SAFTI MI TURNS 50

Read this cheat sheet about SAFTI Military Institute (MI) and impress your army friends (or boyfriends)!

History: The root of the matter

The present site at Upper Jurong Road that SAFTI MI occupies today is actually its third home. The "first" SAFTI, or Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI), began in 1966 at Jurong Town Primary School which was vacant at the time. Then-Minister for Defence Dr Goh Keng Swee officially opened SAFTI in Pasir Laba Camp on 18 Jun that year.

By the early 1970s, SAFTI had expanded to occupy 35 hectares of land, which is about 55 football fields. The original wooden amenities were replaced with multi-storey brick structures. Facilities such as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, auditoriums and administrative offices were also added to facilitate the learning and training requirements of the officer cadets.

In 1982, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew mooted the idea of a tri-Service training institute. Acquisition of land by the Ministry of Defence from the Hokkien Huay Kuan took place to pursue the idea.

The late Mr Lee officiated at the ground breaking ceremony for the new SAFTI MI on 9 Jun 1990. By 1995, the institute was relocated from Pasir Laba Camp to its present-day location at Upper Jurong Road.

Architecture: Behind the face of SAFTI MI

It is plain to see that SAFTI MI does not look like any other camp. From its manicured lawns and imposing main parade square to the huge tower overlooking Singapore and its wide open spaces, the grounds of SAFTI MI convey an elegant stateliness.

The overall design of the institute was the work of architect Romaldo Giurgola, who decided to use SAFTI MI s hilly locale to his advantage.

The Officer Cadet School (OCS) is found at the lower section of the hill, the SAF advanced schools are found in the middle region, and right at the top is the prestigious Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College. This arrangement mirrors the different stages of a military career as personnel move up in rank and leadership positions.

At the entrance of SAFTI MI sits a sculpture named "Overcoming Adversities" by Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming. It depicts a pair of figures locked in martial combat and represents the fighting spirit of the SAF Officer Corps.

Explore the grounds a little more and visitors will surely notice the imposing tower that flanks the main parade square. It is guarded by a pair of stone lions, which once stood at each end of the Merdeka Bridge that connected eastern Singapore to the city.

In 1966, the widening of Nicoll Highway meant that the Merdeka Lions had to move to Stadium Walk. Eventually, they were moved to their current location at the foot of the three-sided tower in July 1995 after the public suggested that the Lions be situated at a more prominent and meaningful site.

Did you know?

The first batch of officers (pictured right) to pass through SAFTI's gates graduated on 16 Jul 1967. This pioneer cohort of 117 started out 140-strong.

Although SAFTI is synonymous with officer training today, the first trainees to graduate from the institute were specialists. On 18 Nov 1966, 150 Regular Section Commanders received their rank chevrons at SAFTI.

SAFTI was the greenhouse for Singapore's defence. Many SAF Formations, such as the Singapore Artillery and Commandos, started there before moving to their eventual camps.

SAFTI Pioneer Mural

As you make your way to the SAFTI MI Headquarters, take a peek at the commemorative mural that was unveiled by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 26 Jun. The six-metre-by-two-metre mural illustrates the rigorous planning by leaders in making SAFTI a reality, and the hardship undergone by the first batch of officer cadets during training.

A member of this first batch, former Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (Ret) Ng Jui Ping led the mural project team. He said: "I think it is a good idea
(for us to) leave a memento in SAFTI MI which (allows) successive cohorts of trainees and officer cadets to remember how it all began and to continue to excel."

The SAFTI Story - A SAFTI 50th Anniversary Commemorative Video

"The SAFTI Story" is a SAFTI 50th Anniversary commemorative video which celebrates the legacies and achievements of SAFTI pioneers, both past and present, in developing leaders for the SAF since its inception in 1966. The video captures the enduring legacies of the SAFTI Spirit and the tradition of excellence associated with the premier national institution, and highlights the trailblazing achievements and sacrifices of the SAFTI pioneers. Through the narrative, the video serves to strengthen both past and present SAFTIrian's sense of pride and belonging to SAFTI as their spiritual home.

The video was screened as part of the SAFTI 50 Anniversary cum OCS Commissioning Parade celebrations held on 26 Jun 16.