Singapore Armed Forces ranks The Singapore Armed Forces ( SAF ) has two rank structures . One rank is structured similar to other military hierarchies in other countries . One major difference is that the SAF uses a unified rank structure , with identical rank names and insignia throughout the Army , Navy , and Air Force . For example , traditional navy ranks such as ensign and commander have been replaced with army - style ranks . Only two exceptions exist to the unified rank structure . Firstly , among the flag officer ranks , the navy retains the admiral ranks . The second exception is for the rank insignia for private and private first class in the Air Force , Army and Navy . This structure is subdivided for officer s , warrant officer s , specialist s , and enlistees . The other structure is for the Military Domain Experts Scheme ( MDES ) , which comprises eight ranks ( Military Expert 1 – Military Expert 8 ) . Personnel under this scheme are collectively known as military experts . Comparisons . Unlike most Commonwealth countries , the armed forces of Singapore no longer use British - style rank insignia nor many British rank titles . Company officers are represented by bars , field officers by coats - of - arms and flag and general officers are represented by stars , similar to the systems of the Taiwan , South Korea , and Indonesia for example . American influence is obvious in relation to the existence of two rear - admiral ranks . The SAF rank structure is largely similar to that of the Singapore Civil Defence Force up to the rank of colonel . Officer corps . Potential officers in the SAF are selected at Basic Military Training Centre and Specialist Cadet School . They are sent to Officer Cadet School to train , and are commissioned on graduation . Specialists may attend Officer Cadet School on recommendation as well . Even officers sent to train at friendly service academies complete the majority of the officer cadet course and are commissioned prior . As a result , the SAFTI Military Institute is considered the spiritual home of the officer corps . Graduating from junior colleges or polytechnics is a prerequisite to be selected for OCS . Career officers with GCE Advanced Level qualifications are expected to obtain further studies in university ; many scholarships are given for university education at local or foreign universities . The role of officers in the SAF mirrors that of most western militaries . Officers are generalists who exercise leadership and command . They are assisted by the specialists who provide technical expertise , train and discipline enlistees , and serve as the institutional memory of the SAF . Several of the SAF ' s top officers have had operational military experience overseas . Military scholarship . As with many military organisations , the SAF aims to build up a network of military personnel that are equipped with knowledge of various fields . Military scholarships and study awards are given to regulars to broaden their horizons and enhance their learning capabilities . The Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship ( SAFOS ) is given to outstanding officers with excellent academic results , co - curricular activities and Officer Cadet School performance . These scholars have a different tour of duty from the rest of the officers as they are exposed to a broader range of military tactics and the various ministries in Singapore . SAF overseas scholars are groomed for the highest levels of command and management in the SAF and beyond . Specialists . Potential specialists are selected at Basic Military Training Centre and are trained at Specialist Cadet School ( SCS ) . As of 22 December 2008 , all specialist trainees are given the rank of specialist cadet ( SCT ) . This rank is worn until they pass out from SCS , after which the trainees are promoted to the rank of third sergeant . The requirements for selection are similar to that of officers - graduation with either GCE Advanced Level or polytechnic diploma qualifications . The majority of soldiers who are selected to train to be specialists by this route remain national servicemen and usually do not decide to sign - on as regulars . This is most likely due to the better career prospects available outside the military to people with such educational qualifications . The primary source of regular specialists is from institutes of technical education ( ITE ) and polytechnics , through various schemes which provide study grants . This scheme replaces the now - defunct SAF Education Centre , whose role was to give boys aged 14 – 17 who were not academically inclined , a career in the military . Role . The specialist corps forms the backbone of the Singapore Army ' s operations as specialists are often referred to as subject matter experts . They are specifically trained in a variety of weaponry and / or equipment as well as perform other duties such as administration and / or handle discipline issues ( hence the term " specialist " ) . The specialist , though the lowest in rank in the command hierarchy , is essential in the running and efficient execution of military exercises or training by being the link between the officers and enlistees by providing a dual link of feedback from the top superiors to the lower enlistees . They are welfare managers as well as authoritative figures that execute the commands of their superiors in lieu of them . Further training . The SCS also regularly conducts advanced courses like the platoon sergeants ' course and company sergeant major course , in which