Issue 190

armynews
www.mindef.gov.sg/army
Singapore and US host
PACC VII / PAMS XXXV
NCC Turns 110!
Issue No. 190
2
JULY 2011
NSmen Reaffirm Commitment
pulse of our army
9
12
Best
Unit
Competition
Recognising Our Best
Prime Feature
armynews pulse of our army
www.mindef.gov.sg/army
Singapore & US host PACC VII / PAMS XXXV
Story by Jonathan Chan and Jared Yeo / Photography by Matthew Tan
scope of PACC VII, and set the
stage for a fruitful conference.
LG Wiercinski was speaking
on behalf of General Martin E.
Dempsey, Chief of Staff of the
Army, United States Army. Dr
Ng also shared his thoughts
and reflections in a keynote
address, afterwhich he symbolically opened the conference by lighting up the PACC
VII / PAMS XXXV logo.
In his address, Dr Ng said,
“In 1999, when PACC was
inaugurated, few could have
Dr Ng (centre) officiating at the opening of PACC VII
envisaged the security environment and challenges we
“Building land forces capacity through multilateral secu- face today. Basking in the after-glow of the end of the Cold War
rity cooperation” is the theme for the 7th Pacific Armies Chiefs then, many were optimistic for a golden age of peace and tranConference (PACC VII) and the 35th Pacific Armies Management quility, or at least wars limited to a few regional hot spots and
Seminar (PAMS XXXV), which were officially opened on 28 July outbreaks of ethnic and sectarian violence. Instead, post 9/11,
at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Co-hosted by the armies of Singapore Iraq, Afghanistan, the Arab Spring, Libya, piracy in the Gulf of
and the United States, the conference and seminar ended on 31 Aden and the continuing export of weapons of mass destruction,
July and 1 August respectively.
the hard reality is that the security landscape today is marked by
threats which are increasingly transnational and complex, too
PACC VII
large for any single country, no matter how large and equipped,
to shoulder the burden.”
Officially opened by Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen,
this year's PACC is the largest held so far, attended by 24 army
It was very obvious that all PACC participants share
chiefs, with China and Laos participating for the first time. common concerns and objectives with regards to current
PACC VII aimed to promote the sharing of views on emerging global security issues. LG Wiercinski highlighted signifiglobal security challenges and serves to strengthen defence cant challenges to global security, including the proliferaand security ties amongst participating countries.
tion of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, regional
conflicts, civil wars, international terrorism, humanitarian
crisis and refugees, and threats in the cyber domain. He
said, “I suggest that the future will also require a greater
commitment to interoperability; that is, the ability to plan
and integrate, to share information, and to leverage the
different strengths of various civil and military agencies.
This ability to bring people together to solve problems is
a unique capability that we, as military professionals, bring
to these difficult challenges.”
COA MG Ravinder (right) interacting with the Command Sergeant Major of the United
States Army Pacific, Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Frank M. Leota
This is not the first time that PACC was held in Singapore.
In 1999, Singapore co-hosted also with the United States,
the inaugural PACC with the theme “Changes confronting
Armies in the 21st century”. Subsequently, five PACCs, held
biennially, were hosted by Malaysia, Republic of Korea,
Thailand, Australia and Japan.
In their opening addresses, Chief of Army, MG Ravinder
Singh and Lieutenant General (LG) Francis J. Wiercinski,
Commanding General, United States Army Pacific, outlined the
MG Ravinder concurred, “As many countries would not
possibly have the capacity nor the capability to deal with
non-traditional security challenges alone, multilateral cooperation is necessary to address such challenges. Concerted
multilateral cooperation is vital to tackle these problems
before they are transmitted across national borders. This
is where I believe multilateral dialogue and cooperation
will play an integral role in dealing with non-traditional
security challenges.”
PAMS XXXV
On that same morning, PAMS XXXV was officially opened
by BG Yeo See Peng, Commander 6 th Singapore Division
and Major General (MG) Micheal J. Terry, Commanding
General, 8 th Theater Sustainment Command, United
States Army (on behalf of LG Wiercinski).
Participating delegates of PAMS XXXV
2 JULY 2011
First held in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1978 with nine member
countries, this year's PAMS saw some 26 Asia-Pacific armies
in attendance. Speaking at the opening ceremony, MG Terry
said, “Over 35 years, PAMS has emerged as the premier
forum in the region for promoting security cooperation
in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. The goal
is to walk away with an increased understanding of our
neighbours, their unique situations, and to communicate
our own perspectives to others in a professional setting.”
The seminar focused on how the Asia-Pacific land forces
should train and develop their capabilities to conduct multilateral security co-operations to deal with security challenges in the 21st century.
For the first ime in PAMS' history, a Table-Top Exercise
(TTX) was also held. BG Yeo explained, “The exercise will
focus on multilateral security cooperation in the event of
a pandemic and natural disaster. It will focus on determining the land force contributions in the form of command,
control and logistics, addressing existing initiatives that are
available regionally to support land forces in operations.”
BG Yeo (left) and MG Terry planting the PAMS flag to mark the start of PAMS XXXV
He added, “The TTX will establish some understanding,
through the involvement of various non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) in the discussion, so we can better
understand the communication linkages between the military and the NGOs on the ground. It is important to identify
countries who have developed niche capabilities or expertise so that we can look into forming functional groupings
in dealing with specific issues that will be discussed. This
TTX should open up possibilities for greater regional and
international cooperation in the area of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
To end PACC VII / PAMS XXXV on a high and memorable
note for the participants, the organisers had organised various
programmes for them to better appreciate Singapore. They
included the opportunity to catch the National Day Parade
2011 Preview and a programme for the spouses of participants
to visit tourist attractions around Singapore.
Prime Feature
Every Soldier a Leader
Story by Jonathan Chan, Photography by Matthew Tan
Chief of Army (COA) MG Ravinder Singh engaged the local
media on 27 July to update on the progress on our Army's
3rd Generation transformation.
pleasure to serve alongside. Rarely do you find officers of
such competence, poise and professionalism. Thank you
for sending your best. It is making a difference in Southern
Afghanistan.' ”
Our 3rd Generation Army Today
One of the two officers
mentioned by COA is MAJ
Goh Pei Ming, a Staff officer from General Staff. He
shared, “On my part the letter was a recognition of my
hard work but more importantly, it spoke very well of
our Army and showed that
we are able to benchmark
ourselves favourably against
MAJ Goh is glad that his service in
the other international
Afghanistan has testified to the quality
forces. That gave me a sense of our Army's people and their training
of confidence in the way we are training in our Army and
our ability to defend this country.”
Tough New Generation
COA also addressed some concerns raised over the
calibre of our new generation of soldiers arising from
recent incidents. He explained, “The new generation of
soldiers are confident, smart and learn faster. They are
just the right type of soldiers we need for this Army to
develop and transform. I'm sure we all recognise that the
soldier whose maid was carrying his backpack is not representative of the entire Army. The fact that society has
taken issue with this incident shows that they have high
expectations of the Army and this is heartening to note.”
Following the media brief, COA interacted with Armour
NSmen who were back for their training. He joined them
in the turret crew trainer to get a first-hand experience
on how this simulator has enhanced their training.
COA also shared another snippet to illustrate his belief that
our Army is progressing well, “In the past year, 357 NSFs chose
to extend their service. This is about two percent or 1 in every
50. To me, this is a testament to our soldiers' dedication and a
reflection of the Army's success in engaging them.”
During the media brief, COA touches on various key issues
relating to our 3rd Generation Army
Speaking to the media, COA said, “The 3rd Generation
Army is designed to operate in a complex, typically urban
environment. It is about precision warfare which involves
precision information, precision fire and precision manoeuvre. Precision information is enabled by platforms such as
the Skyblade mUAV which allows us to see how the enemy
is deployed and identify obstacles to our troops. This makes
precision fires executed by weaponry such as the HIMARS
possible. Finally, platforms like the Leopard Main Battle
Tank and the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle give us much
flexibility to manoeuvre our forces.”
Among those who extended their service was LCP (NS)
Wong Jing Yong an ASA from 38 th Battalion Singapore
Combat Engineers. Present at the media brief, he shared,
“Being involved in the organisation of this year's NDP to
celebrate our nation's birthday is a rare and valuable experience. At the same time the experience has also given me
many useful skills in people relations and management.
This will certainly be useful to me in the future.”
COA also mentioned CFC (NS) Muhd Rafie Bin Ahmad as
another outstanding serviceman who personifies dedication
and commitment (read about him in 'Supporting Exercise
Panzer Strike 2011' on page 5 of this issue).
COA experiencing first-hand the realism of simulator training
Our Future
Every Soldier A Leader
COA emphasised that at the heart of our Army's transformation is the soldier. He explained, “In the past, soldiers
may have all taken orders from one commander barking out
directions on the battlefield. This is no longer the case. Take
for example three men clearing a room in an urban operation. Everyone takes turns leading the group. They operate
instinctively with no one telling them what to do at each
juncture. One mistake by any of them could put all their
lives at risk. Therefore, every soldier in our 3rd Generation
Army must be a leader. Each soldier has to lead himself,
practice peer leadership and possess necessary knowledge
and skills.”
Professionalism and Commitment
COA also expressed his confidence in our servicemen.
