Singapore Armed Forces Parachute Team
Encyclopedia
The Singapore Armed Forces
Parachute
Team (SAFPT) is best known for its free fall displays at the annual National Day Parade
held in Singapore
since its first appearance in 1989 as a formalised team, as opposed to sporadic displays since the 1970s by members of the Singapore Commandos Formation and recently, the first member from the Naval Diving Unit
. With the main tasks of putting up display jumps and to represent the SAF in competitions, the team adopted the name Red Lions as part of its team identity in 1996.
as they are the only formations which are operationally-trained in military freefall. Training is usually conducted on weekends to avoid affecting operational responsibilities during the work week, as all freefallers are full-time servicemen.
The central nucleus support the display teams's logistical and administrative needs, and plan and co-ordinate their training programme. As such, most of them are Parachute Jump Instructors from the Parachute Training Wing
.
The SAF's Red Lions Parachuting Team from the Commando Formation and Naval Diving Unit
beat 16 teams from 11 countries to clinch the top award in the 12th Asiania Four-way Formation Skydiving Championship, held from 29 October to 7 November at Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. The team, from the Commando Formation, also achieved the 1st Runner's up position behind a team from Russia, in the 1st Fujairah International Open Category Four-way Formation Skydiving Championships 2008. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/army_news/News_Archive/2008/Nov2008/redlionsinuae.html
by Master Sergeant
Chua Koon San raised concerns and speculation that the freefall performances may be cancelled. The Ministry of Defence
however issued a reassurance that the show would carry on.
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces 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 and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
Parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
Team (SAFPT) is best known for its free fall displays at the annual National Day Parade
National Day Parade
The Singapore National Day Parade is a national ceremony in Singapore that, as its name implies, includes a parade on Singapore's National Day on August 9, in commemoration of Singapore's independence that is usually held at the Padang , the National Stadium, various decentalized venues all over...
held in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
since its first appearance in 1989 as a formalised team, as opposed to sporadic displays since the 1970s by members of the Singapore Commandos Formation and recently, the first member from the Naval Diving Unit
Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)
The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare.-Recruitment:...
. With the main tasks of putting up display jumps and to represent the SAF in competitions, the team adopted the name Red Lions as part of its team identity in 1996.
Organisation
The SAFPT comprises two entities, namely the display jumpers themselves, and the "central nucleus". Basic qualification for a display jumper is a minimum of 180 jumps, with its members drawn only from amongst the Commandos and the Naval Diving UnitNaval Diving Unit (Singapore)
The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare.-Recruitment:...
as they are the only formations which are operationally-trained in military freefall. Training is usually conducted on weekends to avoid affecting operational responsibilities during the work week, as all freefallers are full-time servicemen.
The central nucleus support the display teams's logistical and administrative needs, and plan and co-ordinate their training programme. As such, most of them are Parachute Jump Instructors from the Parachute Training Wing
Parachute Training Wing
The Parachute Training Wing is one of two training wings in the School of Commandos of the Singapore Armed Forces in Singapore specialising in airborne courses for the Commando Formation...
.
Competitions
As representing the SAF is part of the team's two main responsibilities, the SAFPT has participated and clinched awards in various competitions such as the Malaysia Prime Minister Challenge Trophy for Accuracy and the Australian Defence Force Parachuting Championship for Accuracy.The SAF's Red Lions Parachuting Team from the Commando Formation and Naval Diving Unit
Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)
The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare.-Recruitment:...
beat 16 teams from 11 countries to clinch the top award in the 12th Asiania Four-way Formation Skydiving Championship, held from 29 October to 7 November at Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. The team, from the Commando Formation, also achieved the 1st Runner's up position behind a team from Russia, in the 1st Fujairah International Open Category Four-way Formation Skydiving Championships 2008. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/army/army_news/News_Archive/2008/Nov2008/redlionsinuae.html
Safety
Attention paid towards training safety has resulted in few incidents affecting team members, although a bad fall during a full-dress rehearsal for the National Day Parade, 2005National Day Parade, 2005
The National Day Parade, 2005 was a national ceremony in Singapore on August 9, 2005 to commemorate Singapore's 40 years of independence....
by Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
Chua Koon San raised concerns and speculation that the freefall performances may be cancelled. The Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
however issued a reassurance that the show would carry on.