DEVELOPING THE "PEOPLE" EDGE OF THE 3RD GENERATION ARMY

The Leopard MBT. The Terrex ICV. The HIMARS. The ACMS. The BMS.

These terms and acronyms might seem unfamiliar to most people, but with good reason. They are some of the latest technological additions to the arsenal of the Singapore Army, providing greater mobility, fire-power, protection and precision to the soldiers in the field.

Armed with formidable new platforms that are interconnected with the rest of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) via advanced networking technologies, the modern Army of today packs a powerful punch.

The heart of Singapore's defence, however, does not lie in sophisticated hardware and state-of-the-art equipment. It is the "indomitable spirit" of the men and women behind these machines. Would a soldier lay down his life to fight for his country even if he only has a bamboo spear as a weapon?

Speaking to the media during an interview on 31 Aug before the opening of Army Open House 2009, Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Neo Kian Hong shared that to him, one of the most important issue "boils down to the hearts and minds of our people".

"As I reflect on these past two years, I think it's clear that our Army is a very capable one. We are able to run missions very well and successfully, whether it's locally in island defence or overseas in places like Afghanistan. And we are also able to build capabilities and bring them in very systematically," he said.

"You can have a lot of solid equipment, but are you willing to fight for your country? Are you willing to serve your nation? That is the key idea."

"In the end, we must make sure that our people are committed," MG Neo added.

The nation's defence does not solely rely on the individual efforts of servicemen, but also their families, organisations, as well as society at large. Emphasising the importance of holistic support on these four levels, MG Neo added that the Army has strengthened its engagement efforts to develop the collective commitment and confidence of the Singaporean community.

For example, long gone are the days where the Army is seen as "some black box where sons go in for their Basic Military Training and parents not really knowing what their sons will be undergoing as soldiers," he noted.

Not only has the Army opened its doors for parents to send their sons off during enlistment day, they are invited into camps to see what the living conditions are like and encouraged to ask questions to clear up any doubts about BMT and National Service. Commanders also participate in home visitation programmes, talking to families - especially new citizens or Permanent Residents - about the kind of training that enlistees will be facing.

Elaborating on how the Army capitalises on the increasingly educated and tech-savvy servicemen, MG Neo said that soldiers are now going beyond
"set drills and routines".

These days, they undergo "problem-based learning", where they are given a certain problem or scenario, and asked to think of their own ways and ideas to overcome the challenge and outwit the enemy.

"It is this cunning and innovativeness that we are trying to train in our people," said MG Neo.

The "thinking soldiers" of today are also more comfortable with technology and able to intuitively pick up related skills and knowledge. To that end, advanced training simulators like the Infantry Gunnery and Tactical Simulator are also used to complement field exercises, ensuring that soldiers are trained more efficiently and effectively.

As the Army moves forward in its transformation, with plans for one Division to be fully equipped and "3rd Generation-ready" by 2011, it is clear that the development of its people will be equally if not more important, as keeping abreast of the constantly evolving security landscape and technological advances.