AIR LOGISTICS ORGANISATION RENAMED, NEW AIR FORCE ENGINEER BADGE LAUNCHED

To better reflect its core expertise in both engineering and logistics, the Air Logistics Organisation (ALO) has been renamed the Air Engineering & Logistics Organisation.

Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Ng Chee Meng officiated at the ceremony held at the Air Force Training Command on 19 Oct. He also launched the new Air Force Engineer (AFE) vocation badge, which will replace the current ALO brevet.

In his speech, MG Ng noted the crucial role the ALO has played in providing engineering and maintenance support for the technically complex aircraft and weapon systems operated by the RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force).

The new AFE badge, which sports a "winged" design, symbolises the important role the engineers play in enabling and sustaining air warfare, he added. It also reflects the need for AFEs to be mission-focused and adopt an operational mindset as they perform their daily tasks.

MG Ng's message was not lost on Military Expert (ME) 7 Leow Meng Fai, one of the new AFE badge recipients. He felt that the new badge will strengthen the RSAF identity among the AFE community, who were previously split into different vocations such as technicians and engineering officers but are now brought together under one common vocation.

The Deputy Head of Air Engineering and Logistics Department (Systems) added: "As part of the third-generation RSAF, we have identified a few new key areas to better deliver our support for the RSAF, such as in new engineering competencies like systems, maintenance and software engineering... (so it's only appropriate that we re-brand ourselves)."

ME3 (NS) Mahesh, who also received the new badge, said: "I feel proud that even NSmen (Operationally-Ready National Servicemen) like me are (being) recognised as part of this key milestone of the new-generation AFEs."