ISSUE 222 APRIL 2014 HIGHLIGHTS MPEU | READY • DECISIVE • RESPECTED | OUR FIGHT AGAINST SARS www.mindef.gov.sg/army #OurSgArmy COVER STORY CONTENTS 8 MILITARY POLICE ENFORCEMENT UNIT 10 MAN’S BEST FRIEND 12 READY 16 DECISIVE 18 RESPECTED 24 OUR FIGHT AGAINST SARS AROUND OUR ARMY 3 CHEVRONS ON THEIR CHESTS / VETERANS’ VISIT TO SINGAPORE ARMY MUSEUM FEATURES 4 CHIEF OF ARMY CHANGE OF COMMAND 7 MSER CHALLENGE 13/14 11 EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT: MACDONALD HOUSE BOMBING 20 SYMBOLS OF OUR ARMY 22 27TH SEA GAMES 26 ANSWERING THE CALL - - - - - - - - ISSUE 222 APRIL 2014 Our Army Editorial Board the Chevrons on their chests: COL Alfred Fox COL Chua Boon Keat Editor Speaks Specialists Cadet Graduation Parade 18/2013 SLTC Paul Cheak Story by Jack Leong / Photography by Roy Chong LTC De Silva Joe Ronesh LTC Dennis Oh with them and be their guide, friend and he Year 2013 was a busy year for Our Army. Between the CWO Tang Peck Oon mentor." MAJ Phillip Wong usual range of training exercises and operations, Our LTC (NS) James Suresh Army continued to engage its people and the public Amongst the hundreds of graduates was CPT (NS) Sebastian Sim through its SAF Schools Partnership Program activities, 3SG Colin Chen who was also the Parade Total Defence events and even a month long exhibition. Commander and Golden Bayonet winner. Editorial Advisor We recap the events that defined the year for our Army When asked about his motivations, he said BG Lim Hock Yu in our feature story. “My family and girlfriend have been very T supportive of me throughout my journey News Crew This month, eleven years ago, the world was hit by an unknown enemy - the in NS so I want to do my very best to make SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME, more commonly remembered as SARS. them feel proud.” Editor Our Army played a crucial role when called into action, from contact tracing to first Mel Ferdinands Photographers line of defence with Thermal Imaging devices. We relook at the events of the time. SCT Wan Cin Lee (Photograph, middle) Boey Jun Wei from Artillery developed the passion for the Deputy Editor Matthew Lim Last month we brought you a feature on Konfrontasi. We are heartened that one uniform since Secondary school when she Melvin Loo Terrance Yee of our readers has since stepped forward to provide us with an eyewitness account Over 1100 Specialist Cadets from In his address to the graduands, Mr was in the Red Cross uniformed group. She Roy Chong of that fateful day in March 1965. Thank you Mr Wilson David for sharing your tale the 18/13 Specialist Cadet Course (SCC) Masagos said, “We will count on you to recalled her most difficult obstacle in SCS. Aaron Ng Assistant with us. graduated at Pasir Laba Camp on the engage the soldiers under your charge. She said “After falling through the APEX Editors Graphic evening of 28 March. The cadets had Train them well and help them maximise ladder during BMT, I was afraid to try again Lim Chen You We visit the Military Police Enforcement Unit to find out more about what our undergone a 22-week training course to their strengths. Unlock their potential and but the Sergeants in SCS motivated me to Aloysius Lum Designers Redcaps do - their duties and responsibilities. We also bring you a new monthly Sim Chun You graduate as Specialists of the SAF and to motivate them to give their best during push on and after completing it, the sense feature where we look at the history of Our Army’s different formations, and their receive their well earned chevrons. The training, but always, always have their of accomplishment was indescribable.” She Writers Marcus Yeo respective logos. reviewing officer was Senior Minister of well-being and safety in mind. Be genuine continued “To the females intending to join Edmund Heng Oon Ming Shen Facebook State (Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs), Mr in your actions and words to earn the the force, if you have the passion you should Last but certainly not least, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank Leong Khee Shuen Representative Masagos Zulkifli. respect and trust of your men. Spend time pursue it; it’s an experience indescribable.” Lim Wei Liang Lee Xiang Rong MG Ravinder Singh, our former Chief of Army, who handed over his command to BG Jack Leong Perry Lim on 21 March. Sir, we thank you for your sterling leadership, command and guidance and wish you all the very best in the next leg of your journey. ARMY NEWS is a monthly publication of the Veterans’ Visit to Singapore Army Museum Singapore Army. The opinions and views in Our Army - Ready, Decisive, Respected. Story by Leong Khee Shuen / Photography by Aloysius Lum this newsletter are those expressed