Singapore Armed Forces

The original black and white SAF crest (circa 1961).

The Singapore Armed Forces (abbreviation: SAF, Malay: Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura, Simplified Chinese: 新加坡武装部队) comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The SAF relies heavily on a large pool of conscripted soldiers in the active and reserve forces. It is capable of mobilising over 300,000 reserves and has an active force of 72,500 for the defence of Singapore.

History

Singapore's military role stems from its strategic geographical location, an asset exploited by local settlers and foreign colonists alike. Archaeological excavations have discovered remnants of forts and other forms of military fortifications in pre-colonial Singapore. Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, selected Singapore in 1819 to establish a new colony with the security concerns of British interests in the Far East in mind against the Dutch. Thus, Singapore played an active role in British military interests for decades, particular in the years leading up to the world wars.

The Singapore Armed Forces has its humble origin in the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force (SSVF, formed in 1922), which in turn had its roots in the Singapore Volunteer Artillery Corps (SVAC, formed in 1888). The Motto of SVAC is "In Oriente Primus" (Latin: "First in the East"), which is still in use today by the artillery formations of Singapore Army.^[3] In 1915 it helped suppress the mutiny of Sepoys in Singapore.

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. After the end of World War 2, the SSVF was re-constituted in 1948, but the Singapore Volunteer Force (SVF) in the SSVF was absorbed into the Singapore Military Forces (predecessor of SAF) following the disbandment of the SSVF in 1954.

At the time it achieved independence in 1965 however, Singapore's military consisted of only two infantry regiments, commanded by British officers and made up of mostly non-Singapore residents. The small nation, surrounded by its much larger neighbors believed that it needed a larger force. To that end, Singapore secretly contacted Israel, which sent military advisers who helped Singapore set up a defence force modeled in part after the IDF.^[4]

Singapore Armed Forces Day is commemorated on July 1 with an annual parade.^[5]

Defence policy

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 East Timor and the Persian Gulf and disaster relief in the Indian Ocean earthquake-tsunami of 2004, 2005 Nias earthquake and 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake in Central Java, Indonesia.

According to military and strategic analysts, such as Tim Huxley in Defending the Lion City,^[6] Singapore is known to be using a forward-defence military doctrine. Press statements from MINDEF describe the SAF as a deterrent force.^[7] 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.^[8]

Total Defence

In 1984, the Total Defence concept was introduced to augment the need for the entire country, and not just the military, to contribute and work together in national defence issues. Consisting of five key aspects, namely Military Defence, Civil Defence, Economic Defence, Social Defence, and Psychological Defence, it is actively promoted annually in schools as well as to the general public through schemes, programmes, courses as well as utilising the mass media to spread its message.

Manpower

The size of Singapore's resident population does not allow for a military fully composed of regular soldiers. National service was thus introduced in 1967 to build up the required manpower resources in a relatively quick and cost-effective fashion. Today, a career military force of 32,700 is supplemented by 39,800 men on active National Service duty. The main force actually comprises 350,000 or so Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (ORNSmen).

The SAF's policy towards Malays, who share a religion and ethnic ties with Singapore's largest neighbors 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^[9] and, after the policy was eased, were assigned mainly to serve in the police and civil defence (fire brigade), not active combat roles^[9]. In 1987, Lee Hsien Loong (then Second Minister of 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"^[10] 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"^[11]. 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."^[12]

Women are exempt from National Service, but have served in both combat and non-combat roles, some as combat officers, but mostly in clerical and logistic positions in the earlier years^[13]. The range of positions available to women has been expanded gradually, but is still limited^[11]. In July 2007, the SAF launched an exhibition highlighting the contributions of women in the armed forces.^[14]

National Service

Main article: National Service in Singapore

All fit and able-bodied Singaporean men are enlisted into military service, or Full-Time National Service (NSF). It is compulsory for all said men who have reached 18 years of age and are not deferred for educational reasons.

Full-time national service (NSF) was initially three years for commissioned officers and two years for other ranks, but it was later changed to two years and six months for soldiers with the rank of Corporal or higher, and two years for those with the rank of Lance Corporal or lower. In June 2004, NSF was shortened to two years for all full-time national servicemen (NSFs), regardless of rank, due to changes in population demographics and manpower requirements. 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). Most NSmen will have to go through a 10-year cycle of military training with their assigned NS unit. NSmen are called up annually for training, courses and physical fitness tests.

Training

All combatant troops go through a 3-month Basic Military Training (BMT), held either at the Basic Military Training Centre on the offshore island of Pulau Tekong, or at the various military units which directly accept mono-intake recruits. Recruits go through courses including field craft, basic jungle survival, camouflaging, operating their personal weapon and basic marksmanship. Non-mono-intake recruits are also assessed during BMT to spot potential officers and specialists, who are thereafter posted to the Officer Cadet School or the School of Infantry Specialists respectively. Other recruits are posted to various units or schools, where they may continue on specialised vocational training.

Due to limited space within Singapore's territorial land and waters, some training programmes and facilities are located overseas.

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^[15]. While the requirements have since been relaxed, the SAF has still been criticized for "using a promotion system that is based more on education and scholarships than on proven competence"^[11].

Officers receive their initial leadership training at the tri-service Officer Cadet School (OCS) in the SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI), which is the Home of the Officer Corps. As they progress in their career, they may undergo further formal military education at the SAF Advanced Schools and the Singapore Command and Staff College, also at SAFTI MI.

