Guards (Singapore Army)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2022) |
| Guards | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the Guards Formation | |
| Active | 1 January 1975 – present |
| Country |  Singapore |
| Branch |  Singapore Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | |
| Size | 2 battalions[citation needed] |
| Part of | Singapore Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Bedok Camp II Dieppe Barracks Nee Soon Camp |
| Motto | "Ready to Strike"[4] |
| Colour | Khaki |
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| Chief Guards Officer | BG Wong Pui Chuan[5] |
| Insignia | |
| Guards Tab | .png) |
The Singapore Armed Forces Guards Formation, also referred to as Guards and Guardsmen, is the heliborne rapid deployment infantry formation of the Singapore Armed Forces, specialising in conducting air assault, expeditionary, and amphibious operations.[6]
History
[edit]The Guards formation was created on 1 January 1975 as the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB) with four officers, five specialists and a few clerks.[7][8] 7 SIB subsequently took command of the Infantry Training Depot (ITD) on 1 January 1976 and the 7th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (7 SIR) and 8th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (8 SIR) on 9 February 1976. On 1 July 1976, 7 SIB was declared operational.[7] In view of its operational role, the ITD was removed from 7 SIB, and the SAF Guards Unit (SAFGU), formed in the 1960s for guard mounting at the Istana and other public duties activities, came under the command of 7 SIB.[7][8][3]
SAFGU was renamed 1st Battalion, Singapore Guards (1 Guards) on 1 July 1977. On 1 April 1978, 8 SIR became the 2nd Battalion, Singapore Guards (2 Guards).[7] 7 SIB was designated as an brigade on 1 April 1978. On 6 April 1979, 1 Guards held a parade during which Major-General Winston Choo, Chief of General Staff, presented the soldiers with berets with new cap badge backings to denote their designation of Guards as a distinction for completing the Guards Conversion Course .[8][3]
On 31 July 1980, the soldiers of 7 SIB was reorganised into a brigade consisting of only Guardsmen. 7 SIR was renamed 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards (3 Guards).[7] The three Guards battalions received their colours on 11 June 1983. On 23 June 1989, the Guardsmen received the Guards tab, which they wear on the left sleeves of their uniforms.[8][3]
On 9 June 1994, the Guards adopted the khaki beret to replace the olive green beret, which is still used by the Infantry formation. On 11 October 1994, the Guards formally became a formation of the Singapore Army.[8] All Guards units, including 7 SIB, are now under the administration and command of HQ Guards.[3]
Operations
[edit]
Guards has been deployed to provide support in disaster relief and humanitarian aid operations, such as during the 1986 Hotel New World collapse in Singapore, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the Aceh Monitoring Mission in Timor Leste and the humanitarian aid mission in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2013.[3]
Organisation
[edit]| Name | Brigade | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Battalion, Singapore Guards (1 GDS)[9] | 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade | Dieppe Barracks |
| 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards (3 GDS)[9] | 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade | Bedok Camp |
| Name | Division | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade | 21st Division (21 DIV) | Bedok Camp |
Training
[edit]Enlistees undergo nine weeks of advanced infantry training while specialists and officers undergo four weeks of Guards Conversion Course (GCC) to qualify being a Guardsman.[3][10]
Guards specialise in air assault and are trained for heliborne insertions into combat zones. They can do this either by rapid disembarkation while the helicopter is landing, or by rappelling from a hovering helicopter, or fast-roping straight onto rooftops.[6] As landing zones may be hostile, Guards train in various forms of combat rappelling.[11]
This may involve rappelling head-first as they are also trained for exigencies. If, due to an injury they are unable to brace themselves against a cliff face, they may be required to rappel unconventionally, with their backs facing the cliff, or with a stretcher.[11] Other methods include Australian rappelling.[12]
Equipment
[edit]
| Equipment | Image | Origin | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAR 21 | .png) |
Singapore |
[13] | |
| Colt IAR6940E-SG |  |
 United States |
Replaced Ultimax 100 Used by designated section light machine gunner | [13] |
| KAC M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System |  |
United States |
Used as Designated Marksman Rifle | |
| FN MAG |  |
 Belgium |
General Purpose Machine Gun Mounted on Light Strike Vehicle Mark II | [13] |
| M203 grenade launcher |  |
United States |
Attached to SAR 21 used by designated Section Grenadier | [13] |
| MATADOR |  |
Singapore Israel Germany |
Squad Anti Armour / Anti Bunker weapon | |
| Spike |  |
Israel |
Mounted on Light Strike Vehicle Mark II |
|
| Spider Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) Mark II |  |
Singapore |
Used by the Light Strike Company | [3][14][15] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "FIBUA". Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
- ^ "FOFO". Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Guards". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). 6 July 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ "The Singapore Army – Guards – Motto/Insignia". Mindef.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ "Army Organisation Structure". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). 5 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ a b "The Singapore Army – Guards". Mindef.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "History of Guards". Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
- ^ a b c d e "The Singapore Army – Guards – History". Totaldefence.sg. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ a b YG from SG (8 June 2022). Singapore Marines Explained. Retrieved 20 March 2026 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Guards" (PDF). p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Rappelling and Roping". Archived from the original on 29 December 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2007.
- ^ Foo-Tan, Germaine (19 April 2006). "1980 – Singapore Guards – Elite Warriors of the SAF". mindef.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Weapons in the Guards Formation". Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
- ^ "The Light Strike Vehicle". Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
- ^ "The Singapore Army – Guards – Equipment". Mindef.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
