Singapore Army

Two infantry regiments formed the nucleus of the Singapore Army. These were established pre-independence, in anticipation of self-rule following British decolonisation. The First Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR) was formed in 1957, under British auspices. The Second Singapore Infantry Regiment (2 SIR) followed in 1963. After a fraught merger with the Federation of Malaya and subsequent separation in 1965, newly independent Singapore formally established its army by passing the Singapore Army Bill in December 1965.[4]

In 1972, Parliament passed further legislation (the Singapore Armed Forces Act) to reorganise and consolidate the armed forces' disparate commands and administrative functions.[5][6]

The Army celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2017.

Military Deployments

• 1991 Gulf War - Singapore joined other countries as part of the coalition that expelled the Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
• May 2007 – June 2013, International Security Assistance Force. Deployment of close to 500 personnel including Singapore Army soldiers as part of Singapore's contributions to multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.[7]
• 2014–present, Military intervention against ISIL. Logistical support of coalition forces in the ongoing War on Terror.[8]

The stated mission of the Singapore Armed Forces is to deter armed aggression, and to secure a swift and decisive victory should deterrence fail. The Army is also tasked with conducting peace-time operations to further Singapore's national interests and foreign policy. These range from disaster relief to peacekeeping, hostage-rescue and other contingencies.[9]

The Army views technology as a force-multiplier and a means to sustain combat power given Singapore's population constraints. Jointness across three branches of the SAF is integral to the Army's warfighting doctrine. Joint operations undertaken with the Navy and Air Force include amphibious landings and critical disaster relief operations in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

The Army has a technically proficient, relatively well-educated draftee pool and officer corps (non-commissioned and commissioned) reflective of the population at large, and has sought to leverage this to ease its transition into a more sophisticated, networked fighting force.[10]

Combat readiness is a linchpin of Army policy, and military exercises up to divisional level are conducted many times yearly, simulating full-spectrum operations, up to and including full-scale war. Divisional war games are a combined arms, tri-service affair involving the Republic of Singapore Navy and Air Force. Because training space is limited in Singapore—artillery fire would quickly traverse the island—some military exercises are conducted overseas. Reservists periodically [11] train abroad, their units regularly evaluated for combat readiness.[10] The Army also trains bilaterally with some host nations, and military exchanges are frequent. Training is billed as "tough, realistic and safe," with a premium on safety, given the sensitivity of military deaths in a largely conscript army.[9]

Following the Revolution in Military Affairs, and in tandem with modernizing its weapons systems, the Army is forging a transition to a more network-centric fighting doctrine that better integrates the Air Force and Navy.[12]

Singapore Army

Components Organisation History and Traditions Military history of Singapore Equipment Weapons of the Singapore Army Personnel Singapore Armed Forces ranks

3rd and PDF
Divisions

6th and 21st
Divisions

9th and 25th
Divisions

Singapore Army – major combat units

The Army is headed by the Chief of Army (COA).[13] In the past, the Army was head by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff (Army). Assisting him are the Chief of Staff, General Staff[14] and Commander, TRADOC (Army Training and Doctrine Command).[15] There are six branches of the General Staff (G1-G6), a National Service Affairs Department (G8) dealing with National Service issues, and an Inspectorate. The six branches handle manpower (G1), intelligence (G2), operations (G3), logistics (G4), planning (G5) and training (G6) respectively. Each department is headed by an Assistant Chief of the General Staff (ACGS). Also advising the Chief of Army are the Senior Specialist Staff Officers (SSSOs) of the various formations (Infantry, Guards, Armour, Commandos, Artillery, Combat Engineers, Maintenance & Engineering, Transport, Supply and Signals).[16][17]

• 
  Another photo of Singapore Army's Leopard 2A4 at the Singapore Airshow 2008.
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  AMX-10PAC 90 with the 90mm main gun
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  SM-1 Launched Bridge (SLB)
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  M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV)
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  FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor (CET)
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  The Vehicle Launched Bridge
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  The Bionix Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
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  The Bionix Launched Bridge (BLB)
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  The 105mm Giat LG-1 howitzer at the SAF Open House
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  FH-2000 in towing configuration
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  Open breech of FH-2000 as seen from loader position
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  The SLWH Pegasus at the Singapore Airshow 2008
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  The 155mm/39calibre Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 (SSPH 1)
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  SPIKE ATGM complete with mock-up missile
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  The MATADOR (Man-portable Anti-Tank, Anti-DOoR)
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  The new CIS-50 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun

• Singapore Armed Forces
• Republic of Singapore Air Force
• Republic of Singapore Navy
• Singapore Special Operations Force
• Singapore Armed Forces ranks

Notes

Bibliography

Further reading

• 'Singapore's Army: boosting capabilities,' Jane's Intelligence Review, April 1996

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Singapore Army.

• Official website
• Singapore Army Official Ranks Website
• Ranks and Paramilitary Ranks of Singapore, accessed 23 October 2006.
• Singapore Infantry Regiment pictures and info