He enthused, “From my ground visits, I have gathered that
our servicemen have the commitment, will and desire to
serve. They are also confident and credible. Some are so
confident that they don't even realise their own transformation.” He substantiated this, “I want to share with you
some remarks sent by one of the commanding generals of
one of the sectors in Afghanistan. Let me read an excerpt,
'I can honestly say that MAJ Cai and MAJ Goh are some of
the finest officers of any country that I have ever had the
COA's various ground visits have given him a high level of confidence in the calibre of
our servicemen. He found them confident, committed, and
possess a strong desire to serve
COA interacting with outstanding servicemen singled out for mention in his media
brief. From left: LCP (NS) Wong, CFC (NS) Muhd Rafie and MAJ Goh
Looking forward, COA shared with the media on how
our Army will continue to engage and nurture the new
generation of soldiers. He said, “Our training systems
must be more efficient and effective, enabling us to save
time and resources. An example of such training systems
we are adopting is the turret crew trainer which is a simulator that allows tank crew to familiarise themselves with
the drills before progressing to outfield training in the
real tank. We have also adopted platforms like LEARNet
which enables our adaptable independent new generation of soldiers to take advantage of new technologies
to run through the syllabus. This has reduced classroom
time by 15 to 20 percent and we have reinvested this
time into tough realistic field training that will produce
capable confident soldiers.”
COA engaging the Armour NSmen who were back for their training
Issue No. 190
3
Features
armynews pulse of our army
www.mindef.gov.sg/army
OSM for 29 Servicemen
Story by Jonathan Chan / Photos contributed by Pioneer
Dr Ng interacting with our servicemen after the ceremony. From the left: 1WO Azmi, ME3 Pillai, LTC Lek
Since 2007, 320 SAF servicemen had served proudly in
Afghanistan and helped fly the Singapore flag high.
In the latest Overseas Service Medal Presentation Ceremony
held on 30 June to recognise their contributions and sacrifices, 29
servicemen from the latest batch to return received their awards
from Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen. They comprised
members of the National Command Element (NCE), the Military
Institutional Trainers (MIT) Team and the Imagery Analyst Team. In
his speech, Dr Ng said, “The valuable contributions of our people
in these faraway places underscore the transnational nature of
the security challenges we now face. In today's interconnected
world, all countries must do their part to maintain security and
stability. As a responsible member of the international community, Singapore holds fast to these commitments.”
The 10-member MIT, led by LTC Lek Seng Khoon, was deployed
in December last year. During their 5-month deployment, the
team continued the foundation work done by the first MIT team
2WO Chu Cheng Chwee (right), a member of the second MIT team deployed, conducting a lesson for the Afghan trainees
in helping the Afghan National Army to establish its artillery
school. LTC Lek said, “The value of our contribution is in helping
the Afghans to bring lasting peace to their country. We worked
with them to develop a system that works for them, a system that
will endure and that they can sustain without the coalition forces.”
To achieve this, the team had to overcome communication barriers as another member, ME3 Susai Pillai, explained, “We had to
understand their culture, language and religious beliefs so as to
build a good relationship with them and get our points across.”
Our servicemen were supported by the National Support
Element (NSE). 1WO Azmi Bin Ahmad who served in the NSE,
shared, “Logistically, we were able to serve our servicemen in
Afghanistan well because of the strong support provided by
our colleagues in Singapore who supplied us with everything
we needed. We also had occasional help from our foreign
counterparts with whom we enjoyed close working relationships, and this was due mainly to strong ties already forged
by our previously deployed servicemen.”
LTC Lek receiving his medal from Dr Ng
PERSCOM
Excel to Serve!
Story by Jared Yeo / Photography by Mark Ng and Matthew Tan
ated by Chief of Army, MG (then BG) Ravinder Singh and Deputy
Secretary (Administration), Mr Willie Tan Yoke Meng.
The new PERSCOM has already made an impact, one notable example being the transformation of the Army’s 23 Pers
Nodes. Previously, they were known as Camp Administrative
Centres (CACs) and reported to their respective units. Today,
Pers Nodes are directed by Pers Hub in PERSCOM, headed
by LTC Lee Hwee Siong. He explained, “The previous system
resulted in different HR administrative practices across the
Army. Under a single command, the Pers Nodes can deliver
a more efficient and standardised HR administrative service
to our servicemen.”
(From left): COL Siow, COA and DS(A) unveiling the PERSCOM plaque
“Excel to Serve”, the motto of Personnel Command
(PERSCOM) underscores this newly inaugurated triService formation's aim to deliver top-notch Human
Resource (HR) management to the SAF. The brainchild
of the Army Human Resource Project Group, PERSCOM
brings together key HR delivery agencies such as the
MINDEF/SAF HR Ser vices Centre, National Ser vice
Services Centre, HR Institute and the HR administrative
elements of ground units (division G1s, formation HR
centres and brigade/battalion S1s). This single unified
4 JULY 2011
command provides greater effectiveness and efficiency.
Speaking at the 29 June inauguration ceremony at the Leaders'
Hall, Pasir Laba Camp, Commander PERSCOM, COL Terry Siow,
shared his vision, “Ultimately, we aim to build and maintain a
robust and adaptive HR system: A robust HR system that supports
our commanders and HR professionals, in the management of
their units and our people; and an adaptive HR system that is
responsive to the needs of our multi-generational soldiers, sailors,
airmen, and civilians in MINDEF/SAF.” The inauguration was offici-
Within the Pers Node, the new system enables the staff to
focus on delivering the 92 HR administrative work processes
with excellence. Mr Chan Siew Mun, Head Pers Node (Khatib),
elaborated, “The Pers Nodes are the subject matter experts
on HR administrative matters. Operating under a single command from PERSCOM has allowed us to be more focused in
our work, enabling us to execute the HR administration more
smoothly, clearly and accurately. In addition, the 23 Pers Nodes
will now have a platform to share on their successes and challenges. This will enable us to continue improving our services.”
COL Siow said, “The human aspect of our work places an
added complexity that all of us face daily in our service to
others. But with the right professionalism and passion that we
hope to imbue in all our HR practitioners through PERSCOM,
we are confident that together, we will excel to serve.”
Features
Supporting Exercise Panzer Strike 2011
Story by Jonathan Chan / Photography by Derrick Heng
The icy wind buffets the tentage, and inside the soldiers shiver from the
intense cold. Midnight is an unfortunate time to experience a power trip
resulting in a lack of heating. Over in the base camp, 2WO Jaganathan
Gunasakaran, Forward Support Group (FSG) OIC, receives a call and
news that the heated tentages at the range are down. Within minutes,
he loads heat packs, hot drinks and warm clothing on a vehicle and
heads out to the range. He also contacts a German technician for help
to power the heated tentages back up.
Earlier that day, 2WO Guna had received sad news that his
father had passed away. Suppressing his grief and desire to immediately return to Singapore (arrangement was already made for
him to do so) for the funeral, he stayed on and diligently supported the exercise. He shared, “I reminded myself of my mission
here. I knew I was needed here as I had an important role in
supporting the exercise. I wanted to see the mission completed
successfully.” He added, “Combat Service Support is my passion.
Whenever a soldier needs anything to help him train better, I will
do my best to obtain and deliver it to him. We are here to make
sure the environment and facilities are as conducive as possible
so that our soldiers can train effectively.”
2WO Guna's selfless dedication to duty is indeed a strong
reflection of the professional support provided by the Combat
Service Support Command to Exercise Panzer Strike (Ex PS) 2011
(see full story on exercise in Issue No. 189).
Assisting 2WO Guna is his trusty right-hand man, CFC (NS) Muhd
Rafie Bin Ahmad, who voluntarily extended his full-time National
Service to support the exercise. He enthused, “Because I had an
enriching time supporting a previous overseas exercise, I was very
excited when 2WO Guna asked if I wanted to follow him to Germany
this time round. I felt I could draw from my past experience to do a
better job for the troops here in Germany. 2WO Guna has been a very
approachable mentor, guiding me whenever there is a problem.”
Ferrying our Troops
always better than cure, we advised the troops to maintain a high
level of personal hygiene and avoid eating beansprouts.”
The medical team's coverage was not limited to just the exercise
proper, but also included their rest and recreational activities. CPL
Lim Han Liang, a medic, shared, “In one incident, one of the soldiers
playing Captain's Ball was injured and we had to stitch up his wound.
Being ready and present throughout the exercise to provide speedy
medical coverage for such unexpected incidents has been a fulfilling experience.”
Maintaining the Leopards
SSG Yani (second row, centre) and his team of transport operators ensured that the
troops arrived at the training areas on time and safely
In Germany, our transport operators literally kept the exercise
going by ferrying the troops to and from the live-firing range.
Though it was smooth driving for the most part of the exercise, our
transport operators faced some initial difficulties. SSG Mohd Yani
explained, "The challenge was to orientate our transport operators
to the foreign environment they would be driving in. They had to
get use to the left-hand drive. They were briefed to slow down and
consult the vehicle commander if they encountered any difficulty.
Our first priority was always safety.”
Providing Medical Care
ME1 Low briefing the men on maintenance work
With their experience, expertise and a little innovation, the
Leopard technicians kept the tanks going smoothly throughout
the exercise. ME1 Low Guan Poo, a master technology trainer from
the FSG shared, “Once, one of the tank's sensors kept indicating a low
fuel level even though we had just topped it up. We investigated and
found that the float that triggers the sensor when the fuel tank is full
was jammed at the bottom of the fuel tank. With no sophisticated
instruments to extract the float on hand, we improvised and used
a twisted lock wire to fish it out.”
