind against the Dutch Thus Singapore which attained the Crown colony status played an active role in British military interests for decades particularly in the years leading up to the First and Second World Wars The Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps SVRC was first created in 1854 as a private organisation with the governor serving as its first Colonel It was later gazetted in 1857 However participation in the SVRC was weak and it was disbanded on 16 December 1887 in favour of forming an artillery corps instead 10 This was to be the Singapore Volunteer Artillery SVA which was formed in 1888 to operate the gun emplacements around Singapore 10 and is also considered to be the predecessor of the artillery formation of the Singapore Armed Forces 11 In 1901 additional non artillery units were set up in including a Chinese infantry company Eurasian infantry company and the Singapore Volunteer Engineers leading to the force being renamed as the Singapore Volunteer Corps SVC It assisted in suppressing the 1915 Singapore Mutiny In 1921 the SVC was combined with other volunteer forces from Malacca and Penang as the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force SSVF 10 During World War II the SSVF took part in the Battle of Singapore but most of its members were captured on 15 February 1942 when their positions were overrun by Japanese forces After the end of the war the SSVF was re constituted in 1948 but the SVF was absorbed into the Singapore Military Forces SMF predecessor of the SAF following the disbandment of the SSVF in 1954 Subsequently in 1961 SMF was renamed to the Singapore Armed Forces SAF Post independence Edit When Singapore achieved independence in 1965 its military consisted of only two infantry regiments commanded by British officers and made up of mostly non Singaporean residents Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971 leaving behind only a small amount of British Australian and New Zealand forces as a token military presence The last of the British soldiers left Singapore in March 1976 The New Zealand troops were the last to leave Singapore in 1989 12 Singapore believed that it needed a larger capable yet economic efficient defence force to protect and defend itself as it is surrounded by several larger neighbouring countries in the Southeast Asia region that are often hostile to them At that time Singapore enlisted the covert assistance of Israel which sent its military advisers who helped Singapore set up a defence force modelled in part after the Israel Defense Forces IDF 13 14 Jungle warfare techniques were taught so that the Singapore Army could engage in combat conflict in the jungle areas of its neighbouring countries if need be The army also procured battle tanks from Israel doing so before neighbouring Malaysia acquired theirs thereby gaining an advantage 13 On 1 July 2018 Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen announced that the SAF would transition from its current third generation technologies to fourth next gen technologies by overhauling its current arsenal 15 On 27 February 2019 the office of Inspector General of the Armed Forces was set up to ensure that safety protocols are applied and enforced throughout the military following the death of Aloysius Pang who was the fourth training related fatality in 18 months following 2017 16 Singapore has been described as a military powerhouse with the best air force and navy in Southeast Asia 17 Singapore s vast wealth allows it to acquire and make the best equipment available as well as incorporate high end technological equipment into its nation military forces 17 The SAF is also called the most technologically advanced armed forces across the Association of Southeast Asian Nation states referring to ASEAN 18 A key recent example was Singapore s decision to acquire four Lockheed Martin s F 35B Joint Strike Fighters which the United States Congress approved with the option to acquire a further eight more and beyond 19 20 This acquisition is significant as Singapore will fly the most advanced fleet of fighters in its region which reflects its security relationship with the United States 20 In addition the F 35Bs have a significant impact to Singapore s air power since the land limited country no longer needs to depend on long vulnerable runways to operate the aircraft due to the fifth generation s fighter jet s short takeoff and vertical landing capability 19 The jet s advanced network enabled capabilities would be additionally advantageous for Singapore which is seeking to modernise its military 19 Furthermore Singapore stands out from all the other countries in Southeast Asia with its technological sophistication and equipments that operates at a very high level of capability and are all integrated into a single cohesive fighting force 17 Armed Forces Day is commemorated by the SAF annually on 1 July with a parade held at the SAFTI Military Institute Recent years Edit Contribution in times of national crises Edit On 15 March 1986 the six storey Hotel New World a 15 year old one star budget hotel situated at the junction of Serangoon Road and Owen Road collapsed SAF soldiers aided in rescue operations and had worked alongside members of the Singapore Civil Defence Force SCDF to remove the rubble RSAF UH 1H helicopters were on standby at the nearby Farrer Park football