SG60: 60 Milestones Of The SAF

It’s Singapore’s 60th birthday this year! With such a milestone on the horizon, it got me thinking about a time-honoured tradition experienced by every Singaporean son - National Service.

As I reflect on my own journey with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), I’m reminded of the remarkable evolution of our nation’s defence capabilities — one that I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand. During my NS days, I served as a Motorised Infantry Commander, a role that immersed me in the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of military operations.

Now, as I approach the completion of nearly 10 reservist cycles, I find myself in my early 30s, marvelling at the significant changes the SAF has undergone — from the days of basic training to the cutting-edge technologies we see today. In honour of SG60, here’s a timeline of events that shaped our nation's defence legacy.

Origins

1. Formation of Singapore's first volunteer defence force (1854) - The Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps (SVRC) was established to maintain internal security.

2. First battalion of regular soldiers established (1957) - The 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR) was formed, with 237 Singapore citizens signing on as the first batch of soldiers responsible for Singapore’s defence.

1960s

3. Founding of the Ministry of the Interior and Defence (MID) (1965) - Established in August 1965 with Dr Goh Keng Swee as its first Minister, the key priority of MID was to build up the Army into a credible defence force as soon as possible.

In 1970, MID was separated into two specialised ministries which would separately oversee internal and external defence. This resulted in the creation of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

4. The Singapore Army is established (1965) - Under the Singapore Army Bill, which was passed in Dec 1965, a full-time army was established, responsible for the newly-independent nation’s defence.

5. Singapore Naval Volunteer Force (SNVF) formed (1966) - The SNVF started with only 3 seaworthy vessels to form the country’s sea defences – two wooden boat vessels named RSS Panglima and RSS Bedok, and the RSS Singapura, which served as the SNVF’s first headquarters.

6. The British announce their exit (1968) - The withdrawal of British troops would be mostly complete by 1971, leaving Singapore’s defence and economic security vulnerable.

A small contingent of British, Australian and New Zealand forces stayed on as a token military presence after the withdrawal, with the last British soldier leaving Singapore in March 1976.

1970s

7. British withdrawal, transfers ownership of air bases (1971) - Changi, Tengah, Sembawang, Seletar air bases were entrusted to the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC).

8. The Singapore Armed Forces Act enacted (1972) - This new bill was passed into law, unifying the nation’s land, sea and air elements.

9. Birth of the Singapore Air Force and Navy (1975) - The SADC was renamed the “Republic of Singapore Air Force" (RSAF) while the Maritime Command was rebranded the “Republic of Singapore Navy" (RSN).

1980s

10. Sentosa Cable Car accident (1983) - All three services of the SAF joined forces for a dramatic all-night rescue operation directed by Colonel Lee Hsien Loong, future Prime Minister of Singapore to save civilians that were trapped in four cabins after a cable snapped due to a collision from an oil rig.

11. Collapse of Hotel New World (1986) - One of the largest civil disasters in Singapore history saw the SAF, Singapore Police Force, SCDF and the former Singapore Fire Service (later merged with the SCDF) embark on a delicate operation to rescue survivors trapped in the rubble.

12. Air Force Museum opens (1988) - Originally located at Changi Air Base, the museum is now located next to Paya Lebar Air Base and stands to this day, combining original artefacts with interactive media to tell the RSAF story.

13. Formation of COSCOM (1988) - Singapore Navy establishes Coastal Command (COSCOM) as the second operation command of the RSN to ensure the safety and security of the Singapore Straits and its approaches, marking a critical milestone in maritime defence.

In 2009, COSCOM was transformed into the Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) to better address evolving maritime threats.

1990s

14. Philippines earthquake (1990) - SAF personnel were deployed to assist in humanitarian efforts and rescue operations, alongside Operation Lionheart, a rescue contingent formed by the SCDF for the purpose of rendering humanitarian aid to our neighbouring countries.

15. Opening of Tuas Naval Base (1994) - As a way to house Singapore’s growing Navy, this state-of-the-art facility boasts smart design innovations, including mechanical ramps, an automatic storage and retrieval system, and a floating dock.

16. First Singapore submarine launched (1997) - The first of four Challenger-class submarines was launched in Sweden for a training exercise with the Royal Swedish Navy. These submarines played an invaluable role in shaping the nation’s submarine operating capability.

17. Peacekeeping efforts in Timor Leste (1999 - 2003) - The SAF embarked on peacekeeping operations to ensure stability in the newly independent nation.