Great Morale-Boosting Food
CPT (DR) Sivaraj helped maintain the health of our troops in Germany
2WO Guna (left) and CFC (NS) Rafie worked as a team to
efficiently support our training troops
The E. Coli outbreak hit Germany when the exercise was in progress, presenting the medical team with an additional challenge.
Any apprehension harboured by the troops, however, was quickly
allayed by the contingency plan rolled out by the medical team and
their sound advice. CPT (DR) Sivaraj Gunasekaran, a medical officer,
shared, “We contacted and liaised with the nearest hospitals and
testing centres to draw up the contingency plan. As prevention is
Eye-Opening Experience for
NCC Cadets at Ex PS
In May, 11 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets visited Ex
PS 2011. Staying with the troops in the base camp, they
witnessed first hand our soldiers' training and the Leopard
Tanks' live-firing. This eye-opening experience provided
the cadets with awe-inspiring insight into the capabilities
of the upgraded tanks. Briefings by our Military Experts also
enhanced their knowledge and appreciation.
NCC Cadets, accompanied by their NCC Teacher Officer and
HQ NCC personnel, had the opportunity to learn more about
the Leopard Tanks and appreciate their capabilities
Cadet Officer Choo Yu He shared, “The Military Experts
were very knowledgeable and answered every question
we had on the tanks. This allowed us to understand and
appreciate the tanks' firepower which we witnessed during
the live-firing. During the demonstration of technology
and men in action, all of us were awed by the fire power
of the tanks.”
Maren found the SAF personnel a joy to serve
A hot meal for soldiers training in cold weather is always a great
morale booster. This year, a team of Singapore Food Industries
(SFI) cooks was flown in to provide a continual flow of hot meals,
including an occasional taste of home. Mr Victor Liang, a Senior
Catering Executive, revealed, “Although we worked 16 hours daily
to prepare breakfast and clean up after dinner, it was rewarding
because we sensed the soldiers' appreciation when we dished
out the hot meals to them.”
The kitchen and canteen staff at Ostenholz Camp who served and
entertained our troops during the exercise were left with positive
memories. Mary Ortlieb, a kitchen helper who worked with the SFI
team, shared, “Of all the international troops who have come to train
in this camp, the SAF personnel stand out as one of the most polite
and respectful. They are appreciative and this is heart-warming.”
Maren Schroder, the canteen operator, added, “The SAF personnel
are well-mannered and delightful. Serving them in the canteen has
been a pleasure.”
The cadets were also impressed by the excellent logistics
support provided during their stay. Cadet Captain Nesaar
enthused, “Prior to our arrival, 2WO Guna had prepared our
bunks, beddings, and ensured that the cookhouse had catered
enough food for us. He gave his best to us, as if we were his
children.”
Issue No. 190
5
Best Unit Competition
Recognising Our Best
1st Commando Battalion
25 Times Best Combat Unit
Story by Jared Yeo / Photography by Mark Ng
The Commandos have done it again this
year – topping the Best Unit Competition
(BUC) to clinch the Best Combat Unit title for
eight consecutive years and an unprecedented
25 times since the competition was first introduced in 1969. With this, the Red Berets from
1st Commando Battalion (1 CDO) continue to
cement their reputation as the cream of the
best in our Army. As the elite force and raid
specialists, they perform specialised operations,
including reconnaissance missions, airborne
assaults and raids on enemy installations.
to the conducting officers when his buddy
is unwell during training. Lastly at the battalion level, we conduct a safety work-plan
annually to keep track of our safety goals.
In addition, we conduct workplace inspections every quarter to ensure that our soldiers are operating in a safe environment.”
The Commandos also had great logistical
support. CPT Tan Peng Hwee, the unit S4,
said, “Here, we emphasise strongly on logistical excellence, as demonstrated in our
centralised accounting system to ensure
that our equipment are all accounted for.
Regular checks are also conducted on the
companies and stores to ensure proper
management of equipment.”
Commandos boarding the Chinook for their airborne jump
ing that our soldiers master the basic soldiering fundamentals such as physical fitness and marksmanship. Only when these
basics have been mastered will our soldiers
be taught the more difficult skills.”
MAJ Pang has identified the close bonds within 1 CDO as a key
success factor inspiring them to greater heights
MAJ Pang Chee Kong, Commanding Officer
1 CDO, identified his unit's camaraderie, fighting spirit, and their key values of combat
excellence and professionalism as major success factors in 1 CDO’s continued dominance
in the competition. He said, “We take pride
in being an operationally-ready and capable
unit as a result of our extensive and realistic
training. The award is a recognition and validation that our methods are working, we are
just looking at how to strive for better results.”
Although physical fitness is the bedrock
beneath the Commandos' ability to execute their many missions, it is their mental toughness that gives them the decisive
edge during operations. 1WO Kho said, “We
build up our soldiers to be confident and
self-motivated. We do this through constant
communication from the commanders. We
also engage the soldiers by explaining to
them the rationale for our training and
relating to them the benefits of the things
we do.”
With such a winning formula, it is no wonder that the Commandos have consistently
scored top marks in various criteria which
include the ATEC evaluation, marksmanship
test, IPPT and the Standard Obstacle Course.
Supporting Readiness
To score in this category, unit must excel in
training safety, logistics audit and ops control
and duty management. Considering the perilous nature of their operations, it is imperative
for the Commandos to enforce strict training
safety and this showed in their BUC results.
MAJ Ong Siong Beng, the unit S3, is in charge
of safety. He said, “While we want our soldiers
to train hard, we want them to do so safely. In 1
CDO, training safety is a priority and we have a
holistic safety system to ensure that our soldiers
are well taken care of.”
MAJ Ong explained, “We have three areas
of focus: individual safety, buddy safety and
battalion safety. For individual safety, we
conduct safety workshops where we invite
the subject matter experts to educate our soldiers on a wide variety of safety issues such as
ammunition and fire safety. For buddy safety,
every soldier is paired with a buddy. The buddies will watch over each other and sound out
The Commandos' success also reflects the
rigorous and comprehensive judging system
adopted to select the BUC winners. Each year,
winners are selected based on their results in
the three major areas of core readiness, supporting readiness and organisational excellence.
A Spirit of Brotherhood
While the various processes and systems
in 1 CDO can be quantitatively scored for
the BUC, there is one component that cannot be easily measured. This is the invisible
but strongly felt bond among the commanders and men that continues to drive
the battalion forward. 1WO Kho elaborated,
“In 1 CDO, we treat our fellow soldiers as
part of our family. The hierarchy within the
battalion remains the same, but we have a
heart for each other. For example, our officers, warrant officers, specialists and men
often train together as one.”
Jump Masters (in red) play an important role in ensuring that the jump is executed properly and safely
Other Winners of the Best Unit Competition
AwardUnit
CO 352
SCE
TAN Singapore
TECK LENG,Infantry
RAPHAEL
rd
Best
Infantry/
Guards Unit
3MAJ(NS)
Battalion,
Regiment
Best Armour Unit
48 Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment
Best Artillery Unit
24th Battalion, Singapore Artillery
Best Engineers Unit
39th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers
Best Signals Unit
1st Signals Battalion
Best Combat Service Support Unit
3rd Transport Battalion
Best Combat Support Unit
24th Battalion, Singapore Artillery
6 JULY/ vvvzbv
CPT Chai Ghen Siong, the S1, shared more
about the unit's culture of excellence that has
enabled them to score in the BUC, “We have
in place several systems to maintain and even
improve our processes. Because we place a
high emphasis on servicemen's feedback, the
men are regularly interviewed by their commanders. To provide a positive experience for
our NSFs, we instil in them the self-belief of
'We Can, We Will'. This fortitude has not only
yielded us positive results but will serve them
well for the rest of their lives. The camaraderie
experienced is life-changing and will never
be forgotten.”
Although wearing the Red Beret and
joining the Commando family is an honour every Commando trainee looks forward
to, the training is highly demanding and at
times, discouraging. CPL Thulasi Ragu Ram,
an NSF at 1 CDO, recalled, “It is very easy
to get discouraged during the training.
The wonderful thing is that there is always
someone who will talk to you and encourage you. Together, we did it."
Core Readiness
Airborne drops, helicopter landings and
coastal assault training are routine tasks for
the Commandos. While these operations
appear complex, training in 1 CDO is no
complicated rocket science. Its Regimental
Sergeant Major (RSM), 1WO William Kho,
shared, “Our training is focused on ensur-
Organisational Excellence
th
NS Units
AwardUnit
Best
NS Infantry/
Guards Units
CO 352
SCE
th
688
Battalion,
Singapore
Infantry Regiment
MAJ(NS)
TAN TECK
LENG, RAPHAEL
700th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment
th
720 Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment
724th Battalion, Singapore Guards
693rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment
Best NS Armour Unit
Best NS Artillery Unit
Best NS Engineers Unit
Best NS Signals Unit
453rd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment
282nd Battalion, Singapore Artillery
329th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers
9th Signal Battalion
31 CSSB
NSmen's Second Family
Story by Jonathan Chan / Photography by Matthew Tan
As MAJ (NS) Wee Kang Keng settles into his
plane seat for the short flight from Hong Kong
to Singapore, he welcomes the opportunity to
catch a brief but much needed rest. He is heading
home for In-Camp Training (ICT). Just a few hours
earlier, he was busy working in Principal Advisory
Services Limited (Hong Kong), Deloitte & Touche
and in a few hours' time, he will command 31st
Combat Service Support Battalion (31 CSSB) - a
duty he fulfils at least once yearly. Making the
effort to fly back at his own expense for each ICT,
MAJ (NS) Wee sets
a shining example
of dedication and
commitment for his
men to follow. As
most NSmen have to
grapple with other
competing demands
from their work and
families, dedication
and commitment is
MAJ (NS) Wee firmly believes that a critical determinant
all ICT experiences should be a
in how well an NS unit
positive one
performs. In winning the Best NS Combat Service
Support Unit Award for the 5th time running, 31
CSSB proved that it has it all.