field to evacuate rescued victims to the Singapore General Hospital 21 On 26 March 1991 Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked by four Pakistanis en route to Singapore Upon landing in Changi Airport at 8 15pm SGT the hijackers demanded the release of several Pakistan Peoples Party members Negotiations faltered and after the hijackers gave their ultimatum to have their demands fulfilled at 6 15am SGT of the following morning Commandos from SAF s Special Operations Force SOF stormed the plane and shot all of the hijackers dead and rescued the hostages 22 During the SARS outbreak in 2003 SAF paramedics were deployed at Changi International Airport to screen incoming passengers from places hit by SARS such as Hong Kong China Hanoi and Toronto 23 The SAF also deployed 220 servicemen with operations such as screening for SARS contact tracing and enforcing home quarantine orders The team also managed other major operations such as the quarantine of 1 500 staff from the Institute of Mental Health 24 In 2004 the Singapore Armed Forces also responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami In addition to the human tolls being one of the nearest neighbors to the tsunami hit countries and a nation that was not directly affected by the recent disaster Singapore has been able to render prompt help as part of the global relief efforts During the COVID 19 pandemic since 2020 over 1 500 SAF servicemen were called upon to pack 5 2 million masks and transport them to distribution centers across Singapore in time for the start of distribution on 1 February that year A MINDEF personnel also ran the National Call Centre to address public queries on the collection of reusable masks which were distributed in April Personnel manning the phone lines included volunteers from MINDEF and the SAF as well as clan associations grounded staff from Singapore Airlines and other retrenched workers who were employed by MINDEF on short term contracts 25 The SAF also deployed manpower to assist in manning thermal imagery machines at the airport to pick out travellers with symptoms 26 27 To aid in operations MINDEF had also recruited former SAF regulars as the inter agency task force handling the spike in cases from foreign worker dormitories including personnel with operational experience They were to augment the Forward Assurance Support Teams FAST deployed at various foreign worker dormitories 28 Both regular and full time national servicemen were deployed to provide healthcare services for patients at one of the CIFs set up in the Singapore EXPO halls 29 The SAF also housed about 3 000 recovering migrant workers with COVID 19 in six military camps across Singapore The Jurong Bedok Amoy Quee Guillemard Tanjong Gul and Lim Chu Kang camps had been converted into community recovery facilities CRFs Operational since 28 April 2020 the CRFs are for COVID 19 patients who remain well at Day 14 of the disease and do not require further medical care 30 Separately more than 1 300 SAF personnel were also deployed to make calls to do contact tracing and check compliance with stay at home notices These contact tracers worked with Ministry of Health officials to fill gaps in the activity maps of confirmed or suspected cases Defence Science and Technology Agency Engineers also developed tools to automate the extraction and fusion of data for analysis The contact tracers were reported to make between 1 000 and 2 000 calls a day 31 Defence policy Edit Soldiers of the SAF speaking with local contractors at the site for the Singaporean funded Bamyan Regional Health Training Center in Afghanistan Deterrence and diplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of Singapore s military defence policy Through the years the military has developed extensive links with armed forces from other countries In recent years there has also been an increased emphasis on international peace keeping and relief operations notably the peace keeping operations in Afghanistan East Timor the Persian Gulf and disaster relief in the Indian Ocean earthquake tsunami of 2004 the 2005 Nias earthquake and 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake both in Indonesia Hurricane Katrina in the United States and the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China According to military and strategic analysts such as Tim Huxley in Defending the Lion City 32 Singapore is well poised to be using a forward defence military doctrine Singapore is after all a relatively small country of about 850 km2 330 sq mi and therefore lacks the hinterland for a defence in depth strategy In historical news archives there were also defence analogies used by Singapore founders that Singapore must be a poison shrimp and later porcupine Thenceforth if a wartime military battle is to take place on the island of Singapore the effects would be devastating to both the people and infrastructure Press statements from Singapore s Ministry of Defence MINDEF describe the SAF as a deterrent force 33 The SAF s declared mission statement is to enhance Singapore s peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy and should these fail to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor 34 Today a career military force of 39 000 is supplemented by 46 800 men on active National Service duty the latter generally filling up the lower ranks This