A YEAR OF FIRSTS

This year's Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Best Unit Competition winners are not just top class but also pioneers in their own right.

They say the first time is always the sweetest and this was especially so for the crew of submarine RSS Chieftain, which clinched the Best Ship award.

Similarly, 149 Squadron (SQN) won the Best Fighter Squadron for the first time while operating the new F-15SG fighter jets, and 1st Commando Battalion (1 Cdo Bn) became the first unit in the SAF to win the Best Combat Unit Award for an unprecedented 25 times.

The annual SAF Best Unit Competition, set up in 1969, recognises units for distinguished performances in the areas of combat readiness, operational proficiency and administrative excellence. It is designed to enhance the operational readiness of SAF personnel, and promote esprit de corps and camaraderie among servicemen.

Each year, the top units are decided based on a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process that charts the units' performance over the past year.

Best Ship - RSS Chieftain

The crew members of a submarine have to be a hardy lot, simply because they have to grapple with a harsh environment, manoeuvring around tight living spaces and getting limited rest between watches.

While at work, they operate on six-hour shifts and share bunks to make it through the many nights underwater.

"Life on board a submarine can be very challenging and because of that, not everyone can be a submariner," said Military Expert 1 (ME1) Gijo George, an Underwater Operator of RSS Chieftain.

The stringent process in the selection and training of a submariner lends weight to ME1 George's remarks.

Even before the start of their Basic Submarine Training and Skills Qualification Training, candidates have to undergo rigorous physical and psychological tests for an assessment of their suitability for a job underwater.

To cap it off, the crew have to be cross-trained because submarines operate with a very lean crew and everyone needs to know how to do the job of their peers.

Since its commissioning in 2002, RSS Chieftain has participated in numerous operations and exercises such as the recent CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training) exercise, an annual exercise with the United States Navy, and Exercise Pacific Reach, a multilateral submarine rescue exercise.

"Winning the award for the first time bears testament to the high level of operational readiness of the submarine and the crews hard work, sacrifices and commitment," said Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Eddie Tan.

Coxswain ME3 Lim Choon Beng agreed, adding: "We knew we had put a lot of effort into our operations, exercises and logistic readiness and had achieved very good results, but even so, winning the best ship award was a surpriseto us."

LTC Tan pointed out that RSS Chieftain's secret to winning the award was the strong motivation of the crew to do well in everything they were tasked.

As a commander, he believes in motivating the crew members to give their best in everything they do, rather than simply working towards set goals and not achieving their full potential.

He said: "The mindset is important if we are to continuously improve ourselves. Otherwise, we would just stagnate."

Already, LTC Tan and his crew are looking beyond the competition.

"Winning the award is not the prime focus of our work, but we will continue to work hard and uphold our standards and reputation as the Navys best ship," said ME1 George.

"Winning the award is not the prime focus of our work, but we will continue to work hard and uphold our standards and reputation as the Navy's best ship."
- ME1 George about what spurs them on

Best Fighter Squadron - 149 SQN

The Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) 149 SQN is no stranger to the Best Unit Competition, having won it five times previously.

This year, however, was the first time the squadron won it with one of the newest additions to the RSAF - the F-15SG fighter aircraft.

And what a year it has been for the men and women of 149 SQN.

Since returning to Singapore from Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, United States, in April 2010, the men have been kept busy the entire year.

Less than a week after their return, Deputy Prime Minister and then Minister For Defence Teo Chee Hean inaugurated them into 149 SQN. This marked the stand-up of 149 SQN as the first local squadron to operate the highly advanced F-15SGs.

"Since the inauguration, we embarked on a journey of starting local F-15SG operations from ground zero," said Colonel Kelvin Khong, Commanding Officer of 149 SQN.

"This has allowed us the opportunity to develop new operating concepts and define the squadron culture to how we believe 149 SQN should be."

Fast forward a few months and the F-15SG became the star attraction at the 2010 National Day Parade. It was the first time the aircraft participated in the Presidential Salute and aerial display, putting up an exciting performance with the F-16s.

Through the various milestones, there were many opportunities for the crew of 149 SQN to bond with each other.

Major (MAJ) Nick Wong, an Officer Commanding with 149 SQN, felt that building up the squadron as a Shikra family was an important factor in team-building. The Shikra, a species of the sparrowhawk family, is the squadron's official mascot.

"Today, even as the squadron has grown in strength, this Shikra family bond has remained the bedrock of how we maintain our cohesion," he said.

To MAJ Wong, the Shikra culture of pride, passion and professionalism is the main reason the F-15SGs wonBest Fighter Squadron.

He said: "As operators of the RSAFs leading-edge fighter jets, all our personnel are fully committed to this great responsibility and thus take great pride in the conduct of all areas from our work to our bearing."

It was little wonder that MAJ Wong and his crew were happy when they were told that 149 SQN had won the award.

"We always find time to celebrate every milestone and achievement, no matter how big or small," said ME3 Inderjit Singh, a Flight Line Crew with 149 SQN. "With the Best Fighter Squadron Award, there is yet another reason for all in the squadron to come together and celebrate once more."

"As operators of the RSAF's leading-edge fighter jets, all our personnel are fully committed to this great responsibility and thus take great pride in the conduct of all areas from our work to our bearing."
- MAJ Wong on what keeps them in top form

Best Combat Unit - 1st Commando Battalion

When Commanding Officer MAJ Pang Chee Kong was informed to prepare his men for the Guard-of-Honour at the upcoming SAF Day Parade, he knew that 1 Cdo Bn had done it again.

In fact, it was the 25th time they had won the Best Combat Unit Award - the first unit in the SAF to reach such a milestone.

"I think it is a very good result but that also drives us to think harder and ask ourselves how to maintain the results, how to improve and make the battalion even better," said MAJ Pang.

With the battalion winning the award 24 times before this year's competition, MAJ Pang admitted that there was some pressure on him to sustain the trend. After all, he was appointed as Commanding Officer of 1 Cdo Bn not too long ago.

Likewise, platoon commander 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Daryl Ong felt the pressure. "I was happy and relieved to know that we maintained the high standards set by our predecessors last year. As officers, it is our responsibility to uphold that honour."

The battalion is made up of mostly Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), and both MAJ Pang and 2LT Ong felt that their strong fighting spirit was a crucial factor in winning the Best Combat Unit Award this year.

In the few months that he was with 1 Cdo Bn, MAJ Pang observed a strong sense of camaraderie among the NSFs. During exercises, they would work hard towards mission success and at the same time, take care of each other and make sure nobody was left behind.

MAJ Pang felt that this was their secret to winning this year's competition.

"They have a strong sense of purpose in what they do and you can see it across the entire battalion, from officers to the supporting staff," said MAJ Pang.

He sees winning the award as a validation of the rewarding National Service (NS) experience that the NSFs have had with 1 Cdo Bn.

That, in MAJ Pang's opinion, is more important than winning the award for the 25th time.

He said: "While this award is always on our minds, we always try to stretch the positive experience and positive learning for the NSFs."

2LT Ong agreed and added: "As a commando, training is not just about performing well and completing our NS. It is also about shaping us into responsible citizens who will go on to become the kind of people that Singapore can depend on."

"They (the NSFs) have a strong sense of purpose in what they do and you can see it across the entire battalion, from officers to the supporting staff."
- MAJ Pang on the secret to 1 Cdo Bn winning the Best Combat Unit title for the 25th time