31 CSSB's success was due in no small
part to their excellent results in the area
of core readiness. This in turn was due to
their ability to delicately balance between
the need for maintaining discipline and
giving NSmen the flexibility to fulfil their
non-NS commitments. MA J (NS) Wee
explained, “We have NSmen from all age
groups and strata of society. We recognise
that they have different needs, some have
families, some are starting families, some
are trying to build a career for themselves.
It is important that whenever possible,
we give them the flexibility to settle any
issues they may have as long as it does
not severely disrupt the unit's operations.
That way, they can contribute meaningfully with a peace of mind during their
ICT. It is our responsibility to ensure they
have a meaningful experience.”
31 CSSB personnel executing a heli-evacuation during their routine exercise
Because of this emphasis, NSmen like 1SG (NS)
Haizad Johan are engaged
and motivated to give their
best. 1SG (NS) Haizad said,
“I feel that the commanders genuinely care for our
welfare and we all understand why we are here and
what we have to do. Our
ICTs are very focused and
we work hard together
to achieve a ver y high
standard.” CPL (NS) Najib
Ahmad Bin Abdul Wahab
added, “Our commanders
are very understanding. I
had shared with my commanders that I was not
confident of doing well in
IPPT but they just encouraged me to try my best.
This motivated me to give
my best for the unit.”
As RSM, MSG (NS) Teo
Hock Ann maintains the
unit's discipline and looks
31 CSSB personnel conducting a resupply operation
out for the welfare and
safety of the men. He shared, “The RSM of being called a second family by its employan NS battalion is not an enviable appoint- ees. Many of 31 CSSB's men viewed the unit
ment. Some men view me as a cop. But dis- as their second family. MAJ (NS) Wee shared,
cipline is required in a unit even if we are “Whenever we have new intakes we make
just together for two weeks a year. To do my it a point to warmly welcome and initiate
job well, I need to lead by example and be them into our family. I believe cohesion is
flexible when the situation warrants it. Of very important to the unit's success and the
course, there are certain areas that cannot commanders regularly engage the men to
be compromised, especially safety and for ensure that they are well-integrated.” 1SG
this, all procedures must be adhered to.”
(NS) Haizad added, “In 31 CSSB, we train
hard to quickly and efficiently achieve our
31 CSSB has also shone in organisation ICT objectives so that we have more time to
excellence, another BUC assessment factor. bond and enjoy the camaraderie.”
One hallmark of an employer of choice is
24 SA Bags 6 BUC Awards
Doing the Right Things Right
Story by Jonathan Chan / Photography by Matthew Tan and 24 SA
Operating the Weapon Locating
Radar, 24 SA has distinguished
itself with its past deployment to
Afghanistan. To continue honing the
unit's proficiency, 24 SA kept a fastpaced training schedule. With its radar
surveillance capabilities, 24 SA is also
heavily involved in supporting other
units in their live-firing exercises.
NSFs in Artillery units usually experience only one live-firing during their
full-time service but for those in 24
SA, involvement in four or five such
exercises is nothing unusual.
For 24 th Battalion, Singapore Artillery
(24 SA), pride at work is about giving their
utmost best and going the extra mile to
discharge their duties with excellence.
Doing so has bagged them an unprecedented six awards in this year's Best Unit
Competition – an achievement any unit
would justifiably be proud of. The awards
included the Most Improved Unit (Artillery),
Most Improved Unit (Combat Support),
Best Artillery Unit and the prestigious Best
Combat Support Unit. They also received
the Unit Sustainment Band 1 Achievement
Award and the Unit Special Achievement
Award. These underscored 24 SA's excellent performance in the areas of combat
proficiency, technical support and human
resource management.
The unit's RSM and Master Trainer, 2WO
Yeo Hai Chay, shared, “The men in 24 SA
have a deep sense of belonging to their
unit and are a very closely-knitted family.
Whatever their roles, they carry themselves
with pride and perform their duties excellently. Though the awards are a welcomed
recognition, we did not set out to win them.
We set out to do the right things right. From
commanders down to the men, everyone
made sacrifices to achieve a standard that
all can be proud of.”
3SG Logesharan, a Recce Specialist,
shared, “We often have multiple
objectives to meet daily, including the
training of our new intakes and facilitating ICT for the NSmen. Because of
this multi-tasking, it helps that we are
all very close and can help each other
out whenever possible.”
The men of 24 SA on outfield training
Contributing to the high operational
readiness of the radars in 24 SA is the
dedication and professionalism of the
maintenance team, which includes
men like 3SG Joshua Ng, a Target
Acquisition Specialist. He elaborated,
“We regularly run the radar system for
hours to maintain it in good condition. This
may sound mundane but it is necessary to
keep our radars in tip-top condition.
The men's dedication is a result of much
nurturing by the unit commanders. As
a mentor to his men, 2WO Yeo adopts
an empathetic attitude. He explained, “I
chose to serve as a regular. As conscripts,
my men may not immediately understand
or share the joy of military service. We need
to explain the rationale and background of
what they are doing. On our part, we also
must understand where they are coming
from.” This the unit achieves through the
quarterly dialogue sessions with the NSFs
during which concerns and grievances are
aired.
LTC Chang Pin Chuan, who recently relinquished command of 24 SA, expressed his
gratitude, “Our BUC achievement would
not have been possible without the admirable effort put in by the servicemen. To
win the best unit award is one thing but to
receive another award for best improved
unit shows that the men had made additional sacrifices to push the unit forward.”
Issue No. 190
7
Our People
armynews pulse of our army
www.mindef.gov.sg/army
2WO Ivan Low
A CLASS Act
Story by Jared Yeo / Photography by Wee Lian Hong
upgrade himself. He shared, “I left school with just three ‘O’ Level
passes but the SAF has groomed me to be who I am today.” He
also revealed the motivation that propelled him to excel in his
course, “In the past, I did not do well in my studies. This time
round, I was focused and determined to excel academically. As
a warrant officer, I want to do well to demonstrate the professionalism of our servicemen. I am also determined to do well
because I want to be an inspiration to my 7-year old daughter.”
2WO Low receiving the Course Medal: Gold Medallion from Mr Bruce Poh, Director &
Chief Executive Officer of ITE
Going back to school many years after completion of formal
schooling is never easy for anyone. But for 2WO Ivan Low,
who was awarded the Continuous Learning Academic Study
Scheme (CLASS) Award in 2009, his pursuit of a Higher NITEC
in Business Studies (Sports Management) at the Institute of
Technical Education (ITE) has been a challenging but rewarding one. His persistence and hard work during the course paid
off as he received the Outstanding Graduant Award, given to
the top 1% of the student cohort. For his outstanding course
performance, he also received the Certificate of Merit and the
Course Medal: Gold Medallion. To top it all, he also scooped
the Lee Kuan Yew Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) Award for his
CCA contributions.
2WO Low, a Commando, is grateful for the opportunity to
It was not smooth sailing for 2WO Low though. As a
Commando, he is probably more at home out in the field
or jumping out of an aircraft than sitting in a classroom. He
explained, “When I first started the course, I had to adapt to
a different environment and different people. At age 37, I was
the oldest student in my class and had to juggle between
my family commitments and my studies.”
However he preserved and worked hard,
achieving a perfect Grade Point Average
of 4.0. He also forged a close relationship
with his classmates. He said, “I was like an
older brother to them, helping them with
their studies and teaching them to believe
in themselves. I always encouraged them by
telling them ‘if this old man can do it, then
you guys can do better than me’. It was a
great experience working with people nearly
half my age. I learnt a lot from their fresh perspectives.”
Back in the Army, 2WO Low looks forward
to applying his new knowledge to better
perform his job. He said, “My course has
significantly improved my knowledge in
many areas such as coaching techniques,
fitness improvement and event management. These skills will enable me to better
perform my job responsibilities and help my fellow servicemen to achieve greater physical fitness.”
2WO Low encourages his fellow servicemen to take advantage
of the opportunites for academic upgrading offered by the SAF.
He said, “All specialists and warrant officers must not be complacent and must continually seek to upgrade ourselves. My course
had given me many valuable fresh perspectives and boosted my
confidence. Though lacking a good academic background, I was
still able to excel. If I can do it, so can you!”