group of just over 80 000 officers and servicemen women staffs the command structure advises the government manages the bases teaches at the tri service SAFTI Military Institute flies the on call jets crews the ships on patrol and stands watch over the straits They comprise both the top command structure and what might be called the Standing Forces which can go into a humanitarian relief or combat situation instantly citation needed The main force actually comprises 400 000 or so Operationally Ready National Servicemen ORNSmen This is the full mobilization force that can be called up within a few days They are the 10 year ORNSmen with regular training and call up cycles Full sets of light equipment stands ready for them in armories and heavy equipment for their units is maintained in dedicated bunkers Singapore is very high tech and individuals can be reached almost instantly thus the system is highly flexible so only the units and numbers needed for a particular task can be summoned If called up they would be integrated into augment and dramatically expand the Standing Forces up to five times its peacetime size fully staffed and equipped while maintaining a cohesive structure citation needed The SAF s policy towards Malays who share religious and ethnic ties with Singapore s largest neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia has been a source of controversy over the years Malays were virtually excluded from conscription from the beginning of the draft in 1967 until 1977 35 and after the policy was eased were assigned mainly to serve in the police and civil defence fire brigade not active combat roles 35 In 1987 BG NS Lee Hsien Loong then Second Minister for Defence stated that If there is a conflict if the SAF is called to defend the homeland we do not want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may be in conflict with his religion 36 and in The Roar of the Lion City 2007 military analyst Sean Walsh claimed that official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret 37 The Ministry of Defence contests the charge noting that there are Malay pilots commandos and air defence personnel and stating that the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist and officer training is similar to the proportion for eligible non Malays 38 Women are exempt from full time National Service but can sign on as a career regular soldier in both combat and non combat roles some as combat officers but mostly in clerical and logistic positions in the earlier years 39 The range of positions available to women has been expanded gradually with some exceptions in vocations 37 In July 2007 the SAF held an exhibition highlighting the contributions of women in the armed forces 40 Annual women career seminars are conducted to inform Singaporean women of careers in the SAF facing competitive factors in the labour force In recent years some women have taken higher positions such as BG Gan Siow Huang who is the highest ranking female officer and the first female General in the SAF 41 In 2014 a governmental Committee to Strengthening NS CSNS decided to establish a SAF Volunteer Corps SAFVC 42 This will enable women first generation Permanent Residents and new citizens to contribute to national defence and strengthen support for NS The volunteers will undergo a four week course to gain basic military skills and values They will be orientated to their operational and professional roles in the SAFVC 43 National Service Edit Singapore Armed Forces Basic Military Training passing out parade ceremony Main articles National Service in Singapore and Enlistment Act 1970 Under the Enlistment Act 1970 conscription is mandatory for all persons subject to the act defined as those who are not less than 16 years and 6 months of age and not more than 40 years of age with some exemptions and with no specific bias to gender not limited to males 44 In practice however it is only compulsory for all fit and able bodied Singaporean men who have reached 18 years of age and are not deferred for certain reasons to be conscripted in military service or Full time National Service NSF NS was initially three years for commissioned officers and two years for other ranks but it was later revised to two years and six months for soldiers with the rank of Corporal and above and two years for those with the rank of Lance Corporal or lower In June 2004 a major announcement review was conducted to NS was shortened to two years for all Full time National Servicemen NSFs regardless of rank due to changes in population demographics manpower requirements and technological advancements Combat fit NSFs PES A B1 who obtain a silver or gold standard in the NAPFA test will have another two months reduction serving 22 months of NS effectively Upon completion of their NSF stint servicemen will be considered as having reached their Operationally ready Date ORD and will be known as Operationally ready National Servicemen NSmen Almost all NSmen will have to go through a 10 year reservist cycle of military training with their assigned unit deployment Almost all NSmen are obliged to be called up annually for a maximum of 40 days per workyear for national duties refresher trainings mobilisations upgrading courses and physical fitness tests and conditioning depending on their NS unit deployment 45 Training Edit See also Recruit training The