Singapore Signals
Encyclopedia
The Signals Formation of the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF) is a combat support arm tasked with providing communication
on multiple platforms and local networking within the battlefield, as well as with supporting the SAF's third generation transformation efforts by developing the capacity for network-centric warfare
in the form of IKC2 (Integrated Knowledge-based Command and Control) and C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers) operations.
, was reformed into the Independent Brigade Signal Squadron of the Singapore Military Force (SMF). When Singapore merged
with the Federation of Malaya
in 1963, the squadron was absorbed into the Malaysian Armed Forces as the 4th Federal Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron, based at Fort Canning. During the reorganisation of the Malaysian Signals
in 1965, the squadron was renamed the 4th Malaysian Signal Squadron.
During the initial period following the separation of Singapore from Malaysian in August 1965, the 4th Malaysian Infantry Brigade continued to operate in Singapore, and the Singapore elements within the squadron (2 officers and 54 men) continued to serve in the brigade until mustered out on 28 February 1966. With separation, there was an urgent need to build up an indigenous signal corps to support the rapid growth of the armed forces of the independent Republic of Singapore, and on 1 March 1966, 1 SAF Signals Corps was formed at Beach Road Camp from the Singaporean signal contingent.
The Signals Formation was presented with the State Colours and Regimental Colours on 22 January 1977 by President Benjamin Sheares
.
(MID), located at Pearl's Hill. The C&E Department was later upgraded to a specialist staff HQ and renamed HQ C&E in August 1970 to cope with the increasing demand for the provision of essential communications in the SAF. HQ C&E would later be redesignated as HQ Signals on 1 March 1982 and HQ Signals and Command Systems in 2006.
In 1988, HQ Signals moved to its present location at Stagmont Camp.
Signal Wing on 22 July 1967 at Pasir Laba Camp. As the demand for signal officers and NCOs continued to grow, the Signal Wing was officially recognised as an independent unit in 1968 and renamed the School of Signals. In 1983, the School of Signals and the Reserve Signal Training Centre were relocated to Stagmont camp.
On 31 March 2003, the Signal Institute was formed from an amalgamation of the School of Signals, Signal Training Centre (STC) and the training branch of HQ Signals to enable an integrated approach towards doctrine, training and evaluation.
, the battalion was renamed the MINDEF Signal Battalion and later 1 Signal Battalion in October 1982.
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...
(SAF) is a combat support arm tasked with providing communication
Military communications
Historically, the first military communications had the form of sending/receiving simple signals . Respectively, the first distinctive tactics of military communications were called Signals, while units specializing in those tactics received the Signal Corps name...
on multiple platforms and local networking within the battlefield, as well as with supporting the SAF's third generation transformation efforts by developing the capacity for network-centric warfare
Network-centric warfare
Network-centric warfare, also called network-centric operations, is a military doctrine or theory of war pioneered by the United States Department of Defense in the 1990's....
in the form of IKC2 (Integrated Knowledge-based Command and Control) and C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers) operations.
History
The Singapore Armed Forces Signals Formation can trace its beginnings to 1954, when the Singapore Corps of Signals (Volunteer), established as a volunteer organisation within the framework of the Singapore Volunteer CorpsSingapore Volunteer Corps
The Singapore Volunteer Corps was a militia unit established in 1854 as the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps. The Corps underwent several reorganisations and was known by various names through its history...
, was reformed into the Independent Brigade Signal Squadron of the Singapore Military Force (SMF). When Singapore merged
Singapore in Malaysia
On 16 September 1963, which was also Lee Kuan Yew's 40th birthday, Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaya alongside Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia...
with the Federation of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
in 1963, the squadron was absorbed into the Malaysian Armed Forces as the 4th Federal Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron, based at Fort Canning. During the reorganisation of the Malaysian Signals
Rejimen Semboyan Diraja
The Rejimen Semboyan Diraja is a combat support regiment of the Malaysian Army. It has the primary responsibility of establishing and maintaining secure military communications channels for the command and tactical elements of the Malaysian Army, and is also responsible for all electronic support...
in 1965, the squadron was renamed the 4th Malaysian Signal Squadron.
During the initial period following the separation of Singapore from Malaysian in August 1965, the 4th Malaysian Infantry Brigade continued to operate in Singapore, and the Singapore elements within the squadron (2 officers and 54 men) continued to serve in the brigade until mustered out on 28 February 1966. With separation, there was an urgent need to build up an indigenous signal corps to support the rapid growth of the armed forces of the independent Republic of Singapore, and on 1 March 1966, 1 SAF Signals Corps was formed at Beach Road Camp from the Singaporean signal contingent.
The Signals Formation was presented with the State Colours and Regimental Colours on 22 January 1977 by President Benjamin Sheares
Benjamin Henry Sheares
Benjamin Henry Sheares, GCB , was the second President of Singapore.-Early life:Sheares was born the second of six children in Singapore to a Eurasian family with an English lineage. His father Edwin H. Sheares, a technical supervisor of the Public Works Department, was born in England and raised...
.
Structure
The Signals formation consists of Headquarters Signals and Command Systems, the Signal Institute, and a number of battalions, both active and reserve. Each brigade of the army has a signal company which forms part of the brigade's headquarters. The army's three combined arms divisions (3rd, 6th and 9th) are each served by a respective signal battalion.Headquarters Signals and Command Systems (HQ SIG)
In June 1966, the Communications and Electronics (C&E) Department was set up within the same year of the formation of 1 SAF Signal Corps as part of the General Staff Division of the Ministry of the Interior and DefenceMinistry 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...
(MID), located at Pearl's Hill. The C&E Department was later upgraded to a specialist staff HQ and renamed HQ C&E in August 1970 to cope with the increasing demand for the provision of essential communications in the SAF. HQ C&E would later be redesignated as HQ Signals on 1 March 1982 and HQ Signals and Command Systems in 2006.
In 1988, HQ Signals moved to its present location at Stagmont Camp.
Signal Institute (SI)
The immediate need for institutional signal training for the newly formed Singapore Armed Forces was met with the establishment of the SAFTISingapore Armed Forces Training Institute
Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute or SAFTI was where officers of the Singapore Armed Forces were trained in the past. SAFTI per se does not exist anymore...
Signal Wing on 22 July 1967 at Pasir Laba Camp. As the demand for signal officers and NCOs continued to grow, the Signal Wing was officially recognised as an independent unit in 1968 and renamed the School of Signals. In 1983, the School of Signals and the Reserve Signal Training Centre were relocated to Stagmont camp.
On 31 March 2003, the Signal Institute was formed from an amalgamation of the School of Signals, Signal Training Centre (STC) and the training branch of HQ Signals to enable an integrated approach towards doctrine, training and evaluation.
1 Signal Battalion (1SIG)
Shortly after its formation in 1966, personnel from 1 SAF Signal Corps were reconstituted as the MID Signal Battalion (renamed 1 Signal Battalion in 1982) on 6 February 1967, with Captain Winston Choo (later the Singapore Armed Forces' first Chief of Defence Force) as Commanding Officer. Its task was to provide communications to the Ministry Of Interior and Defence. Following the establishment of MINDEFMinistry 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...
, the battalion was renamed the MINDEF Signal Battalion and later 1 Signal Battalion in October 1982.