For more details on CLASS, please contact WOSpec Dev Br,
CPCPMC or visit the Internet website http://webhosting.intranet.
defence.gov.sg/web/Army/CPC_PMC/faq.html
2WO Low (second from left) and his teammates celebrating after their success at an endurance sports competition. During his time in ITE College East, 2WO Low founded the Endurace Sports Club to encourage students to
lead an active lifestyle. 2WO Low was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew CCA Award for his contributions
(Photo contributed by 2WO Low)
Army Happy Hour 2011
Story and Photography by Vishnu Prem
On the evening of 8 July, about 600 senior commanders from the Army attended the Army Happy Hour 2011
organised by the 2nd People's Defence Force. Besides promoting cohesion and esprit-de-corps amongst our Army's
senior officers, Military Experts (MEs), warrant officers and
Defence Executive Officers (DXOs), the event also recognised and celebrated the achievements of those in our
senior leadership who were promoted in 2011.
Held at the Leaders' Hall in Pasir Laba Camp, the event was
graced by Chief of Defence Force, LG Neo Kian Hong and Chief
of Army, MG Ravinder Singh. The guests enjoyed an eventful
evening with performances from various Army units and the
SAF Music & Drama Company.
COA (centre) and Chief Armour Officer (on COA's left), BG Benedict Lim posing with the Armour family during the Army Happy Hour
They Got The Moves: BG Perry Lim (centre), Commander 3 DIV, leading very colourful performance
8 JULY 2011
Wind Beneath My Wings: Senior commanders of our army unite in a single voice
Our NSmen
NSmen Reaffirm Commitment
Story by Jonathan Chan / Photography by Mark Ng
“Forty-six years ago, Singaporeans resolved to protect our
nation. We formed the SAF. It meant an on-going commitment
of substantial national resources as well as personal effort and
sacrifice to build a credible force that could deter potential
aggressors. This is the price we pay to secure our way of life
and future.”
Dr Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Defence
(Extracted from SAF Day Message 2011)
Green Presence in CBD
On 1 July's morning,
of f ice workers in the
Central Business District
were greeted by a spectacle of soldiers in green.
While unusual, this occurrence is easily understood
as every male citizen who
has yet to complete his
ORNS cycle is an NSman.
Turning up for work in their
No. 4 uniform on SAF Day,
they underscore their commitment to defence.
LCP (NS) Suhaimi is fully committed to the
defence of Singapore
Dr Ng delivering the SAF Day message
DLS and its partners taking the SAF pledge as one voice
The rededication ceremony held at the NTUC Centre
Auditorium was one of the many held across Singapore that
day. This particular ceremony held in CBD/South Zone was
officiated by Dr Ng and attended by 250 NSmen from 84
participating companies. LTC (NS) Danny Lien Chong Tuan,
Managing Director of Amos International (Singapore) Pte Ltd,
led them in a steadfast recitation of the SAF pledge.
MAJ (NS) Khoo Sze Boon, the executive director at DLS
revealed, “We are the largest construction cost consultancy
in Singapore and with the network we have, we are able to
cascade this Total Defence effort to our partners. At DLS, SAF
Day is a significant event where the staff, including foreigners, comes together to get to know more about the SAF and
understand why their male colleagues are sometimes absent
from the office when they are called up for ICT. At DLS, we
understand that the stability and prosperity of Singapore is
vital for our continued success. This would not be possible
without a reliable SAF.”
LCP (NS) Suhaimi Samsudin, from platoon HQ in 696th
Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, shared, “Here in the
CBD, we can observe the prosperity Singapore has achieved as
the result of national stability and security. But we cannot take
this for granted. As citizens, we must bear the responsibility of
defending our nation. If we do not defend our nation, no one
will. Putting on my uniform this morning made me reflect on
this duty and feel proud to fulfil it through NS.”
DLS – Going the Extra Mile
Some companies also took the initiative to organise their
own rededication ceremonies. One such company was
Davis Langdon & Seah Singapore Pte Ltd (DLS). A fervent
supporter of Total Defence for more than a decade, DLS is
a member of the prestigious Minister for Defence Awards
League which serves as advocates for national defence.
This year, DLS was able to rope in 60 other organisations
to join them for their ceremony.
Other Ceremonies
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister
for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran, officiated the East Zone rededication ceremony at Temasek
Polytechnic. At the ceremony, 100 NSmen from 39 participating companies renewed their pledge of allegiance and
loyalty to Singapore.
The North/ Northeast Zone rededication ceremony held
at ITE College West was officiated by Minister for Health, Mr
Gan Kim Yong. Present were 350 NSmen from 29 companies.
In the West Zone, the rededication ceremony at Mapletree
Business City was officiated by Minister for Transport and
Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Lui Tuck Yew.
NSmen taking the SAF pledge as they rededicate their loyalties to the SAF
NSmen of the Year
SAF Day also provides the perfect occasion to recognise
the contributions and sacrifices of outstanding NSmen. In the
post-parade reception, Dr Ng presented the SAF NSman of the
Year award to 15 award winners. Among them were CPL (NS)
Koh Chaik Chuan, a Mortar Operator from 652th Battalion,
Singapore Infantry Regiment and LTC (NS) Christopher Foo,
Brigade 2IC from 22nd Singapore Infantry Brigade.
CPL (NS) Koh Chaik Chuan
CPL (NS) Koh helps improve the fitness of
his unit
At taining IPP T G old
for 37-year old, CPL (NS)
Koh is a piece of cake.
However, he does not
stop at the finishing line.
On many occasions, he
turns around to pace the
slower runners, helping
them to pass their test.
This simple but encouraging act of service is a
testament to his commitment in helping his unit
to achieve its mission.
CPL (NS) Koh shared, “I
feel it is my duty to run alongside and encourage my
mates who are slower. I believe that they too want to
achieve a good timing and could certainly use some help.
You will be surprised how this simple encouragement can
spur the slower runners to stretch themselves. The sense
of togetherness makes us press on despite the fatigue.
Our mind is stronger than our body.”
CPL (NS) Koh also revealed another motivating factor
in his NS commitment. He explained, “Each time I leave
for my NS training, my young daughter cries and asks
why I have to leave. I always explain that it is my duty to
train hard so that I can defend the nation and our family.
To me, NS gives me the opportunity to
defend what I love.”
NS commitments. I must make each in-camp meaningful
for them by engendering cohesion and purpose in their
training. I must see to it that every last man on the ground
is engaged and that there is always an open channel of
communication.”
LTC (NS) Foo summed up his reflections, “To me, NS is my
way of giving back to society. National security is the foundation for our lifestyle, family and economic prosperity.”
LTC (NS) Christopher Foo
“I enjoy keeping up friendships with
my men. It is very fulfilling whenever I am
approached by one of them outside in the
shopping centre or at the bus stop. They
would say 'Hi, Sir' and tell me about their
life happenings.” shared LTC (NS) Foo. Such
touch points are testimony to LTC (NS)
Foo's ability to engage his men and build
a rapport that stretches beyond the confines of their NS training or Army camps.
As the brigade 2IC, LTC (NS) Foo believes
that to nurture a committed team, one
must first fully understand the NSmen
themselves. He shared, “Our NSmen have
a family and a job to juggle apart from their
LTC (NS) Foo receiving his award from Dr Ng
Issue No. 190
9
Features
armynews pulse of our army
www.mindef.gov.sg/army
MINDEF PRIDE Day
“30 years of PRIDE - Better, Stronger!”
Story by Jared Yeo, Photos by Mark Ng and Matthew Tan
ment ideas netted savings of almost $137 million. In line
with its theme “30 years of PRIDE - Better, Stronger!”, this
year's exhibition showcased notable projects from the past
alongside other current innovative ideas from individuals
and teams from MINDEF/SAF and Singapore Technologies
Engineering.
Integrated Sensor Manager
Dr Ng viewing the exhibits, accompanied by Commander Combat Service Support
Command (CSSCOM), COL Tan Peng Kuan
This year's MINDEF PRIDE (Productivity and Innovation in
Daily Efforts) Day was special because it marked 30 years
of the productivity and innovation movement. Besides the
MINDEF PRIDE Day Exhibition which was open to the public
from 28 to 30 June, an award presentation ceremony was
held at the National Library Building on 28 June. During
the event, Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, presented
125 awards to individuals, groups and units from MINDEF
and SAF for their outstanding and innovative contributions.
In his speech, Dr Ng reiterated the continued importance
of the PRIDE movement even after 30 years and how it
has helped to improve national productivity. He said, “The
way forward for Singapore to maintain our comparative
advantage must be productivity - and innovation-driven.
We must leverage on our human resource to more than
make up for our higher costs of other factors of production."
He added, "As the SAF continues to operationalise its 3rd
Generation capabilities, we will need to generate greater
operational capacity through efficiency and innovation."
Launched in 1981, the PRIDE movement has grown significantly. In the past year alone, innovative and work improve-
One project showcased is the Integrated Sensor Manager
for intelligence data collation by the team 'Tamon' from
the Combat Intelligence Group/ SAF Military Intelligence
Institute (CIG/SMI-Institute), which won the Best Work
Improvement Teams (WITS) project in the Technical and
Engineering category.
To meet the demands of the 3rd Generation Army, our
Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA)
troopers are equipped with multiple sensors in support of
unit operations.
with a different system, the RSTA troopers have to bring
multiple notebooks during their operations, thus carrying more weight than necessary. MSG Patrick Chan, HQ
Company Sergeant Major at CIG/SMI-Institute and member
of the WITS team, explained, “Without the sensor equipment, the basic load for each soldier in a land RSTA team
is about 25 kilogrammes. Depending on the operational
requirements, there will be situations whereby the team
will need to carry all the RSTA sensors. This is an additional
load of up to 85 kilogrammes which would have to be
shared among the team members.”