Officer Cadet School building within the SAFTI Military Institute as seen from the northwest Prior to enlistment pre enlistees recruits are required to attend a medical examination PULHHEEMS to determine their medical status to assess vocational suitability postings They will then be issued a Physical Employment Status PES which will be used as a guideline to determine for which vocation groupings they are deemed suitable PES A and PES B1 combat fit recruits go through a nine week Basic Military Training BMT program held at the Basic Military Training Centre BMTC on the offshore island of Pulau Tekong Recruits who are considered obese are required to attend a 19 week PES Bp BMT weight loss program PES B2 formally PES C1 fit for some combat vocations recruits will go through a nine week modified BMT programme at BMTC PES C and PES E recruits non combat fit undertake a nine week modified BMT program in BMTC School V at Kranji Camp II where serviceman undergoing a four week modified BMT programme before being deployed to various combat service support vocations such as Admin Support Assistant ASA Transport Operator and Supply Assistant SA 46 The One BMT programme was fully implemented in November 2017 thus all servicemen including mono intakes with the exception of those in commandos naval divers and service support vocation units will complete their BMT at BMTC Mono intake recruits will return to their unit after BMT 47 In standard BMT package all recruits attend component trainings on fieldcraft basic survival skills weapon maintenance and a field camp participate in live firing and hand grenade throwing exercises go through a Standard Obstacle Course SOC and do daily physical training in preparation for the Individual Physical Proficiency Test IPPT The selected ones among NS recruits in BMT are assessed via SITEST for suitability of commander trainings to become officers or specialists They are posted to the Officer Cadet School OCS or the Specialist Cadet School SCS respectively for commander training The majority of the rest of recruits known as enlistees are posted to various NS units or vocational training institutes where the newly minted privates undergo continuous specialised and further vocational trainings to pass out successfully as a vocationalist Due to land space limitations on Singapore s territorial land and waters some specialised training programmes and facilities are located overseas e g 130 Squadron in Australia 150 Squadron in France Military education Edit Initially commissioned officers were drawn exclusively from the ranks of Singaporeans who had completed their GCE A levels or embarked on tertiary studies 48 While the requirements have since been revised the SAF has still been criticised for using a promotion system that is based more on education and scholarships than on proven competence 37 Officers receive their initial leadership training at the tri service OCS in the SAFTI Military Institute SAFTI MI As they progress in their career they may undergo further formal military education at the SAF Advanced Schools and the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College On the other hand specialists first receive leadership training at the SCS Future platoon sergeants and Company Sergeant Majors receive further instruction at the Advanced Specialist Training Wing ASTW in SCS Specialists undergo further education at the SAFWOS Leadership School before receiving their appointments as Warrant Officers OCS and SCS both have an infantry based curriculum special to arms training for both officers and WOSPECs is conducted at various training institutes and establishments such as the SAF Medical Training Institute SMTI Artillery Institute AI Signals Institute SI Engineer Training Institute ETI Armour Training Institute ATI Motorised Infantry Training Institute MITI Supply amp Transport Centre STC and Ordnance Engineering Training Institute OETI Pointer is the official journal of the SAF It is a quarterly publication distributed to all Officers and Warrant Officers which helps with their ongoing professional education Foreign defence relations Edit Singapore is part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements whose other members include the United Kingdom Australia New Zealand and Malaysia Designed to replace the former defence role of the British in Singapore and Malaysia the arrangement obliges members to consult in the event of external threat against Malaysia and Singapore To this end an Integrated Air Defence System is set up in Butterworth Malaysia involving the stationing of officers from the 5 countries at its headquarters In 1975 President Chiang Ching kuo and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew signed an agreement code named Project Starlight 星光計畫 also known as Hsing Kuang wherein Singaporean troops could conduct training exercises in Taiwan These exercises engaging as many as 10 000 troops at any one time provided officers a chance to simulate wartime conditions more closely and gain experience in the command and control of operations involving several battalions 49 Singapore has consistently supported a strong US military presence in the Asia Pacific region 50 In 1990 the US and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding MOU which allows the US access to Singapore facilities at Paya Lebar Air Base and the