by the Melvin S Ferdinands writers and do not reflect the official views of Editor of Army News the Ministry of Defence. All rights reserved. Subjected to the provisions of the Copyright The Singapore Army Museum hosted Act, 1986, no part of this publication may in any form or by any means (electronic, war veterans from the Malaysian Veteran mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, Group on 6 March 2014. Led by Lt Kol recording or otherwise) be reproduced or PASSING ON THE BATON Ahmad Kishairi Bin Zainuddin, President of transmitted without prior written permission from the publisher. Appointment Incoming Outgoing the Ex 1st Royal Malay Regiment (1 RMR) Services Association, these veterans were CHIEF OF ARMY BG PERRY LIM CHENG YEOW MG RAVINDER SINGH given a tour of the museum. The veterans Visit us online! were shown how the Singapore Army has COMMANDER SPECIALIST AND Read Army News on the internet at COL CHIN SUN WERN KEVIN COL LEE YONG HENG transformed over the years as well as the http://www.army.sg WARRANT OFFICER INSTITUTE changes that have occurred since the start Have something you wish CO 23 SA LTC SOH CHUN KIAT LTC HUANG MIAW YI of National Service in 1967. to share with us? If you have any articles to contribute or sugges- CO 6 SIR LTC XU YOUFENG LTC PANG LEAD SHUAN Director of Singapore Army Museum, tions about our newsletter, contact us at : [email protected] Andrew de Silva led the veterans around the LTC TEY LIAN CHEONG, CO ICTC 1 ITI LTC DE ZILVA LINNAEUS CLINTON museum, explaining the relevance of the ARMY NEWS MAVERICK Singapore Army Museum, “The Singapore (Suggestions and Feedback) COMDT SAFDB SAF MP LTC TEY LIAN CHEONG, Army Museum is here to enlighten the 308 Gombak Drive, #04-28 SLTC LIM HOCK SIONG COMMAND MAVERICK Bukit Panjang Camp, Blk I, Singapore 669646 younger generation on the need to serve Tel : 6427 0460/6427 0465 Fax : 6427 0640 CO LOGS MGT & LEADERSHIP National Service. Since the majority of our LTC ONG YIH TERK ME6 CHUAH YEOW SENG CEN ALTI troops are NSmen, it is essential to get the support from the public whether old or CO 2 GSSB LTC CHUA YONG CHIN - young.” of the Singapore Army at the end of the Impressed with the technology, the screening. veterans reminisced about their past in the CO 351 SCE MAJ LOH CHIA SIONG LTC(NS) CHIA PHEK LENG The veterans were also given a chance Army and shared how the army has become to witness how the Air Force, Navy and Moving on to the high tech shooting much better over the years. At the end of CO 716 SIR MAJ NAM CHEE WEI - the Army worked together in Singapore, simulator, the veterans got a chance to the experience, the veterans left with a through a short video clip. The show left a try out the assault rifle SAR 21 (Singapore deeper understanding of the Singapore fb.me/oursingaporearmy @oursgarmy youtube.com/OurSingaporeArmy lasting impression on these veterans and Assault Rifle - 21st Century) which was Army and felt assured, knowing Singapore @oursingaporearmy thesingaporearmy.tumblr.com they applauded the effort and cohesiveness designed and manufactured in Singapore. was in safe hands. 3 Our Army I want to personally thank every soldier in the Singapore Army for their “commitment, dedication and sacrifice. It has been a real honour and privilege public outreach initiatives, including to be given the opportunity the Army Open House 2012 and the to serve alongside all of Operation Blue Ridge exhibition in the heartlands. MG Ravinder Singh served you as a soldier. as a key member in the Committee to Strengthen National Service and ardently supported efforts to make our soldiers’ time more meaningful in NS. Against a backdrop of an MG Ravinder Singh, who enlisted assortment of military hardware, 10 ” in 1982, has served the nation with In his farewell speech, MG Ravinder parade contingents from the various pride and dedication. Among his Singh said, "I want to personally thank army formations as well as the Guard- various key leadership appointments every soldier in the Singapore Army of-Honour contingent comprising in the SAF, MG Ravinder Singh has for their commitment, dedication and soldiers from the Commando been the Commander of 6th Division, sacrifice. It has been a real honour and Formation and the 2nd People's Chief of Staff – Joint Plans and privilege to be given the opportunity Defence Force, marched onto Leaders' Deputy Secretary (Technology). to serve alongside all of you as a Square to commemorate the the Chief Under his leadership as our COA, the soldier. I will be handing over to of Army (COA) Change of Command Singapore Army maintained a high Brigadier-General Perry Lim. Perry is Chief of Army (COC) Parade, which was held on the level of operational readiness.