NEW CHIEF FOR GUARDS FORMATION

"...Always ready, ready to strike!"

The Guards creed rang loud and clear at the parade square on a Friday evening, as hundreds of guardsmen recited it with gusto at the Chief Guards Officer (CGO) Change of Command Parade.

Held at Bedok Camp 2 on 16 Mar, the parade saw CGO Colonel (COL) Nelson Yau handing over command of the Guards formation to COL Desmond Tan.

During COL Yau's tenure as CGO, the formation sharpened its operational capabilities through major exercises such as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Readiness Exercise, the inaugural ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Table-Top Exercise and Exercise Thunder Warrior, as well as local and overseas operations.

In his farewell speech, COL Yau expressed appreciation to his superiors and colleagues for their support, and thanked them for being an inspiration to him.

To the guardsmen, he said: "Never forget our history and heritage as the elite force...continue to be proud of who we are and what we're made of."

As the Guards formation is organising National Day Parade (NDP) 2012, COL Tan will also be in charge of this year's parade as the chairman of the executive committee.

His involvement in NDP is not new, as he chaired the NDP Show committee in 2009 when he was Commander 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (3 SIB).

He told cyberpioneer: "I am honoured to lead the Guards formation and to join this close-knit family. I look forward to contributing to the Guards formation and to NDP this year."

Prior to his appointment as CGO, COL Tan was Director Public Affairs at the Ministry of Defence. Enlisted into the SAF in 1988, he has held appointments which include Branch Head in G1-Army and Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR). Under his leadership, 1 SIR won the Best Infantry Unit award in 2005.

From November 2009 to June 2010, COL Tan also led a five-man National Command Element that was sent to Afghanistan for the first time to provide command and control over Singapore Armed Forces troops deployed there.

Outgoing CGO COL Yau was enlisted in 1986, and has held appointments such as Head National Service Affairs Department, Head Operations, General Staff Branch in Headquarters Guards and Commander 7 SIB.

With more than 300 guests in attendance, the parade was witnessed by Chief of Army Major-General Ravinder Singh and senior Singapore Armed Forces officers.