Clarence Tan Kim Peng is a Singaporean former lieutenant-colonel best known for contributing to the creation of the Commandos formation of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in its infancy and early years.
Tan began his military career as a volunteer in the Singapore Military Force (now the Singapore Armed Forces) in 1960. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing the Officer Cadet Course in the Federation Military College in Malaysia, after which he served as a platoon commander in the Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR)'s 1st Battalion. During the Konfrontasi (1963–1966), Tan was posted to various units, including the Malaysian Special Operations Force, and performed frontline duties in Sabah and Taiping in Malaysia. In June 1967, Tan and Chan Seck Sung attended the ranger and airborne courses conducted by the US Army in Fort Benning, United States. He was promoted to the rank of captain during this period of time.
In 1967, Tan was tasked with recruiting eligible candidates for the Singapore Armed Forces Regular Battalion, the precursor of the 1st Commando Battalion. He was promoted to major in April 1969 and was appointed as the commanding officer (CO) of the SIR's 4th Battalion a year later. He was reassigned to be the CO of the Singapore Armed Forces Regular Battalion again in January 1971 and remained in this position until the unit was renamed "1st Commando Battalion" in June 1978. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel during this period of time. Later, Tan was transferred from the 1st Commando Battalion to the 5th Singapore Infantry Brigade, but he returned to serve as the commandant of the newly established Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation in 1981. He held this appointment until 1988 and served as a defence attaché in Australia before retiring in 1992.
Bibliographyedit
Squire, Thomas A. (2018). Always a Commando : the life of Singapore army pioneer Clarence Tan. ISBN978-9814779319.
Referencesedit
For Honour and Glory: A Celebration of Commando History (1969–1994).
Interview: Legit Old: Clarence Tan -- S’pore’s first-ever Commando officer
January 01, 1970
clarence, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2021, learn, when, remove. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message Clarence Tan Kim Peng is a Singaporean former lieutenant colonel best known for contributing to the creation of the Commandos formation of the Singapore Armed Forces SAF in its infancy and early years Clarence TanBorn1941 age 82 83 SingaporeAllegianceSingaporeService wbr branchSingapore ArmyYears of service1960 1992RankLieutenant ColonelCommands heldCommanding Officer 4th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment Commanding Officer 1st Commando Battalion Commandant 1st Commando Battalion In this Chinese name the family name is Tan Career editTan began his military career as a volunteer in the Singapore Military Force now the Singapore Armed Forces in 1960 He was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing the Officer Cadet Course in the Federation Military College in Malaysia after which he served as a platoon commander in the Singapore Infantry Regiment SIR s 1st Battalion During the Konfrontasi 1963 1966 Tan was posted to various units including the Malaysian Special Operations Force and performed frontline duties in Sabah and Taiping in Malaysia In June 1967 Tan and Chan Seck Sung attended the ranger and airborne courses conducted by the US Army in Fort Benning United States He was promoted to the rank of captain during this period of time In 1967 Tan was tasked with recruiting eligible candidates for the Singapore Armed Forces Regular Battalion the precursor of the 1st Commando Battalion He was promoted to major in April 1969 and was appointed as the commanding officer CO of the SIR s 4th Battalion a year later He was reassigned to be the CO of the Singapore Armed Forces Regular Battalion again in January 1971 and remained in this position until the unit was renamed 1st Commando Battalion in June 1978 He was promoted to lieutenant colonel during this period of time Later Tan was transferred from the 1st Commando Battalion to the 5th Singapore Infantry Brigade but he returned to serve as the commandant of the newly established Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation in 1981 He held this appointment until 1988 and served as a defence attache in Australia before retiring in 1992 Bibliography editSquire Thomas A 2018 Always a Commando the life of Singapore army pioneer Clarence Tan ISBN 978 9814779319 References editFor Honour and Glory A Celebration of Commando History 1969 1994 Interview Legit Old Clarence Tan S pore s first ever Commando officer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clarence Tan amp oldid 1182502626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