regular , operationally ready national servicemen and full time national servicemen who have exhibited and showcased outstanding military performance on / off the field , are selected to train to take up more responsibilities . Hence , it is not surprising to find a full time national serviceman company sergeant major in the Singapore Army . More importantly , it is a way to ensure continual NCO leadership in reserve national service battalions by providing for , capable and well - trained specialists to take up the roles which are often given only to regular servicemen in active battalions . Warrant officers . Regular specialists who have completed relevant career advancement tours will be offered a chance to progress further in their careers as warrant officers . As of 1 April 2010 , outstanding specialists can attain the rank of third warrant officer as soon as six years into service . Operationally ready national servicemen who have also exhibited excellent track records as well as excellent military performance can also be considered for conversion to be warrant officers . Third warrant officers train at Singapore Armed Forces Warrant Officer School ( SAFWOS ) and attend the joint warrant officer course to be promoted to the rank of second warrant officer . Warrant officers serve as mentors as well as disciplinarians in many training institutes as well as active battalion units . They are usually referred to as " Encik " , which means " Mister " in the Malay language , with reference to their seniority as well as experience and knowledge . Otherwise , they are referred to by juniors as " Sir " . The warrant officers ' creed details the roles and responsibilities of the warrant officer as a commander and as a leader of men under his charge . Military Domain Experts Scheme ranks . The Military Domain Experts Scheme consists of eight ranks . The scheme was introduced in April 2010 to develop talented and capable uniformed personnel with deep specialisation in specific military competencies . These ranks do not have names , but are instead indicated as ME " X " , with " X " being a digit from 1 to 8 . The eight - rank structure is further divided into at least two pay grades . The ranks of ME3 , ME4 , ME6 , ME7 have three pay grades . Pay grades are indicated in the format ME " X " - " Y " ( for example , ME3 - 2 ) . Usually , only the main rank ( example , ME3 ) is indicated on any correspondence unless the pay grade is required to be known . Servicemen under this scheme are known as military experts . The Military Domain Experts Scheme rank structure is an enhancement to existing officers ' and warrant officers ' career schemes . This is a contiguous rank structure , with continual advancements from ME1 to senior ME ranks for outstanding performers . Being the leadership and deep expertise nucleus of military experts , ME4 and above MEs will be appointed as senior military expertss . ME7 and ME8 will hold pinnacle appointments , commensurate with the attainment of deeper expertise and greater leadership responsibilities . Personnel who have transferred to become military experts will be converted to the ME ranks based on their previous , more traditional SAF ranks . The below shows the ME ranks those who converted will hold : The ranks of third warrant officer and senior lieutenant colonel did not exist prior to the implementation of MDES . They were introduced into the SAF rank structure together with the implementation of MDES in April 2010 . The rank of chief warrant officer was introduced into the warrant officers rank structure in July 2012 . Rank system . The Singapore Armed Forces rank system , with the exception of the MDES structure , uses the same rank name for all three services until the rank of colonel ( inclusive ) . Currently , the official table of ranks stops at three stars . For the camouflage number 4 uniform , all rank insignia are worn on the chest straps . For other dress ( numbers 1 through 3 & 5 ) , the rank insignia are worn on the shoulder boards for officers , warrant officers and military experts , and on the sleeves for specialists and enlistees . For specialised uniforms such as coveralls and flight suits ( number 4C ) , ranks of officers , warrant officers and military experts are sewn on both shoulders , and on the right sleeves for specialists and enlistees . The old camouflage pattern uniform had officers ' and warrant officers ' ranks on the shoulder epaulettes , and on the sleeves for specialists and enlistees . To assist in the comparison of ranks in the military forces of different countries , established NATO rank codes are used . Enlistees . The situation for enlistees is more complicated . Recruits of all services do not wear any rank insignia . Only Army privates who are awarded the private first class rank wear the single chevron , which is awarded to active enlistees or operationally ready national servicemen . Privates , like recruits , would not have any rank insignia . The rank of corporal first class is awarded to corporal s in the top 30 % of their cohort who have held the rank for at least six months . Military experts . Each rank consists of two parts , the first being a prefix based on the rank ' s seniority , and the second being the vocation name ( e . g . engineer , intelligence specialist ) . An example would be " assistant engineer " . Exceptions are the rank of ME3 and ME4 , which has no prefix and is addressed simply by the vocation name . The title of a personnel with the vocation of engineer , based on his MDES rank , would be thus :