CHANGING TIMES, CHANGING BADGES 2

These days, Singapore Army personnel look a little different in their camouflage-print togs. PIONEER looks at the SAF's recent review of military dress accessories.

When 1WO Kalai Selvan went on overseas missions, he often had to explain where he came from to his peers from around the globe. The latest changes to the SAF's camouflage-print uniform should put such doubts to rest.

Now, an olive-green tag with "SINGAPORE" embroidered in black letters sits above the left-breast pocket.

"With this tag," said the Weapons Staff Warrant Officer with HQ Guards, "soldiers from other countries can see straightaway that we're from Singapore, so it makes it easier for us to interact with them."

This tag and other dress accessories have been added to the No. 4 or combat-dress uniform after a four-year-long review.

On the right collar is a badge indicating the wearer's vocation, while the right sleeve has a patch representing the wearer's unit or formation. Skills badges and name tags are now woven on olive-green cloth.

The Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) badges will be woven on olive-green cloth as well. This will take place gradually, once the current stock of IPPT badges runs out.

The SAF last revised the No. 4 uniform more than 20 years ago, when it replaced the Temasek Green outfit with the current camouflage-print version.

Earlier, the Temasek Green togs had taken over the old British pattern drill uniforms during the SAF's infant years. They were perhaps best known for standing on their own when starched to a certain stiffness, as early batches of recruits will recall.

Making a comeback are some of the embellishments that adorned these old military fatigues, such as formation patches and arms badges. Active Army staff are adopting the dress amendments, which have been in place since 1 Jul.

Not only do these additions facilitate interaction with foreign armed forces, they also aim to foster national pride and build greater cohesion among personnel in common units and vocations.

G1 Army's Head of Regimentation and Discipline LTC Vincent Tan 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."

Even Full-time National Servicemen such as CPL Tan Boon Siong feel a sense of identity inspired by the uniform enhancements.

The Admin Support Assistant with the Army's General Staff said: "These badges show to the public that I belong to this particular unit. I'm proud to wear them."

Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) will get their new accessories, too, when they return to their respective units for In-Camp Training (ICT).

One NSman who has experienced this first-hand is LTA (NS) Yang Ziliang, a Platoon Commander in the 731st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (731 SIR).

Having just attended his ICT, he was "quite excited" about the changes after being issued with the new dress accessories.

Said LTA (NS) Yang: "They will help instil a sense of belonging in soldiers, as long as commanders can work hand-in-hand with their men to forge an identity that will be associated with the badges."

"Now, we get to literally wear our identity as citizen-soldiers."