28 Jul 2006 | OPS & TRAINING
CHANGING TIMES, CHANGING BADGES
STORY // Malcolm Tay
PHOTO // Chua Soon Lye
PHOTO // Chua Soon Lye
The Singapore Army personnel are looking a little different in their camouflage-print uniforms these days.
Thanks to a review resulting from almost four years of research, dress accessories have been added to the No. 4 or combat-dress uniform.
The SAF last reworked the No. 4 uniform more than 20 years ago, when it replaced the starched-stiff temasek green uniform with the current camouflage-print one.
The right collar now has a badge indicating the wearer's vocation, while the right sleeve displays a patch representing the wearer's unit or formation.
Above the left breast pocket is an olive-green tag with "Singapore" embroidered in black capital letters.
The existing embellishments, such as skills badges and name tags, are now woven on olive-green cloth.
More than 40,000 active Army staff are adopting these dress revisions, which have been in place since 1 Jul.
They also apply to Operationally-Ready National Servicemen. Over 250,000 of them will get their new accessories when they return to their respective units for In-Camp Training.
Not only do these additions meet operational and functional needs, they also aim to foster national pride and build greater cohesion among personnel in common units and vocations.
Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Vincent Tan, G1 Army's Head of Regimentation and Discipline, is happy with the changes.
A key member of the dress review committee, LTC Tan said: "These changes make a difference in the way soldiers feel about their unit and their vocation."
"It is not just a uniform they are wearing; they are putting on a responsibility."
The country tag, in particular, facilitates interaction with the armed forces of other countries during overseas missions. First Warrant (1WO) Kalai Selvan agrees.
Said the Weapons Staff Warrant Officer with Headquarters Guards: "With this tag, soldiers from other countries can see straightaway that we're from Singapore, so it makes it easier for us to interact with them."
Even full-time National Servicemen such as Corporal (CPL) Tan Boon Siong feel a sense of identity brought on by the uniform enhancements.
The Admin Support Assistant with the Army's General Staff unit said: "These badges show to the public that I belong to this particular unit."
"I'm proud to wear them."
New Look Army Dress
Thanks to a review resulting from almost four years of research, dress accessories have been added to the No. 4 or combat-dress uniform.
The SAF last reworked the No. 4 uniform more than 20 years ago, when it replaced the starched-stiff temasek green uniform with the current camouflage-print one.
The right collar now has a badge indicating the wearer's vocation, while the right sleeve displays a patch representing the wearer's unit or formation.
Above the left breast pocket is an olive-green tag with "Singapore" embroidered in black capital letters.
The existing embellishments, such as skills badges and name tags, are now woven on olive-green cloth.
More than 40,000 active Army staff are adopting these dress revisions, which have been in place since 1 Jul.
They also apply to Operationally-Ready National Servicemen. Over 250,000 of them will get their new accessories when they return to their respective units for In-Camp Training.
Not only do these additions meet operational and functional needs, they also aim to foster national pride and build greater cohesion among personnel in common units and vocations.
Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Vincent Tan, G1 Army's Head of Regimentation and Discipline, is happy with the changes.
A key member of the dress review committee, LTC Tan said: "These changes make a difference in the way soldiers feel about their unit and their vocation."
"It is not just a uniform they are wearing; they are putting on a responsibility."
The country tag, in particular, facilitates interaction with the armed forces of other countries during overseas missions. First Warrant (1WO) Kalai Selvan agrees.
Said the Weapons Staff Warrant Officer with Headquarters Guards: "With this tag, soldiers from other countries can see straightaway that we're from Singapore, so it makes it easier for us to interact with them."
Even full-time National Servicemen such as Corporal (CPL) Tan Boon Siong feel a sense of identity brought on by the uniform enhancements.
The Admin Support Assistant with the Army's General Staff unit said: "These badges show to the public that I belong to this particular unit."
"I'm proud to wear them."
New Look Army Dress
