Singapore Armed Forces The Singapore Armed Forces ( abbreviation : SAF , , Simplified Chinese : ; ) is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore ; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence . The SAF comprises three branches : the Singapore Army , the Republic of Singapore Air Force ( RSAF ) and the Republic of Singapore Navy ( RSN ) . The SAF protects the interests , sovereignty and territorial integrity of Singapore from external threats . The SAF relies heavily on a large pool of conscripts in the active and reserve forces . It has an active strength of around 71 , 600 personnel and is capable of mobilising over 800 , 000 reservists . History . Singapore ' s military role stems from its strategic geographical location , an asset exploited by both local settlers and foreign colonists alike . Archaeological excavations have discovered remnants of fortresses and other forms of military fortifications in pre - colonial Singapore . Sir Stamford Raffles , founder of modern Singapore , selected Singapore in 1819 to establish a new colony with the security concerns of the British in the Far East in mind against the Dutch . Thus , Singapore played an active role in British military interests for decades , particularly in the years leading up to the First and Second World War . The Singapore Armed Forces has its humble origin in the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force ( " SSVF " , formed in 1922 ) as well as Raffles Institution Army Corps formed on May 15 , 1901 , which in turn had its roots in the Singapore Volunteer Artillery ( " SVA " , formed in 1888 ) . The Motto of the " SVA " is " " In Oriente Primus " " ( ) , which is still in use today by the artillery formations of the Singapore Army . In 1915 it helped to suppress the mutiny of the Sepoys in Singapore . During World War II , the SSVF took part in the Battle of Singapore but most of its members were captured on 15 February 1942 when their positions were overrun by Japanese forces . After the end of the war , the SSVF was re - constituted in 1948 , but the SVF was absorbed into the Singapore Military Forces ( SMF , predecessor of the SAF ) following the disbandment of the SSVF in 1954 . Subsequently in 1961 , SMF was renamed to Singapore Armed Forces ( SAF ) . When Singapore achieved independence in 1965 , its military consisted of only two infantry regiments , commanded by British officers and made up of mostly non - Singaporean residents . Singapore believed that it needed a larger force , with the presence of larger neighbouring countries . To that end , Singapore secretly contacted Israel , which sent military advisers who helped Singapore set up a defence force modelled in part after the Israel Defense Forces . Tactics such as jungle warfare were studied so that the Singaporean army could fight in neighbouring countries , if need be . The army obtained tanks from Israel before neighbouring Malaysia had tanks , and became a highly effective force . On independence , Singapore had two infantry regiments commanded by British officers . This was considered too small to provide effective security to the newly established republic , so the development of the military became a priority . Britain pulled its military out of Singapore in October 1971 , leaving behind only a small amount of British , Australian and New Zealand forces as a token military presence . The last of the British soldiers left Singapore in March 1976 . The New Zealand troops were the last to leave Singapore , in 1989 . Singapore Armed Forces Day is commemorated by the SAF every 1 July with an annual parade held in the Padang . Defence policy . Deterrence and diplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of Singapore ' s military defence policy . Through the years , the military has developed extensive links with armed forces from other countries . In recent years , there has also been an increased emphasis on international peace - keeping and relief operations , notably the peace - keeping operations in East Timor and the Persian Gulf and disaster relief in the Indian Ocean earthquake - tsunami of 2004 , 2005 Nias earthquake and 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake in Central Java , Indonesia . According to military and strategic analysts , such as Tim Huxley in " Defending the Lion City " , Singapore is known to be using a forward - defence military doctrine . Press statements from Singapore ' s Ministry of Defence ( MINDEF ) describe the SAF as a deterrent force . The SAF ' s declared mission statement is to " enhance Singapore ’ s peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy , and should these fail , to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor " . Today , a career military force of 38 , 700 is supplemented by 42 , 800 men on active National Service duty . The main force actually comprises 400 , 000 or so Operationally - Ready National Servicemen ( ORNSmen ) . The SAF ' s policy towards Malays , who share religion and ethnic ties with Singapore ' s largest neighbours , Malaysia and Indonesia , has been a source of controversy over the years . Malays were virtually excluded from conscription from the beginning of the draft in 1967 until 1977 and , after the policy was eased , were assigned mainly to serve in the police and civil defence ( fire brigade ) , not active combat roles . In 1987 , Lee Hsien Loong ( then Second Minister for Defence ) stated that " If there is a conflict , if the SAF is called to defend the homeland , we do not want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may be in conflict with his