The WITS team's solution? 1SG Yang Jia Feng, a Project
and Development Specialist, elaborated, “By integrating
the different software and installing into one common sensor manager notebook, we reduced the number of notebooks required and lightened our troopers' load.”
The integrated sen sor manager also eases
operations and increases
RSTA troopers' efficiency
as 1SG Yang explained,
“It is much more efficient
to operate and toggle
between different software on one single notebook screen instead of
viewing and operating the
different sensors using
multiple screens.”
In the field, the RSTA troopers access the system of each
sensor using a notebook. Because each sensor is interfaced
Team Tamon comprising (from left): CPT Jingal Lee, 3SG Ho Chong Poh, 3SG Gerald
Goh, 1SG Yang Jia Feng, MSG Patrick Chan, 1SG Alex Shui, CPL Kong Ka Kit and
CPT Eric Lim
The integrated sensor manager requires just
one notebook to operate the complete suite
of sensors
Green Award for CSSCOM Buildings
Story and photography contributed by HQ CSSCOM
The Army underscores its commitment to adopt environmentally-friendly practices when it won the Green Mark GoldPlus
Award from the Buildings Construction Authority (BCA) earlier
this year for the completed Kranji Camp III project. This annual
award promotes excellence in the construction industry and
recognises projects that excelled in safety, quality, sustainability and user friendliness. The award-winning project comprises
15 CSSCOM buildings which include offices, accommodation,
workshops, storage areas, cookhouse, canteen, guardhouse, and
ancillary facilities along Choa Chu Kang Way.
Active and Passive Designs
The BCA was impressed by the passive and active designs
adopted. Passive design seeks to maximise users’ comfort and
health, and reduces energy consumption by taking cognisance of
the climate and site conditions. For example, windows and building
openings are oriented north and south to take full advantage of the
prevailing wind. Other means include maximising natural ventilation, ensuring buildings have minimum east/west facing, shading
on glass and overhangs.
In active design, highly
efficient and innovative
equipment in air-conditioning and lighting are
used. To reduce the need
for artificial lighting, sun
pipes “trap” light from
the roof top and through
Solar-Panels harness energy from the sun which are
a series of prisms, direct
fed back to the power-grid
them to where they are
needed. On the roof tops, Solar Photo Voltaic Cells capable of
producing 30kW of electricity, serve as supplementary power
source to reduce reliance on the usual electrical supply. Sensors
are also used to activate energy-consuming equipment only
when required.
Ventilation in Workshop
Workshop area designed to harness natural light and ventilation
During the maintenance of vehicles in the workshop, their
engines are crank started for testing. Good ventilation is required
to disperse the exhaust gases created. The workshop has openings facing north and south, resulting in good cross ventilation
with airflow averaging one metre per second in the CFD simulation. Light shelves are introduced at the high ceilings to enhance
the lumens level recorded at the working spaces.
Looking Good, Feeling Good
Sun-pipes provide 'power-less' lights by transmitting natural daylight
from the roof to illuminate the canteen below.
Save Water!
Tapping on natural resources to create bright and airy corridors
10 JULY 2011
To reduce the consumption of potable water for vehicle
washing, rain water is collected and used. Water used in the
washing of vehicles is also filtered for other uses.
The buildings in this project uses low Volatile Organic Content
(VOC) paint to reduce toxic emissions to the surroundings.
Recycled aggregate is also used to construct non-structural features of the building (e.g. link ways). Doors and carpets are also
made from recycled materials. The active use of drywall construction in place of traditional brick laden walls also contributes to
the overall green effort.
Features & Notices
Editorial Board
Army Safety Day
COL Ang Heng
COL Kenneth Liow
COL Bernard Lim
COL Simon Lim
COL Lee Ngian Sang
COL Tan Kan Whye
LTC De Silva Joe Ronesh
LTC Elsie Tjoeng
LTC Ng Chong Meng
LTC (VOL) James Suresh
CPT (NS) Terence Tan
CPT (NS) Sebastian Sim
SWO Tang Peck Oon
Mr Goh Eck Kheng
Mr Ku Kay Mok
Safety Leadership
Story by Jonathan Chan / Photography by Matthew Tan
the role of the 'middle manager' in directly implementing all our initiatives, plans, and actions on
the ground in these areas. They are the 'frontline'
ground implementers of our ops and training
requirements. Because of this direct involvement in executing the Army's core business, the
WOSpecs play a vital role in the actual implementation of safety regulations on the ground. They
are well-positioned to provide a keen“look-out”for
any potential dangers and provide sound advice
to our men on avoiding these problems.”
466 participants of various ranks and from across the SAF gathered at the Leaders' Hall in
Pasir Laba Camp to reflect on and share their safety concerns and issues
Army Safety Day, held on 12 July, reiterated the
importance of safety in a 3rd Generation Army that
will train and operate with increasing tempo and
complexity. Following the keynote address by
Chief of Army, MG Ravinder Singh, Head General
Safety Inspectorate (GSI), COL Desmond Yeo,
presented an update on the Army's safety performance and trends. The theme being “Safety
Leadership”, Sergeant Major of the Army, SWO
Tang Peck Oon, also spoke on the roles of Warrant
Officers and Specialists (WOSpecs) in promoting
safety.
Lending command's emphasis to the importance of safety and that it is everyone's responsibility, COA shared,“At this year's workplan, I said that
every officer, warrant officer, every specialist and
every soldier is a leader of himself, of his peers and
of the soldiers he serves. As leaders, our first and
foremost duty is to ensure the safety of our soldiers.”He reiterated,“It cannot be over-emphasised
that all the good effort in the Army will come to
nought if a fatal or serious incident occurs as a
result of our negligence. It will dent the confidence
of our soldiers and Singaporeans at large in the
Army, and it will undermine the deterrent effect
that is a vital part of the Army's mission.”
Zero Incidents Target
This year, our Army has set a target of zero
incidents due to negligence, underscoring the
uncompromising safety standard adopted. COA
said, “Achieving zero incidents may seem to be a
tall order, but the focus here is one of a safety attitude. More importantly, incidents must not occur
because of negligence. While most incidents are
due to individual's failure, I urge all leaders to delve
deeper and ask if there are systemic faults so that
we can as an organisation take measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.”
Safety issues in the Army have centred mainly
on heat injuries, accidental discharges of firearms
and vehicular reversing accidents. Although
heat injuries have been reduced by an impressive 90% since 1990, there is room for further
improvement. Hd GSI explained, “While the hot
and humid weather conditions are contributory
factors beyond our control, units can help to prevent heat injuries by ensuring that acclimatisation
and periodisation regimes to condition soldiers
prior to certain training activities are properly and
fully enforced.”
New Initiatives
To further raise safety awareness and practices,
Hd GSI unveiled some new developments. As
part of a Safety Education initiative, safety days
will be held regularly at various levels to raise
safety awareness of both commanders and men.
This will be complemented by the distribution
of education kits to the ground. To encourage
timely reporting on safety matters for speedy
improvement to the safety system, an Army Safety hotline will
be introduced. GSI will also partner the Army's sergeant majors
who are custodians of soldiering
fundamentals to further improve
training safety.
Emphasising the important
role played by WOSpecs, SMA
said, “Our Army's core business
is operations and training, and
inevitably, the WOSpecs play
Passing On The Baton
Editor
Staff Writers
Photographers
Graphic Designers
Tan Wee Meng
Jonathan Chan
Jared Yeo
Derrick Heng
Mark Ng
Wee Hong Shin
Matthew Tan
Goh Wei Kiat
ARMY NEWS thanks Mark Ng (left) and Derrick Heng for
their contributions and wishes them all the best in their
future endeavours!
LTC Abdul Nasir (left), CO of Supply Transport Centre
receiving the COA Safety Award on behalf of his unit
ARMY NEWS is a monthly publication of the
Singapore Army. The opinions and views in this
newsletter are those expressed by the writers and
do not reflect the official views of the Ministry
of Defence. All rights reserved. Subjected to the
provisions of the Copyright Act, 1986, no part
of this publication may in any form or by any
means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) be
reproduced or transmitted without prior written
permission from the publisher.
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Speaking on the Army's relentless efforts to
improve safety, Hd GSI continued,“In the last work
year, we did 72 Safety Management System audits
and found no major systemic issues. In other
words, unit safety management and processes
were generally in place.”
The World Cafe Concept dialogue allowed participants to share on the challenges they
faced and how the Army can better nurture a safety culture
APPOINTMENT
352C4I
SCE
CO 17
Bn
At the Army Safety Day, the COA Safety Awards
were presented to recognise units that have
maintained a high safety standard in the past
year. Nine units which won this for eight consecutive years were also recognised with the Meritorious Safety Award.
News Crew
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SMA emphasising the
WOSpecs' roles in promoting
safety in the Army
Hd GSI briefing on Army's
safety trends and initiatives
Special Supplement Quiz
5 iPod Shuffles to be won!
Participate in this month’s special quiz which is based on the Army News Special Supplement No.8 - No.10 (Signal, Combat Engineers, Commandos). Just provide the correct answers and you stand a chance to win one of the 5 iPod Shuffles that we are giving
away. You can mail or email your answers to us.