2000s

18. SARS Pandemic Response (2003) - The SAF was mobilised to combat the SARS outbreak by assisting in operations such as detection, contact tracing and quarantine management, showcasing its versatility beyond traditional military tasks.

19. Indian Ocean tsunami (2004) - SAF deployed over 1,500 personnel to aid in disaster relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The rescue and relief mission, named Operation Flying Eagle, was the largest Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operation in the SAF’s history.

20. The Navy’s Formidable-class frigates are launched (2004) - The first of the RSN’s six frigates, RSS Formidable, was launched on 7 January 2004. The introduction of these modern Formidable-class frigates enhanced the Navy’s strike capabilities, enabling the RSN to undertake a wider spectrum of missions.

21. 9th Singapore Division merges with Infantry Formation (2004) - Formerly a reserve division, it was restructured to include active personnel and ultimately play a greater role in training the Army’s infantry units.

22. Opening of Changi Naval Base (2004) - Officiated by then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, it introduced several advanced features, including a state-of-the automated underground ammunition depot.

2010s

23. Maritime Information-Sharing Exercise (MARISX) and 4th Western Pacific Maritime Security Exercise (WMSX) (2011) - The SAF conducts two major exercises with the navy counterparts of their international partners.

MARISX was a scenario-driven, shore-based exercise aimed at practicing information-sharing processes among regional navies through uncovering a simulated terrorist plot from seemingly unrelated information, while WMSX consisted of a Naval Tactical Trainer (NTT) Exercise and a Boarding Exercise.

The NTT Exercise tasked the command teams of participating ships with responding to a spectrum of maritime security operations in a simulated environment, while the Boarding Exercise practiced compliant boarding through a simulated boarding trainer, as well as live boarding of a vessel out at sea.

24. First female fighter pilot inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (2014) - Khoo Teh Lynn, who joined the RSAF at 18 years old, serves as an inspiration for aspiring female fighter jet pilots and a celebration for gender diversity in the military.

25. SAF50 (2015) - Singapore Armed Forces commemorates 50 years since its formation by commissioning and sealing the SAF’s first-ever special time capsule to mark the milestone.

26. NS50 (2017) - A landmark milestone celebrating 50 years of National Service with a year-long commemoration, under the theme of “From My Generation To Yours”.

27. RSN celebrates its 50th anniversary (2017) - A year-long slate of events was held to commemorate the Singapore Navy’s history and transformation into a world-class naval force.

28. RSN debuts its first Invincible-class submarine (2019) - Designed for operations in shallow and tropical waters, the new submarine is perfect for Singapore’s coastal environment.

29. Groundbreaking ceremony for SAFTI City (2019) - Once fully opened, it promises to be one of the most advanced military urban ops training facilities in the world. SAFTI City Phase 1 was launched in March 2025.

30. SAF Commandos celebrate their 50th anniversary (2019) - An Anniversary parade was held at Hendon Camp to celebrate their Golden Jubilee, bringing together past generations of Commando National Servicemen.

31. COVID-19 Support Operations (2020) - The SAF is deployed to support national efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, such as contact tracing and mask distribution.

32. Singapore Army commemorates 55th anniversary (2020) - SAF organised a virtual exhibition featuring key milestones that showcased its evolution from a 1st to 3rd Generation Army.

2020s

33. Establishment of Cybersecurity Task Force (2020) - The SAF shifts focus to advanced cyberspace capabilities to secure the nation's digital frontiers.

34. AI and data analytics adopted for use in SAF exercise command post (2021) - SAF debuted an upgraded command and control information system (CCIS) software engine at Exercise Forging Sabre, a biennial live-firing exercise drill in the US.

35. Republic of Singapore Navy’s elite Navy Diving Unit celebrates its Golden Jubilee (2021) - RSN’s special forces formation held a Trooping of Colours ceremony to celebrate the milestone.

36. Commemorating 55 years of NS (2022) - SAF reached another milestone with a series of #NS55 initiatives to recognise the contributions of National Servicemen past and present, such as NS55 credits.

37. Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) is established (2022) - The fourth and latest service of the SAF is responsible for safeguarding Singapore from digital threats.

Pop Culture Milestones

38. Army Daze (1996) - The cult classic, Army Daze, helps define the Singaporean NS experience.

39. Every Singaporean Son (2010) - This award-winning documentary series chronicles real life NS recruits undergoing Basic Military Training and was even picked up by National Geographic for international distribution.

40. Ah Boys to Men film series (2012-2017) - This iconic film franchise became a cultural phenomenon, deeply influencing how NS is perceived by younger generations.

