27 Jun 2007 | OPS & TRAINING
NO SECRET FORMULA FOR BEST FIGHTER SQUADRON
STORY // Malcolm Tay
PHOTO // Chua Soon Lye
PHOTO // Chua Soon Lye
"There is no secret recipe to success," said Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Vincent Leong, Commanding Officer of the Air Force's 140 Squadron (140 SQN).
The squadron, home to the F-16C/D jets in Tengah Air Base, was named Best Fighter Squadron at this year's Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Best Unit Competition.
This is the 11th time that 140 SQN has won the title. It first clinched the award in 1985 and bagged the title consecutively from 1991 to 1994. It last won the award in 2006.
Set up in 1970 as Singapore's first air defence fighter squadron, it had brilliant results in detachments and exercises over the past year, earning praise from its peers in the United States and Thailand.
It also did well in Exercise Hotshot, an annual contest for gunnery and bombing held by the Air Force.
In 1974, the squadron formed the first team of Black Knights and since 1988, its F-16s have been staging flypasts at the National Day Parade.
"We believe in professionalism and in giving our personnel mutual respect and a sense of belonging," said LTC Leong.
"This, coupled with a lot of sheer hard work, is what helped us clinch the title."
What also contributed to the squadron's success was teamwork, according to Lieutenant (LTA) Peter Chew.
"Competing for the Best Fighter Squadron award is not about assessing the individual," said the pilot. "It is about assessing the squadron, so being able to work as a team is important."
LTA Chew feels that 140 SQN's close-knit culture inspires staff to take pride in their jobs.
"I feel like I'm not only part of a team but also part of a family," he added. "That makes working the extra mile, the extra hour, enjoyable."
The squadron, home to the F-16C/D jets in Tengah Air Base, was named Best Fighter Squadron at this year's Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Best Unit Competition.
This is the 11th time that 140 SQN has won the title. It first clinched the award in 1985 and bagged the title consecutively from 1991 to 1994. It last won the award in 2006.
Set up in 1970 as Singapore's first air defence fighter squadron, it had brilliant results in detachments and exercises over the past year, earning praise from its peers in the United States and Thailand.
It also did well in Exercise Hotshot, an annual contest for gunnery and bombing held by the Air Force.
In 1974, the squadron formed the first team of Black Knights and since 1988, its F-16s have been staging flypasts at the National Day Parade.
"We believe in professionalism and in giving our personnel mutual respect and a sense of belonging," said LTC Leong.
"This, coupled with a lot of sheer hard work, is what helped us clinch the title."
What also contributed to the squadron's success was teamwork, according to Lieutenant (LTA) Peter Chew.
"Competing for the Best Fighter Squadron award is not about assessing the individual," said the pilot. "It is about assessing the squadron, so being able to work as a team is important."
LTA Chew feels that 140 SQN's close-knit culture inspires staff to take pride in their jobs.
"I feel like I'm not only part of a team but also part of a family," he added. "That makes working the extra mile, the extra hour, enjoyable."