Questions
1.The Signal formation's origin can be traced to which department? ________
2. Name the system that connects the command posts and facilitate rapid exchanges of information over distances
________
3.What does the Bayonet in the Singapore Combat Engineers' insignia signifies? ________
4.The Mine Clearing Vehicle (MCV) is operated by which group of Engineers? _________
5.In which year did the Commandos relocate to Changi? ________
6.Name the course leading to the award of the coveted Special Forces tab. ________
Closing Date : 31 August 2011
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CO 736 GDS
MAJ CHUA CHAY CO 788 SIR
MAJ (NS) LAI CHEE WEE RICHARD
LTC LIM YONG LONG
CO 694 SIR
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LTC (NS) TEO CHIN TIONG
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2. SUPPRESSING
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2) MSG HO CHEE SENG
3) LCP SAMUEL LEE YONG YUAN
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Issue No. 190
11
Info Nuggets
NCC Turns 110!
Story by Jared Yeo / Photography by Mark Ng, Tay Jiun Teng and Wee Hong Shin
Nurturing, Committed and Cool. This new National Cadet Corps
(NCC)'s tag aptly summed up the new outreach thrust adopted on
the occasion of its 110th anniversary. Formerly known as the Army
Cadet Corps, NCC is a youth organisation that aims to develop
resourceful, responsible, resilient, loyal leaders and team players
through fun and challenging military-related activities. To commemorate its anniversary, a series of events were held from May
to July this year.
NCC 110 Parade
NCC 110 Charity Drive
In his address, BG (RET) Goh said, “The NCC has kept itself current and relevant to today’s youth in all it does. Our programmes
purposefully and patiently shape our cadets into strong leaders, caring citizens and committed military commanders. We
hope that through these activities, our cadets can develop their
leadership skills and self confidence as well as a greater sense of
pride as Singaporeans.”
The NCC 110 Charity Drive, launched in May, aimed to impart to
cadets the value of compassion towards the less privileged. A total
of $138,886 was raised, with the Straits Times School Pocket Money
Fund as its beneficiary.
NCC 110 Road Relay Run
Officiated by President S R Nathan, the parade was attended by
more than 1,000 NCC members including teacher officers, cadet
officers, cadets and associate members. Also present were Chief
of Army (COA), MG Ravinder Singh, Ministry of Education (MOE)
Director Education Programmes, Ms Sum Chee Wah, SAF officers
and MOE officials.
During the show segment which showcased the activities offered by NCC, cadets performed a precision rifle drill, executing
complex movements with great co-ordination and precision.
Another, the Mass Fitness Performance, demonstrated their Taekwondo skills. Following the fireworks finale, President Nathan, BG
(RET) Goh and Commandant NCC, LTC Adrian Koh, launched the
NCC 110 Commemorative Magazine.
The anniversary celebrations will continue with the opening
of the NCC Survival Village in September, a military dining-in
and the launch of the official NCC Facebook and Twitter pages
in December.
(Front row, from left) BG Tung, BG (RET) Goh and LTC Koh joining the cadets for the last
lap of the relay run around HQ NCC
The event saw more than 1,300 NCC cadets from 131 schools
participating in an island-wide relay run. Together with teachers,
cadet officers, council and associate members, they clocked an
impressive total distance of 290 kilometres. Each group of 10 ran
an average distance of 2.5 kilometres.
A Close Relationship
“The SAF has always been a big brother to NCC. We tap on the resources of the SAF to conduct our activities. We also align our core
values very closely to the SAF as we believe that leaders with strong
values and moral fibre are vital in sustaining the nation's success,”
shared LTC Koh.
This close relationship is evident in many areas of support provided by the SAF, especially the conduct of training in areas such as
basic survival training, basic airborne and diving. Besides supporting range practices, the SAF also organises visits to its camps during Camp Pinnacle, organised for Secondary 3 cadets to deepen
their military awareness and build leadership skills.
The SAF-Schools Partnership Programme has also enabled NCC
units to partner SAF units, an example is that between 6th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Battalion (6 SIR) and the NCC units from Raffles Institution and Raffles Girl's School. During their recent visit to
the Murai Urban Training Facility, the cadets saw the 6 SIR soldiers'
urban operations capabilities. Cadets also have opportunities to
observe and experience the SAF's overseas training and execises,
such as the recent Ex Panzer Strike (see story on page 5).
LTC Koh highlighted, "NCC has prepared
cadets well for NS. A significant number of
ex-NCC cadets have made it into the SAF's
leadership schools, such as the Officer Cadet
School and the Specialist Cadet School." 2SG
Kumar Ganesh, a former NCC cadet and platoon sergeant at Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) School 2, agreed, “My training in
NCC has prepared me mentally and helped
me to adapt easily to the demands and regimentation of military life.”
Starting at 0600 hours from four different locations, the route
took the participants past schools within each cluster that have
NCC units. The run ended at HQ NCC in Amoy Quee Camp in the
evening with a lively 15-minute mass aerobics exercise.
Also present were Chairman NCC Council, BG (RET) Goh Kee
Nguan and Chief of Staff – General Staff, BG Tung Yui Fai, who ran
the last leg of the relay. Praising the spirit of the cadets, BG Tung
said, “Today's event is in tandem with our national goals to develop
ruggedness and a spirit of adventure in our youths through vigorous outdoor activities. Your high spirit and sense of pride displayed
during the run speaks well of the NCC as an organisation that helps
instil discipline and foster the ideals of esprit de corps and loyalty
in her cadets."
The cadets showed their precise and synchronised movements in the Precision Drill
Squad display
(From left): BG (RET) Goh, President Nathan and LTC Koh launching the
NCC 110 Commemorative Magazine
2SG Ganesh
MSG (NCC) Jason Ong, a Secondary 4 cadet and the Unit
Sergeant Major from Fuhua Secondary School, shared enthusiastically, “After four years in NCC, I have become a more
active and confident person. At the same time, I had the opportunity to enjoy many exciting experiences including an
artillery live-firing exercise overseas.”
NTU Adventure Trail Challenge 2011
Story by Jared Yeo / Photos contributed by NTU ODAC
Participants of the NTU ATC 2011 had the rare opportunity of racing through our
Army's training grounds
River crossing was included to make the event more challenging and demanding
The NTU ATC includes various challenging activities such as abseiling
On 19 June, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Outdoor Adventure Club (ODAC) held its Adventure Trail
Challenge (ATC). A time-based, sub-urban race that aims to
promote team-building, character development and interest
in sports, the trail took participants through our Army's training grounds at Upper Thomson Road. The participants included
students and alumni of NTU, and members of the public.
The participants were appreciative of the Army's support
in allowing the use of its training grounds. Mr Bai Zheng Wai,
a former fitness specialist at the Army Fitness Centre, said, “It
helps to improve its image as an engaging Army and one that
places a premium on improving physical fitness. This is another
platform for the Army to engage NSmen like myself to maintain
our physical fitness.” 3SG Tan Kian Leong from 35th Battalion,
Singapore Combat Engineers, who participed in the race, agreed,
“Supporting events such as the ATC shows that the Army is more
than just training for operations. It is also about incalcating a
sense of adventure and an active lifestyle for all Singaporeans.”
Commandos
july 2011
armynews special supplement #10
Our Insignia
The Winged Bayonet was introduced as part of the inauguration of the HQ
School of Commando Training (SOCT) in 1981. It represents the airborne capability of the Commandos. The green background underscores its affiliation with
the Infantry while the gold ribbon and border reflect the Commandos' elite
status. The motto, "For Honour and Glory", exhorts all Commandos to succeed
in every mission they undertake for the formation and nation.
The Red Beret and Stiletto
The Stiletto and Red Beret are recognised worldwide as symbols of elite airborne troopers. They set the
Commandos apart as indefatigable warriors who are a
cut above the rest.
The Red Beret is awarded to trainees who have successfully completed their arduous qualification journey,
earning the right to be recognised as members of an
elite force. The Stiletto, with its razor sharp edges, can quickly silence the enemy
and symbolises the deadly combat efficiency of the Commandos.
VISION
To be the SAF's most highly trained operational elite.
A leading Special Force in the world
MISSION
To be at the highest state of operational readiness,
to succeed in all assigned special operations in war and
to provide the SAF with a swift, precise and
effective response to peacetime contingencies
I find no better way to introduce our
formation to you than through the riveting lines of our Commando song.
There is a place in Changi Point
- Home of the Commandos.
Commandos adopted the winged bayonet emblem
and motto, "For Honour and Glory"
Conceived in 1969 by MINDEF's senior
leadership as an elite unit, we form the
sharpest tip of the SAF's spear. More than
four decades later, the formation has
continued to live up to the daring vision
behind its genesis while staying at the
forefront of the SAF's transformations
- firmly rooted to our warrior ethos and
strong sense of community. Affectionately known as the “Changi Boys” in our
early days, the formation has grown from strength to strength over the years.
