SAF READY TO DEFEND S'PORE: MG ONG

If a Paris-style attack happens in Singapore and multiple sites are targeted, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) must be ready to respond.

Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Melvyn Ong emphasised this point at a media interview on 29 Jun, ahead of SAF Day on 1 Jul.

Tackling terror on multiple fronts
To counter such attacks, the SAF has introduced the Army Deployment Force (ADF), a high-readiness force that will work together with the Special Operations Task Force (SOTF), Island Defence Task Force (IDTF) and Home Team agencies, in an expanded range of tasks. The ADF will be inaugurated on 12 Jul.

In the event of a terrorist attack, the SAF will be activated in three areas - the inner ring, cordon and confidence patrols, said MG Ong.

While the SOTF will form the inner ring to take on the terrorists, the ADF will form a cordon around the affected area, setting up check points and identifying entry and exit points. They must also be prepared to engage in direct action with the terrorists.

A day or two after the attacks, Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) will be activated to conduct patrols across Singapore to maintain homeland security and restore public confidence.

"The NSF today has been trained in urban operations, so we are building on that (by adding) skills like civil-military relations (and emphasising) rules of engagement and judgmental firing," said MG Ong.

To prepare the servicemen for such processes, the SAF will be setting up the Island Defence Training Institute (IDTI), a centre that will provide peacetime contingency training for NSFs and NSmen.

The training syllabus includes lessons on how to cordon a building, making sure that the cordon is secure, and how to patrol a certain area. These will be slowly introduced into the NS training curriculum to enable NSFs and NSmen to take on a wider range of security tasks.

While the SAF is stepping up security measures, it will also have to work seamlessly with the Home Team, which is the leading agency when it comes to counter-terrorism.

MG Ong added that during last year's National Day Parade, a joint command centre was set up for the Singapore Police Force (SPF), IDTF and the SAF. This facilitated clearer and faster communication, and it gave all parties a more comprehensive situational picture.

"If need be, some of us will need to sit in the same location so that we can quickly exchange views during a time-sensitive scenario. If something happens, we (will) know who is there, and which is a better force to send there," said MG Ong.

Building a stronger fighting force
In view of the impending manpower crunch in Singapore, the Army is looking to redesign itself to become a leaner, more mobile and capable force.

One solution is to leverage a manned-unmanned teaming. For example, instead of just having boots on the ground patrolling SAF camps, remote cameras fitted around the area give soldiers at the guard posts a sense of what is happening. Autonomous vehicles for ground patrols are also in the works, noted MG Ong.

The Army is also looking into redesigning their training syllabus to make it more effective and efficient. Said MG Ong: "We value every NSF and NSman who comes to us. And we want to produce soldiers who (have a) strong body, strong mind and strong heart."

The Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance (CESP), for instance, is a planning facility specially set up to look into the redesign of training curriculum. This includes the current fitness programme, equipment design to suit the individual soldier and each vocation, and even the nutrition provided in cookhouses.

Conducted with the 4th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, a trial on vocation fitness training under the CESP showed high success rates in terms of injury prevention for the soldiers.

In time to come, this one-month training will be conducted after Basic Military Training (BMT). Soldiers will go through training tailored to build their agility, strength, fitness and muscle groups based on their vocation requirements.

MG Ong also revealed plans to introduce resilience training packages for recruits to help them adapt better and faster to BMT life. In addition, the Army is exploring ways to strengthen how they conduct National Education.

Maximising training space
To boost soldiers' mobility and protection, the Army is gearing up with more motorised and mechanised vehicles. Among them is the new generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV), which will provide the SAF's armoured forces with enhanced firepower, protection, mobility and situational awareness.

However, this means the SAF will require a larger local training area. To overcome the space constraints in Singapore, some training facilities in the west will be integrated to maximise the training land space and make training more efficient, revealed MG Ong.

"We want to build a battle circuit where our soldiers can do training for tactical issues. We want to improve training realism of the whole plot (of land) with battlefield effects and the way we provide feedback to NSFs and NSmen who train there."

Other plans include building an urban training facility to simulate urban and counter-terrorism scenarios.

The Army will also leverage simulation and overseas training, said MG Ong.

For example, the United States and Singapore will conduct an exercise using the latter's Army wargame simulation system. This allows a small force to simulate battles and test their tactics and manoeuvres against a larger enemy force in the virtual world.

The recent signing of the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in May will also provide opportunities for the Army and the SAF to train with motorised and mechanised vehicles in the vast Australian landscape.

Every soldier counts
The duty of the SAF is to protect Singaporeans, which is why time, resources and manpower have been heavily invested in the area of defence, said MG Ng.

Beyond that, he wants to make sure that every serviceman has a meaningful experience when he goes through NS. His firm belief is that every soldier counts.

"We need to ensure that from the time they step into the Army to when they leave, they are stronger physically, as well as in mind and in heart.

"A strong soldier leads to a strong army, which leads to a strong Singapore."

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