Sembawang wharves Under the MOU a US Navy logistics unit was established in Singapore in 1992 US fighter aircraft deploy periodically to Singapore for exercises and a number of US military vessels visit Singapore The US Navy s Task Force 73 Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific is now located at Sembawang The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit US naval vessels to berth at Changi Naval Base which was completed in early 2001 Singapore s defence resources have also been used for international humanitarian aid missions They included United Nations peacekeeping missions in areas such as Kosovo Kuwait and East Timor 51 participation in the Multi National Force Iraq 52 sending military equipment and personnel to assist in the humanitarian rescue and relief efforts in Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and the United States after Hurricane Katrina sending medical supplies and personnel in response to the earthquake in Nepal and establishing medical and dental assets for use by the Afghan people 53 The Republic of Singapore Navy contributes to anti piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden off the eastern coast of Somalia as part of the 25 nations coalition Combined Maritime Forces Several of the SAF s top officers have thus overseas operational military experience 54 55 Singapore was the only Asian country to contribute assets and personnel to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and had participated in Operation Gallant Phoenix since May 2017 Many of the Singapore s air units are located abroad such as No 130 Squadron in Australia 56 No 150 Squadron in France 57 or joint USAF RSAF 425th and 428th Fighter Squadron 58 59 Since 2009 up to 90 soldiers annually are sent to Germany for exercises of a maximum of seven weeks each time at the Bergen Hohne Training Area and other locations 60 Legislation EditUnder the Singapore Armed Forces Act 61 the president of Singapore has the authority to raise and maintain the SAF The president also has the power to form disband or amalgamate units within the SAF The Armed Forces Council AFC administers matters relating to the SAF under the Singapore Armed Forces Act The AFC consists of Minister for Defence and other ministers who are responsible for defence matters or has been assigned to assist them the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Defence the Chief of Defence Force CDF the Chief of Army COA the Chief of Air Force CAF the Chief of Navy CNV the Chief of Digital and Intelligence Service CDI and not more than four other members as the president may appoint if the president acting in their discretion concurs with the advice of the prime minister Military offences Edit Military offences are governed by the SAF and the Enlistment Act in the Singapore Statutes However civilian offences e g against the Penal Code may also amount to a military offence Offences may be prosecuted by military prosecutors through the military justice system or through the civilian judicial system 61 62 Organisation EditServices Edit The SAF consists of four service branches Army three Combined Arms Divisions 3 Div 6 Div amp 9 Div two Army Operational Reserve Divisions 21st and 25th and one island defence command 2nd People s Defence Forces Air Force 17 squadrons and four air bases Navy five commands eight flotillas and two naval bases Digital and Intelligence Service inaugurated in 2022 Task Forces Edit The SAF comprises seven standing task forces Army Deployment Force Island Defence Task Force Joint Task Force Special Operations Task Force an integrated joint command formed in 2009 to combat common terrorist threats It comprises selected members of the 1st Commando Battalion s Special Operations Force Naval Diving Unit s Special Warfare Group and other forces The practice and theory of Special Operations Forces has been discussed in the inaugural monograph published by Pointer titled Key Perspectives on Special Forces The monograph was edited and developed by former Commando Officer Kwong Weng Yap 63 Maritime Security Task Force to ensure Singapore s maritime security and act as a co ordinating agency for all national maritime agencies to allow for the seamless execution of maritime security operations Air Defence Task Force Cybersecurity Task ForceDefence Agencies Edit Supporting the combat role of the SAF are other governmental organisations of the Ministry of Defence MINDEF such as the Defence Policy Group the Defence Management Group the Defence Technology Group and the Defence Science amp Technology Agency Within these groups are the Central Manpower Base CMPB Defence Cyber Organisation and the Military Security Department MSD Domestic technology companies also play a role in building up Singapore s military capabilities particularly the government linked ST Engineering formerly known as Chartered Industries of Singapore which designed and built some of the SAF s more advanced weaponry and equipment based on specific local requirements which may be expensive for foreign companies to adapt and produce 64 Chief of Defence Force CDF Edit Main article Chief of Defence Force Singapore The position of Chief of Defence Force was established in 1990 Winston Choo as head of the defence forces was previously known as Chief of the General Staff The SAF is headed by the Chief of Defence Force CDF