1989
Up with their Red Beret, training with pride. As a symbol, the Red
Our Glory
Our Honour
1969
1981
A special project spearheaded by the late Dr
Goh Keng Swee, then
Minister for Defence,
was launched to establish a unit for unconventional warfare. Housed
in SAFTI, the Regular
Battalion consisted of 30
hand-picked regular servicemen, commanded
by MAJ Clarence Tan
1970
Stringent recruitment processes were
implemented to professionalise the new
unit. To strengthen
its foundation, some
pioneer Commandos
were sent for
Airborne and Ranger courses in the USA
School of Commando Training (SOCT) established
HQ Commando
established
Beret provides us with a deep sense of pride. Our pride and Commando core
values of Honour, Discipline, Courage, Esprit de Corp and Daring Initiative
are manifested in everything we do - from basic field-craft to sophisticated
military free-fall manoeuvres, our comrades-in-arms never find us lacking.
1991
Silver Wings upon my chest, show them we are the best. Our
1993
SAF Parachuting Team formed. This was later renamed
and became known as "The Red Lions"
Hendon Camp, the
Commandos' spiritual
and physical home,
inaugurated
1971
Regular Battalion renamed SAF Commando Unit which
was relocated to Changi
The distinctive Red Beret was adopted as a symbol of
the Commandos' elite status
1972
SAF Commando Unit renamed First Commando
Battalion
1973
First batch of
NSF Commandos
enlisted
1974 -1978
SAF Basic Airborne Course (1974) and SAF Ranger
Course (1978) launched
1 st Commando Battalion awarded the State and
Regimental Colours by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee (1977)
Special Forces capabilities have expanded deep into the various domains of land, sea
and air. Our capabilities have also been expanded to cover operations across the entire
operational continuum. As an element of the high readiness core, Commando special
operators have served with distinction in joint operations across the globe. This year,
men of the 1st Commando Battalion have made formation history once again, winning
the Best Combat Unit for the 25th time and obtaining REDCON 1 for the ATEC evaluation.
HQ Commando Regimental
Colours presented by the
late President Ong Teng
Cheong, epitomising their
skills, strength and efficiency
1997
SAF Special Operations Force
(SOF) unveiled
2006
Commando Training Institute inaugurated to centralise
Commando and Special Forces-related training under
one HQ
Trained to fight in day and night, sharp ears and eagle eyes. We
train for mission success. We are always alert and uncompromising in our operational
readiness. We are mision oriented and are prepared to move out at a moment's notice.
We will jump from any height, without a fright. Special Forces
are a unique breed of people. Each trooper has his unique strengths
and special qualities. We dare to venture into the unknown and our
sheer will prevail against all odds. Commandos are tasked for the
most difficult operations because they will achieve mission success.
Commandos are ever strong, fight for right and not for wrong.
As the SAF elite, Commandos must and will always be ready and strong.
Our strength comes from our unity, cohesion, and our deep sense of commitment to the security of Singapore and its people. We fight for our fellow
Commandos, we fight for our fellow comrades in the Army, Airforce and
Navy. We fight for Singaporeans and we fight for the defence of our country.
We are the loyal ones, Singapore's best!
We are the elite but not elitist. Come and be part of us.
For Honour and Glory.
2009
Special Operations
Task Force (SOTF)
formed, comprising
personnel from the
three Services to provide an integrated,
modular and robust
response to evolving
security threats
ARMYNEWS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
COL Chiang Hock Woon
Chief Commando Officer
Commander Special Operations Task Force
1
I am a Soldier - A Sp
The Commando formation ha
ations since 1974 with the nota
Thunderbolt in 1991. Comma
117 and all the armed terrori
tages were rescued unharme
38 seconds.
The Commandos have come
tional warfare. To enhance th
ment, shortlisted serviceme
formation also participated as
contingents in peace-support
From Boys to Men
Operational and Indomitable
The journey begins
here. The discipline required of a
Commando fighter is
instilled from day one
in order to meet the
physical and operational standards. As 'raw
diamonds', all will be
polished to perfection
in the months ahead.
In this phase, operational duties beckon.
These include the
Battalion Proficiency
Test - a decisive factor in determining the
Best Combat Unit. The
evaluation assesses
Commandos in various
areas, including tactical
missions and operational proficiency.
Jack of All Trades
All Commandos are
cross-trained with special operational skillsets, Building Bridges of Friendship
such as Signals, Medics,
Weapons, Demolitions,
1 CDO also engages in
Snipers, Boatmen and
bilateral exercises with its
Leaders. After these intenregional Special Forces
sive training, top gradcounterparts, promotuants from the Leaders' Course are selected for Officer
ing continual training
Cadet School (OCS) while the rest continue to master
and fostering cultural
specific skills vital to the functioning of a Commando
understanding.
detachment.
The World is Our Dropzone
Given My All
Airborne operations are
the bread and butter of every
Commando. In order to proudly
don the Silver Wings, all must
execute day and night combat
equipment jumps.
Forging Stiletto
In 1st Commando Battalion (1 CDO), integration of
specialised skill-sets and Commando detachmentlevel operational training commences. Besides traversing unforgiving jungles and swamps, all prove their
mettle in completing grueling missions and a 72-km
route march. The pains of the final challenge give way to
unbridled pride as they march into the parade square in
full combat gear, carrying their assault boats. For these
men, receiving the coveted Red Beret is one of the
proudest moments in their lives.
Immersed in the camaraderie of 1 CDO, two years
have flown by unnoticed! The ORD parade, with their
friends and family members present, is a truly special
occasion that wraps up a rewarding and satisfying NSF
experience.
While everyone is glad to return to civilian life, all
are aware that there is a place in Changi where young
and capable men are ready to defend the country at a
moment's notice.
For Honour and Glory!
OPERA
pecial Forces Soldier
as undertaken many operable success of Operation
andos stormed Flight SQ
ists were killed and hosed. The Operation lasted
e a long war from convenheir professional developen from the Commando
s part of the SAF overseas
t missions.
ATIONS
We Dare to Blaze a Trail!
Deep Specialisation
Specialised training are conducted to hone
the special operators on mission-specific skills.
Commandos are trained in fields as diverse as military free-fall, advanced demolitions and combat
Inspired by the formation's esprit de corps and its diving, to equip them with the necessary skills to
leadership, some of our national servicemen have deal with a full spectrum of operations.
taken a second leap of faith by stepping forward to
serve as regular members in the Commando formation. Always vigilant and operationally ready, they
train unceasingly at home and overseas, honing
their warfighting skills and harnessing cutting- edge
equipment as force multipliers in operations. Here,
we share some interesting but little known snippets
about them.
Earning the Right to Be Called Special
Forces
Qualifying as a member of the Special Forces
requires one to complete an arduous journey in
acquiring self-mastery, unmatched professionalism
and seamless teamwork.
To maintain the Special Forces'
posture as t he sharpest tip of
the SAF's spear, the Commandos
regularly participate in military
exercises with home agencies and
renowned global Special Forces
partners
A World Class Special Forces
To a c h i e ve
their vision of
being among
the best in the
global Special
Fo rce s co m munity, these
extraordinary
men are often
sent for internationally renowned
cour s es o n sp e cial
warfare and tactics.
The calibre of our elite
operators and robustness of training are
evident in many of them who have topped
the most demanding overseas courses.
For aspiring trainees, the Joint Special Forces
Selection Test (JSFST) is a daunting challenge.
Besides possessing the physical prowess to run
and swim with combat load, mental dexterity
is vital for making the cut to the Special Forces
Qualification Course (SFQC) conducted by highly
seasoned Commando and Naval Diving Unit
(NDU) operators. The coveted Special Forces 1.75 million parachutes packed,
tab is awarded only after one has attained an Zero malfunction
exacting standard of professionalism and demonstrates an unflinching commitment to his
Ever y time the
brethren in the Special Forces community.
Commandos go airborne, they jump
with full confidence,
knowing that their
p a r a c h u te s a r e
meticulously packed.
The formation is fortunate to have a supportive and dedicated group of
Riggers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to
ensure that every jump is a safe and successful one.
Our lives are special because we have
decided that it must be so
Commandos never walk alone. The formation prides itself on the strong camaraderie that has been forged with blood, sweat and tears. People are our edge
- at work or play, we embody the Commando values of Esprit de Corps, Honour,
Courage, Discipline and Daring Initiative. This unites us and moves us forward
as one big family.
40 Years of Honour and Glory
From humble beginnings in 1969, the SAF Commandos has
steadily grown in strength, building on the success of each
preceding generation. In 2009, the formation commemorated 40 years of unflinching courage, loyalty and devotion.
Former Chief of Defence Force, LG Desmond Kuek, said in his
keynote address, "Being top, respected and elite is not a given.
To reach there and stay there requires diligence, perseverance
and vision." The past 40 years of excellence will not guarantee
the next 40 years, unless we continue to be nimble and dynamic
enough to continually change and improve to stay relevant.
The SAF Red Lions
The SAF's Red Lion Parachuting Team is the pride of the Commandos. A crowd favourite at
NDP since 1996, their fame has travelled far and wide through their successes in regional and
international competitions. "It is heartening that our servicemen have such a passion for parachute jumps beyond the expectations of their career – this reflects our culture of excellence,
which exhorts all Commandos to excel at whatever they do," said former Chief Commando
Officer, BG Lam Shiu Tong.
Join the Winning Team
A lifetime of adventures awaits!
Contact Details:
Recruitment Desk
Telephone: 6796-6728
Email: mpcdo50@starnet.gov.sg
Mailing address:
Commando Human Resource Centre
10 Old Pier Road
Singapore: 508488
More Information on the SAF Commandos can be accessed from the following website http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/ourforces/Commandos.html