Training Milestones

41. First batch of NSFs enlisted (1967) - A total of 900 full-time National Servicemen enlisted, consisting of citizens born in 1949.

42. First SAF Day (1969) - Initially known as Armed Forces Day, the inaugural parade saw a 1,500-strong contingent of servicemen and women marching past Jalan Besar Stadium to reaffirm their commitment towards the defence of the nation.

43. Groundbreaking ceremony for new SAFTI Military Institute (1990) - Singapore’s first military school moved from Pasir Laba camp to its current location in Jurong, becoming a specialised SAF training institute for enhanced soldier preparedness.

44. SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) launched (2014) - The establishment of a volunteer corps as a contribution from civilians to national defence allowed women, new citizens and first-generation Singapore Permanent Residents to participate in national defence. The SAFVC’s inaugural batch of volunteers enlisted in March 2015.

Technological Milestones

45. Singapore Assault Rifle - 21st Century a.k.a SAR 21 introduced (1999) - Designed and manufactured in Singapore, it has become a standard issue weapon, replacing the M16.

46. Defence Cyber Organisation launched (2017) - This dedicated Cyber Defence Group was established to safeguard Singapore against the increasing prevalence of cyber threats.

47. The Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle launched (2019) - It is the Singapore Army’s first fully digitalised platform, featuring an integrated combat cockpit and digitalised mission planning capabilities.

48. Next Generation SAF transformation (2021) - The Singapore Army embarked on its next phase of transformation into a 3rd Generation Army, leveraging on new technologies such as robotics and manned-unmanned teaming.

International Collaboration

49. 30 years of SAF training in Queensland, Australia (2020) - The SAF reaffirmed ties with Australia through combined military exercises.

50. Reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan (2007 - 2013) - The SAF contributed to peacekeeping missions in the war-torn region, deploying nearly 500 army personnel.

51. Humanitarian aid for Nepal earthquake (2015) - The SAFdeployed C-130 aircraft to airlift the Singapore relief contingent and their equipment to assist in affected areas.

52. Military cooperation with the US (1981-current) - Over the years, the SAF and the US Armed Forces have enhanced bilateral military relations through joint training and exercises, with Exercise Tiger Balm being the latest bilateral exercise conducted between the two nations.

53. Gaza airdrop mission (2024) - The SAF delivered over 20 tonnes of food supplies, or 59,000 meals, via airdrop operations conducted from Jordan over two weeks, alongside the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

The food items were contributed by both the SAF as well as non-governmental organisations such as Relief Singapore and Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiative Singapore, with additional supplies from the Jordanians.

Recent and Ongoing Efforts

54. The SAF's first female General (2015) - The appointment of the first female general in SAF history, Colonel Gan Siow Huang, reflects efforts to embrace gender inclusivity within the organisation.

55. SAF pledged to go greener (2021) - MINDEF announced plans to lower carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2030, in line with Singapore Green Plan 2030.

56. First Army Open House in 5 years (2022) - Drawing 90,000 visitors, AOH22 exhibition highlighted the evolution of National Service and allowed the public photo opportunities with military vehicles.

57. Singapore and India conduct the 13th edition of Exercise Agni Warrior (XAW) (2024) - Taking place in Devlali, India, the bilateral exercise saw over 290 participants from both the Singapore and Indian Armies, culminating in a joint live-firing exercise.

58. Digital and Intelligence Service launches two new commands (2025) - The Defence Cyber Command will integrate the SAF’s cybersecurity capabilities by bringing together the Cybersecurity Task Force and the Defence Cyber Organisation under a single command, while the SAF C4 and Digitalisation Command (SAFC4DC) will help to create new digital products to launch new fighting concepts and improve workflows.

59. SAF60 celebrations include the launch of a roving exhibition (2025) - The exhibition will be available from May to October at the Singapore Discovery Centre with the theme of “Defending Our Home, Securing Our Future”.

60. Singapore hosts the most recent Shangri-La Dialogue (2025) - The premier security and defence conference in the Asia-Pacific saw Minister of Defence Chan Chun Sing speak at the plenary session on the topic “Enhancing Security Cooperation for a Stable Asia-Pacific”.

As we celebrate SG60 and honour the milestones that have defined the SAF, it’s impossible not to feel a deep sense of pride in the role each of us plays — whether in uniform or as NSmen.

From the changes I witnessed during my time serving as a Motorised Infantry Commander to the innovations I’ve seen in my own years in reservist, I’m super grateful for the opportunity to contribute, however humbly, to the enduring legacy of our nation’s defence. Here’s to another 60 years of resilience, and unity.

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