a three star General i e Lieutenant General Vice Admiral by establishment and the sole and only active SAF General that can be promoted or hold three star rank he is assisted by the four chiefs of the respective services Army Air Force Navy Digital and Intelligence Service who are two star generals admirals by establishment or Major General Rear Admiral The SAF has a Sergeant Major who currently holds the rank of CWO 65 The CDF is supported by the Chief of Staff Joint Staff the Joint Operations Directorate Joint Plans amp Transformation Department the Joint Manpower Department the Joint Logistic Department the Joint Intelligence Directorate and Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces 66 Ranks Edit Main article Singapore Armed Forces ranks There are three different rank structures in the SAF Below is the ranks in the SAF in ascending order for the different schemes of service 67 Technology in the SAF Edit SSPH Primus designed and produced by ST Kinetics BR18 Assault Rifle designed and produced by ST Kinetics The SAF utilises technology as force multipliers especially in the area of C4I integration which will enable its various units to fight in an integrated manner 68 The Army Air Force and Navy are linked via advanced data links and networks to enable coordinated attacks and support for various units and forces Technology is an important element in the SAF s transformation into a 3rd Generation Fighting Force 69 The SAF acknowledges that technology is crucial for overcoming the limitations of Singapore s small population Having consistently had one of the largest defence budgets in the Asia Pacific region Singapore has focused on maintaining its spending on sophisticated and superior weaponry 70 Research and experimentation to develop a technological edge began as early as 1971 even though the SAF then had only rudimentary capabilities The effort started off with a three man team At present 71 the Ministry of Defence MINDEF is one of the largest employers of engineers and scientists in Singapore and the SAF continues to devote considerable resources to defence research and development R amp D and experimentation 5 and 1 of the defence budget respectively Singapore s education system has also produced national servicemen who can be trained to operate SAF s sophisticated platforms and systems In Sep 2008 the SAF officially opened its Murai Urban Training Facility MUTF to hone the SAF s networked urban operations capability The MUTF resembles a typical town and allows the soldiers to train realistically in an urban setting In the same month the SAF s new combat uniform 72 as well as the Advanced Combat Man System were also unveiled for the first time The country also has an established military manufacturing industry that is responsible for the design and development of the following military hardware PRIMUS Self propelled Howitzer Bionix II Infantry Fighting Vehicle an upgrade of the Bionix AFV MATADOR Unguided Short Range Anti Armour Weapon Terrex I II III Infantry Carrier Vehicle PEGASUS Light Weight Howitzer SAR 21 amp Bullpup multirole combat rifle Bullpup Assault Rifle Formidable Class Stealth Frigate warships designed with stealthy characteristics equipped with advanced combat systems and with longer endurance Independence class littoral mission vessel warships designed for littoral and coastal warfareUniforms Edit Old uniforms on display at the Army Open House 2022 The SAF s first generation uniform is named Temasek Green from the army s simple flat green uniform with brown and blue for the navy and air force respectively This was followed by the second generation uniform which used a patchy camouflage pattern for the army while both the navy and air force used overalls The current third generation combat uniform more commonly known as the No 4 used by the tri services are based on digital camouflage with base colors green blue and light grey for the army air force and navy respectively In June 2018 the SAF introduced a new variant of the uniform for combat units which provides more effective cooling 73 similar to the ones issued to US army personnel for tropical climate 74 The SAF s desert camouflage uniforms are only issued to personnel deployed overseas to countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan 75 See also Edit Singapore portal Military portal War portal Singapore Armed Forces ranks National service in Singapore SAFTI Military Institute SAF Medical Training Institute Singapore Armed Forces Band RSAF Black Knights SAF Volunteer Corps SAFVC National Cadet Corps NCC Awards and decorations of the Singapore Armed Forces Awards for Singapore National Serviceman Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship Women List of Singapore Armed Forces basesNotes Edit History MINDEF Singapore Retrieved 9 October 2021 a b c International Institute for Strategic Studies 25 February 2021 The Military Balance 2021 London Routledge p 297 ISBN 9781032012278 Singapore announces defence budget increase amid growing Covid 19 concerns Archived from the original on 22 February 2020 Retrieved 22 February 2020 Tan Andrew T H 1999 Singapore s Defence Capabilities Trends and Implications Contemporary Southeast Asia 21 3 451 474 doi 10 1355 CS21 3G JSTOR 25798469 Retrieved 22 November 2021 SAF formally establishes Digital and Intelligence Service CNA Retrieved 28 October 