In parallel, Specialists first receive leadership training at the School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC) at Pasir Laba Camp, home of the Warrant Officer and Specialist Corps. Future Platoon Sergeants and Company Sergeant Majors receive further instruction at the Advanced Specialist Training Wing (ASTW) in the SISPEC. Specialists undergo further education at the SAF Warrant Officer School before receiving their appointments as Warrant Officers.

OCS and SISPEC 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), Signals Institute (SI), Engineer Training Institute (ETI), Armour Training Institute (ATI), Supply & Transport Centre (STC), Ordnance Engineering Training Institute (OETI), etc.

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 a member of the Five Power Defence Arrangement together with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. Designed to replace the former defence role of the British in Singapore and Malaysia, the arrangement obligates members to consult in the event of external threat and provides for stationing Commonwealth forces in Singapore.

Singapore has consistently supported a strong U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. In 1990, the U.S. and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which allows the U.S. access to Singapore facilities at Paya Lebar Airbase and the Sembawang wharves. Under the MOU, a U.S. Navy logistics unit was established in Singapore in 1992; U.S. fighter aircraft deploy periodically to Singapore for exercises, and a number of U.S. military vessels visit Singapore. The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit U.S. naval vessels to berth at the Changi Naval Base, which was completed in early 2001.

Singapore's defence resources have also been used for international humanitarian aid missions. These missions included United Nations peacekeeping abroad in areas such as Kosovo, Kuwait and East Timor,^[16] participating in the multinational force in Iraq^[17], sending military equipment and personnel to assist in the humanitarian rescue and relief efforts in the United States after Hurricane Katrina, and establishing medical and dental assets for use by the Afghan people. ^[18]

It comes under the command and control of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), which is headed by the defence minister. The current defence minister is Teo Chee Hean, also formerly the Chief of Navy who crossed over to the political side.

Legislation

Under the SAF Act^[19] the president 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 SAF Act. The AFC consists of:

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

Organisation

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) consists of the:

• Army (Three Combined Arms Divisions: 3 Div, 6 Div & 9 Div, two Army Operational Reserve Divisions, 21st and 25th, and one island defence command : 2 People's Defence Forces)
• Air Force (Seventeen squadrons and four air bases)
• Navy (Eight squadrons and two naval bases)

The SAF is headed by the Chief of Defence Force, usually a three-star general (or Lieutenant-General) and he is assisted by the chiefs of the respective services, who are two-star generals/admirals (or Major-General/ Rear-Admiral). The current CDF is Lieutenant General Desmond Kuek Bak Chye.

                 CDF
                  |
   Joint Staff ---|
                  |
         _________|____________
         |        |     |     |
      Director   COA   CAF   CNV
        JOPD

Supporting the combat role of the SAF, are other governmental organisations of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), such as the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), and the Military Security Department (MSD). Domestic technology companies also play a role in building up Singapore's military capabilities, particularly the government-linked Singapore Technologies (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.

Technology in the SAF

The SAF also utilises technology as "force multipliers", especially in terms of C4I integration which will enable its various units to fight in an integrated manner. 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 [1]

The SAF also acknowledges that technology is crucial for overcoming the limitations of Singapore's small population. 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 3-man team. Today [2] MINDEF is one of the largest employers of engineers and scientists in Singapore and the SAF continues to devote considerable resources to defence 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 08, the SAF officially opened its Murai Urban Training Facility 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 uniformas well as the Advanced Combat Man System were also unveiled for the first time.

The country also has an established military manufacturing industry 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
• PEGASUS - Light Weight Howitzer
• SAR 21 - Singapore Assault Rifle
• Formidable-Class Stealth Frigate - Warships designed with stealthy characteristics, equipped with advanced combat systems and have longer endurance

In popular culture

Fictional Television programs

• Army Series (新兵小传), 11 March 1983
• Airforce (空军), 10 April 1988
• Navy (壮志豪情), 1990
• The Reunion (顶天立地), 26 December 2001
• Honour and Passion (宝家卫国), 24 July 2007

Film

• Army Daze, 1996

Theatre

• Army Daze, 1987

See also

• Awards and decorations of the Singapore Armed Forces
• Awards For Singapore National Serviceman
• Singapore Armed Forces ranks
• Camps and bases of the Singapore Armed Forces
• Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition
• Singapore Army
• Republic of Singapore Air Force
• RSAF Black Knights
• Republic of Singapore Navy
• SAF Band
• SAFTI Military Institute
• SAF Medical Training Institute
• National Cadet Corps (Singapore)

References

• "Singapore Ministry of Defence". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Retrieved on July 8, 2005.
• "Structure of the SAF". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Retrieved on July 26, 2007.
• "Singapore Budget 2004". Ministry of Finance (Singapore). Retrieved on March 4, 2005.
• "Key Stats - Annual Statistics". Singapore Department of Statistics. Retrieved on March 4, 2005.

External links

• Official websites: MINDEF, Singapore Army, Singapore Navy, Singapore Air Force
• The 3rd Generation SAF
• 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
• US Department of State, Background notes on Singapore, accessed 23 Oct 2006.
• MINDEF, The NS Portal, accessed 23 Oct 2006.
• Ranks and Paramilitary Ranks of Singapore, accessed 23 Oct 2006.