religion " and in " The Roar of the Lion City " ( 2007 ) , military analyst Sean Walsh claimed that " official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret " . The Ministry of Defence contests the charge , noting that there are " Malay pilots , commandos and air defence personnel " and stating that " the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist and officer training is similar to the proportion for eligible non - Malays . " Women are exempt from National Service , but have served in both combat and non - combat roles , some as combat officers , but mostly in clerical and logistic positions in the earlier years . The range of positions available to women has been expanded gradually , but is still limited . In July 2007 , the SAF launched an exhibition highlighting the contributions of women in the armed forces . National Service . According to the Enlistment Act , conscription is mandatory for all " persons subject to [ the ] act " , defined as those who are not less than 16 years and 6 months of age and not more than 40 years of age , with some exemptions and with no specific bias to gender ( not limited to males ) . In practice however , it is only compulsory for all fit and able - bodied Singaporean men who have reached 18 years of age , and are not deferred for certain reasons , to be conscripted in military service , or Full - time National Service ( NSF ) . NS was initially three years for commissioned officer s and two years for other ranks , but it was later changed to two years and six months for soldiers with the rank of Corporal or higher , and two years for those with the rank of Lance Corporal or lower . In June 2004 , NS was shortened to two years for all Full - time National Servicemen ( NSFs ) , regardless of rank , due to changes in population demographics and manpower requirements . NSFs who obtain a silver or gold standard in the NAPFA test will serve two months less . Upon completion of their NSF stint , servicemen will be considered as having reached their Operationally - ready Date ( ORD ) and will be known as Operationally - ready National Servicemen ( NSmen ) . Most NSmen will have to go through a 10 - year cycle of military training with their assigned unit . Most NSmen are called up annually for training , courses and physical fitness tests , depending on their unit . Training . Prior to enlistment , recruits are required to attend a medical examination ( PULHHEEMS ) to determine their medical status . Following that , they will be issued a Physical Employment Status ( PES ) , which will be used a guideline to determine which vocations they are suited for . PES A and PES B Combat - fit recruits go through a nine - week Basic Military Training ( BMT ) course , held either at the Basic Military Training Centre ( BMTC ) on the offshore island of Pulau Tekong , or at the various military units that directly accept mono - intake recruits . Recruits who are considered mildly or severely obese , are required to attend a 19 week BMT course . PES C Non - combat - fit recruits undertake a nine - week modified BMT course . In BMT , all recruits attend courses on fieldcraft , basic survival skills , weapon maintenance and a field camp , participate in live firing and hand grenade throwing exercises , go through a Standard Obstacle Course ( SOC ) , and do daily physical training in preparation for the Individual Physical Proficiency Test ( IPPT ) . The best performing ones among non - mono - intake recruits in BMT are selected to become officer s or specialist s . They will be posted to the Officer Cadet School ( OCS ) or the Specialist Cadet School ( SCS ) respectively for further training . Other recruits are posted to various units or schools , where they may continue on specialised vocational training . Due to limited space within Singapore ' s territorial land and waters , some training programmes and facilities are located overseas . Military education . Initially , commissioned officers were drawn exclusively from the ranks of Singaporeans who had completed their GCE A levels or embarked on tertiary studies . While the requirements have since been relaxed , the SAF has still been criticised for " using a promotion system that is based more on education and scholarships than on proven competence " . Officers receive their initial leadership training at the tri - service OCS in the SAFTI Military Institute ( SAFTI MI ) . As they progress in their career , they may undergo further formal military education at the SAF Advanced Schools and the Singapore Command and Staff College . On the other hand , specialist s first receive leadership training at the SCS . Future platoon sergeant s and Company Sergeants Major receive further instruction at the Advanced Specialist Training Wing ( ASTW ) in SCS . Specialists undergo further education at the SAF Warrant Officer School before receiving their appointments as Warrant Officer s . OCS and SCS both have an infantry - based curriculum ; special - to - arms training for both officers and WOSPECs is conducted at various training institutes and establishments such as the SAF Medical Training Institute ( SMTI ) , Artillery Institute ( AI ) , Signals Institute ( SI ) , Engineer Training Institute ( ETI ) , Armour Training Institute ( ATI ) , Motorised Infantry Training Institute ( MITI ) , Supply & Transport Centre ( STC ) and Ordnance Engineering Training Institute ( OETI ) . Pointer is the official journal of the SAF . It is a quarterly publication distributed to all Officers and Warrant Officers , which helps with their ongoing professional education . Foreign defence