2022 Mindef History Overseas Operations www mindef gov sg Ministry of Defence Retrieved 16 April 2022 Kamil Asyraf 30 August 2017 Flashback 12 years after Hurricane Katrina RSAF to lend US a helping hand again in disaster relief TODAY Retrieved 16 April 2022 International Peacekeeping www mfa gov sg Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retrieved 16 April 2022 a b c A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE VOLUNTEER FORCES IN SINGAPORE PDF History of Singapore Artillery Ministry of Defence Singapore 13 November 2006 Archived from the original on 6 October 2007 Retrieved 17 September 2008 Marsita Omar Chan Fook Weng 31 December 2007 British withdrawal from Singapore National Library Board Archived from the original on 21 June 2012 Retrieved 24 August 2012 a b Barzilai Amnon A Deep Dark Secret Love Affair University of Wisconsin originally published by Haaretz July 2004 Archived from the original on 20 July 2011 Retrieved 24 August 2012 Oppenheimer Shaina 16 March 2020 A Life and death Matter How Israel Helped Singapore When It Needed It Most Haaretz Retrieved 7 August 2021 SAF acquires new fighting machines to do more with less will reveal replacement for F 16 fighter jets soon Channel NewsAsia Archived from the original on 10 July 2018 Retrieved 14 March 2019 Tan Chee Wee appointed SAF s first Inspector General Channel NewsAsia Archived from the original on 1 April 2019 Retrieved 14 March 2019 a b c How a tiny city state became a military powerhouse with the best air force and navy in Southeast Asia Business Insider Singapore s Military Modernization a b c Defense News a b Explaining Singapore s Interest in the F 35B Hotel New World 1986 www mindef gov sg Archived from the original on 6 October 2019 Retrieved 8 May 2020 SQ117 owes me a glass of fresh milk The Singapore Airlines hijacking 30 years on CNA Retrieved 7 April 2021 CNN com Singapore calls military for SARS Apr 8 2003 edition cnn com Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 8 May 2020 Joelynn 18 April 2018 10 Neo Kian Hong Facts You Should Know Before He Takes Over As SMRT CEO Must Share News Independent News For Singaporeans Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 8 May 2020 MINDEF Runs National Call Centre for Mask Collection Facebook Archived from the original on 19 September 2020 Retrieved 11 June 2020 hermesauto 31 January 2020 Wuhan virus SAF working round the clock to ensure 5 2m masks to be given out are packed by Saturday The Straits Times Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 8 May 2020 How Singapore s Military Is Fighting COVID 19 thediplomat com Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 10 May 2020 Ex SAF regulars called upon as personnel with operational experience needed to tackle Covid 19 at dorms Mindef TODAYonline Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 8 May 2020 SAF deploys medical personnel at Singapore Expo s community isolation centre mothership sg Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 8 May 2020 hermesauto 6 May 2020 3 000 Covid 19 patients housed at six community recovery facilities in SAF camps The Straits Times Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 8 May 2020 SAF making thousands of calls a day to contact trace check stay home compliance as COVID 19 fight hits critical juncture Archived from the original on 11 June 2020 Retrieved 18 June 2020 Tim Huxley 2000 Defending the Lion City The Armed Forces of Singapore St Leonards N S W Allen amp Unwin ISBN 981 04 9157 3 Speech by Minister for Manpower amp Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at The International Defence Procurement Conference 2008 Ministry of Defence Singapore 18 February 2008 Archived from the original on 30 December 2016 Retrieved 17 September 2008 MINDEF Singapore www mindef gov sg Archived from the original on 19 September 2020 Retrieved 14 March 2019 a b A Question of Loyalty Ethnic Minorities Military Service and Resistance by Alon Peled 3 March 1993 Seminar Synopses of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Harvard Archived 6 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine Straits Times 2 April 1987 a b c Sean Walsh 2007 The Roar of the Lion City Ethnicity Gender and Culture in the Singapore Armed Forces Armed Forces amp Society 33 2 265 doi 10 1177 0095327X06291854 S2CID 145250955 US soldier takes potshots at SAF Today 12 March 2007 Archived from the original on 16 July 2007 Retrieved 17 September 2008 Singapore Recruitment and Training of Personnel Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Country Studies Series by Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress Women in the Armed Forces Exhibition The Spirit of Patriotism Archived 6 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine Mindef gov sg Retrieved on 20 May 2012 Chan Luo Er SAF promotes first female to Brigadier General rank 26 Jun 2015 Channel NewsAsia Retrieved 8 Oct 2016 Archived from the original on 24 November 2016 Retrieved 9 October 2016 SAFVC Index Page Archived from the original on 29 March 2015 Retrieved 12 September 2015 Strengthening NS Archived from the original on 25 September 2015 Retrieved 12 September 2015 Enlistment Act Archived from the original on 12 March 2012 Retrieved 14 September 2010 NS Matters mindef gov sg Archived from the original on 25 May 2017 Retrieved 12 September 