Page 17 - MustangEbook

THE BIRTH OF SAF the beginning of the citizen army and the start
of National Service as a way of life for the
male citizens of Singapore.

The early NS The start of National Service led to many of 1

SIR’s experienced commanders being called

upon to train National Servicemen. In
October 1968, 1 SIR joined the ranks of 3 and
4 SIR in training national servicemen, and by
the end of 1969, 1 SIR had become a fully
operational national service battalion.
After more than 100 years of British colonial
rule and two tumultuous years under the 1 SIR was based at
Malaysian Federation, Singapore was left to Guillemard Camp since
fend for herself. It was a time of significant January 1969, together
uncertainty as the leaders were faced with the with the Volunteers,
enormous task of charting the path of our provided the simple
national destiny. Nevertheless, Singapore was foundation around
determined to not only survive on its own but which our modern
to succeed. armed forces took shape.

An urgent priority after independence was to Only the top 10 per cent of the 9,000 were
build up Singapore’s defence capability. chosen for two years of full-time military
Singapore’s very first battalion of regular training in two new NS army battalions – the
rd
soldiers, the 1st Bn. Singapore Infantry 3 and 4th Bn. Singapore Infantry Regiments
Regiment (1 SIR) was formed on 12 March First 1 SIR logo (3 and 4 SIR) at
1957 against a backdrop of impending self- inaugurated on 4 March Taman Jurong
government. Together with 2 SIR, which was 1957. The logo used was Camp. The first
raised in 1962, this was the only defence one of a lion standing on a batch of enlistees’
tower. This first logo was
Singapore had in the post-independence reminiscent of British full-time military
years. influence with its richness service reported
and grandeur.
from 17 August
It was with that in mind that the then Prime 1967. A total of 450 men were absorbed into
Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and other each battalion with formal training
Ministers appealed to Singapore citizens to commencing on 11 September 1967.
support National Service.

The passing of the NS (Amendment) Act in
mid-Mar 1967 was a turning point in the lives
of Singaporean males. Between 28 March
1967 and 18 April 1967, registration began in
earnest at the Central Manpower Base
(CMPB) for the first batch of citizens who
were born between 1 January 1949 and 30
June 1949 – some 9,000 of them. This marked