relations . Singapore is part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements , whose other members include the United Kingdom , Australia , New Zealand and Malaysia . Designed to replace the former defence role of the British in Singapore and Malaysia , the arrangement obliges members to consult in the event of external threat against Malaysia and Singapore . Singapore has consistently supported a strong U . S . military presence in the Asia - Pacific region . In 1990 , the U . S . and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding ( MOU ) which allows the U . S . access to Singapore facilities at Paya Lebar Air Base and the Sembawang wharves . Under the MOU , a U . S . Navy logistics unit was established in Singapore in 1992 ; U . S . fighter aircraft deploy periodically to Singapore for exercises , and a number of U . S . military vessels visit Singapore . The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit U . S . naval vessels to berth at Changi Naval Base , which was completed in early 2001 . Singapore ' s defence resources have also been used for international humanitarian aid missions . They included United Nations peacekeeping missions in areas such as Kosovo , Kuwait and East Timor , participation in the multi - national force in Iraq , sending military equipment and personnel to assist in the humanitarian rescue and relief efforts in the United States after Hurricane Katrina , and establishing medical and dental assets for use by the Afghan people . Several of the SAF ' s top officers have thus overseas operational military experience . Legislation . Under the SAF Act the President of Singapore has the authority to raise and maintain the SAF . The President also has the power to form , disband or amalgamate units within the SAF . The Armed Forces Council ( AFC ) administers matters relating to the SAF under the SAF Act . The AFC consists of : Organisation . The Singapore Armed Forces ( SAF ) consists of the : The SAF is headed by the Chief of Defence Force ( CDF ) , a three - star General ( i . e . Lieutenant General ) by establishment and the sole and only ( active ) SAF General that can be promoted or hold three - star rank ; he is assisted by the three chiefs of the respective services ( Army , Airforce , Navy ) , who are two - star generals / admirals by establishment ( or Major - General / Rear - Admiral ) . The SAF has a Sergeant Major who is currently CWO . The CDF is supported by various staff from branches such as the Joint Operations and Planning Directorate , the Joint Manpower Department , the Joint Logistic Department , the Military Intelligence Organisation and the Foreign Military Liaison Branch . Supporting the combat role of the SAF , are other governmental organisations of the Ministry of Defence ( MINDEF ) , such as the Defence Policy Group , the Defence Management Group , the Defence Industry and System Office and the Defence Research and Technology Office . Within these groups are the Defence Science and Technology Agency ( DSTA ) , the Central Manpower Base ( CMPB ) , and the Military Security Department ( MSD ) . Domestic technology companies also play a role in building up Singapore ' s military capabilities , particularly the government - linked ST Engineering ( formerly known as Chartered Industries of Singapore ) , which designed and built some of the SAF ' s more advanced weaponry and equipment based on specific local requirements which may be expensive for foreign companies to adapt and produce . The Special Operations Task Force , comprised by the selected members of the Special Operations Force , SAF Commando Formation , Naval Diving Unit and other forces integrated under one command , is formed to combat common terrorist threats . Technology in the SAF . The SAF utilises technology as " force multiplier s " , especially in the area of C4I integration , which will enable its various units to fight in an integrated manner . The Army , Air Force and Navy are linked via advanced data - links and networks to enable coordinated attacks and support for various units and forces . Technology is an important element in the SAF ' s transformation into a 3rd Generation Fighting Force . The SAF acknowledges that technology is crucial for overcoming the limitations of Singapore ' s small population . Having consistently had one of the largest defence budgets in the Asia - Pacific region , Singapore has focused on maintaining its spending on sophisticated and superior weaponry . Research and experimentation to develop a technological edge began as early as 1971 , even though the SAF then had only rudimentary capabilities . The effort started off with a three - man team . At present , MINDEF is one of the largest employers of engineers and scientists in Singapore and the SAF continues to devote considerable resources to defence research and development ( R & D ) and experimentation – 5 % and 1 % of the defence budget , respectively . Singapore ' s education system has also produced national servicemen who can be trained to operate SAF ' s sophisticated platforms and systems . In Sep 2008 , the SAF officially opened its Murai Urban Training Facility ( MUTF ) to hone the SAF ' s networked urban operations capability . The MUTF resembles a typical town and allows the soldiers to train realistically in an urban setting . In the same month , the SAF ' s new combat uniform , as well as the Advanced Combat Man System , were also unveiled for the first time . The country also has an established military manufacturing industry is responsible for the design and development of the following military hardware :