2015 hermesauto 18 March 2019 Fact Sheet Basic Military Training Centre BMTC School V Archived from the original on 23 September 2019 Retrieved 20 October 2019 hermesauto 2 March 2018 Parliament All NSFs except those in elite and support roles to do Basic Military Training together The Straits Times Archived from the original on 27 March 2018 Retrieved 27 March 2018 Minchin James No Man is an Island p 227 Allen amp Unwin Australia 1986 Lin Sean 23 September 2017 Presidential Office mum on Starlight Taipei Times Archived from the original on 26 September 2017 Retrieved 26 September 2017 Singapore to join coalition against Islamic State AFP Archived from the original on 4 November 2014 Retrieved 4 November 2014 Peacekeepers In the Service of Peace Archived from the original on 23 December 2005 Retrieved 1 May 2006 Singapore to send 192 military personnel to Iraq Agence France Presse 27 October 2003 Archived from the original on 6 September 2008 Retrieved 17 September 2008 Ashraf Safdar 16 May 2007 SAF to provide medical aid set up dental clinic in Afghanistan Channel NewsAsia Archived from the original on 8 December 2008 Retrieved 17 September 2008 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 26 July 2011 Retrieved 17 March 2011 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 26 July 2011 Retrieved 17 March 2011 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link RAAF Base Pearce Defence Aircraft Noise Department of Defence Australian Government Archived from the original on 19 August 2017 Retrieved 18 August 2017 MFA Press Statement State Visit by President of the French Republic Francois Hollande to Singapore 26 to 27 March 2017 Archived 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine Ministry of Foreign Affairs 27 December 2017 A premier alliance 425th Fighter Squadron gt Luke Air Force Base gt Display Archived 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine Luke Air Force Base 27 December 2017 Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen Archived 27 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Ministry of Defence 12 December 2013 BGBl II 2021 Nr 3 9 Feb 2021 a b Singapore Armed Forces Act Cap 295 2000 Rev Ed Enlistment Act Cap 93 2001 Rev Ed 1 Archived 24 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine Kwong Weng Yap Ed 2009 Key Perspectives on Special Forces Pointer journal Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces Mindef gov sg Retrieved 15 October 2015 gov sg Directory Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine App sgdi gov sg Retrieved 20 May 2012 The Singapore Army News Archive New SMA Appointed former SMA becomes SAF SM Archived 25 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Mindef gov sg Retrieved on 20 May 2012 gov sg Directory Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine App sgdi gov sg 28 September 2010 Retrieved on 20 May 2012 MINDEF Singapore SAF Rank Insignias Archived from the original on 17 July 2017 Da Cunha Derek 2002 Singapore in the New Millennium Challenges Facing the City State Singapore Institute of Southeast Asian Studies p 145 ISBN 981 230 131 3 MINDEF The 3rd Generation SAF MINDEF Archived from the original on 6 October 2007 Retrieved 25 February 2008 Singapore Defence and Security Report Q1 2009 Report Business Monitor International 2009 News Lunch Talk on Defending Singapore Strategies for a Small State by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean 21 Apr 05 Archived 6 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine MINDEF Retrieved on 20 May 2012 cyberpioneer News Features of the new SAF combat uniform Archived 26 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine Mindef gov sg Retrieved on 20 May 2012 Army combat soldiers get new uniforms that cool dry faster Channel NewsAsia Archived from the original on 23 July 2018 Retrieved 14 March 2019 Jahner Kyle 7 August 2017 Soldiers wear new tropical uniforms and boots in jungle ACU field test Army Times Archived from the original on 19 September 2020 Retrieved 14 March 2019 Singapore Armed Forces pixilated desert camouflage Strike Hold 14 April 2009 Archived from the original on 3 November 2018 Retrieved 14 March 2019 References Edit Singapore Ministry of Defence Ministry of Defence Singapore Retrieved 8 July 2005 MINDEF SAF Organisation Ministry of Defence Singapore Retrieved 19 April 2018 Singapore Budget 2018 Ministry of Finance Singapore Retrieved 19 April 2018 Singapore Key Stats Singapore Department of Statistics Archived from the original on 3 March 2005 Retrieved 19 April 2018 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Singapore Armed Forces Official websites MINDEF Singapore Army Singapore Navy Singapore Air Force The 3rd Generation SAF SAF Documentaries on MINDEF YouTube Channel Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces Contains scholarly articles on military issues including those pertaining to the SAF s transformation into a 3rd Generation Fighting Force GlobalSecurity org Overview of Singapore s military forces facilities and equipment MINDEF The NS Portal Retrieved 23 October 2006 Ranks and Paramilitary Ranks of Singapore Archived 7 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 23 October 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Singapore Armed Forces amp oldid 1127621998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.