CYBERPIONEER - THE MARK OF DISTINCTION - SAF'S BEST UNITS (JUL 09)

Since 1969, the Best Unit Competition has recognised the finest in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) - those who have proven their mettle in combat readiness, operational excellence and administrative efficiency. PIONEER checks out the winners this year to find out what distinguishes them from the rest.

A culture of excellence - 1st Commando Battalion (1 Cdo Bn)

Winning the Best Combat Unit title the 23rd time, the Commandos attributed their sixth consecutive win to the spirit of excellence in the men.

"We ensure that our people excel in what they do," said Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Edwin Goh. "People-excellence is probably the single, most important aspect of the Commandos."

The Commandos are put through one of the toughest training regimes in the SAF so they can be proficient in operating deep within enemy territory. Airborne drops, helicopter assaults, coastal landings, as well as reconnaissance missions are all in a day s work for the Red Berets.

"I never thought I could withstand the tough training, but our commanders taught us to go beyond our limits. They gave us a lot of encouragement and showed us we could do what we thought we were incapable of," said Corporal (CPL) Dominic Nakamura.

Citing a 72km route march as a training experience he will never forget, Detachment Commander 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Timon Chiong said: "Walking the 72km was tough. There were times when I thought of giving up. But when I looked behind and saw that my men were looking to me for strength and encouragement, I pressed on."

This fighting spirit in the Commandos is a value inculcated from the onset of their training, said LTC Goh. "We instil in our men the ownership of an operation. They see it as their duty towards the nation and the formation to excel."

What spurs the Commandos on every year to clinch the coveted accolade? 1st Warrant Officer (1WO) Chew Kim Leng, the unit's Regimental Sergeant Major, believes that it is simply the knowledge that they are the SAF's elite force.

"Being the elite means you must win the Best Combat Unit," he said. "Also, wearing the No. 1 uniform at the SAF Day Parade is a great motivation to us."

Under the charge of LTC Lee (third from left), all operations on the bridge of RSS Victory run like clockwork.

'Not you or me, but us' - RSS Victory

Out in the high seas, surrounded only by a vast expanse of blue, without the comforts of home, all we have is one another, shared Engineering Naval Specialist 2nd Sergeant (2SG) Charles Klaosamutara.

That is precisely why RSS Victory has adopted the tagline a crew member came up with: "It's no longer you or me, it's us".

While this may be a tad mushy to some, it is this notion of family and unity that helped RSS Victory clinch the Best Ship award for the fifth time. Their previous wins were in 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000.

"Our winning formula is really our cohesion," said Commanding Officer LTC Anthony Lee.

RSS Victory s winning factor is cohesion among the crew. Here, the crew work together to lift a sea boat which they use to conduct checks around the perimeter of the ship.

Built for air, surface and sub-surface warfare, the 62m-long missile corvette's primary role is to protect Singapore's sea lines of communication, a mission that its crew members work together to achieve.

Emphasising how crucial teamwork is, Chief Command and Control Specialist Master Sergeant Gilbert Chiam recalled how crew members stood in for one another during instances of bad sea state.

"Some of the guys were down and those who were able to withstand the sea state put in extra hours to man the stations, so that the ship could keep sailing," he said.

One of the highlights of the crew over the past year was Exercise SINGSIAM in January, when RSS Victory successfully launched a harpoon that hit its target.

"We put in a lot of late nights doing our drills. We were exhausted, but what drove us on was not the thought of going home, but a pat on the back from our commanders," 2SG Klaosamutara said.

As to what is in store next for the tightly knit crew, LTC Lee said: "It's maintaining the high standards of training, helping new guys adapt to our culture, and getting them up to speed as individuals, and as part of a larger team."

Ready for action - 144 Squadron

They call themselves the Blackites, a species of birds known to strike their prey with precision, and the latest catch they have snagged is the prestigious Best Fighter Squadron award.

The unit won the award in 1995 and 2005 and Commanding Officer LTC Chia Shih Koon attributed the squadron's third win to a combination of three factors.

"First, it's the people understanding their role in the mission. Second, it's developing a team of highly trained professionals. Third, it's a firm belief in team excellence," he said.

According to LTC Chia, these three factors combined help keep the squadron's operational readiness high so that at the push of a button, they are ready to respond to any contingency.

The squadron operates the F-5S/T fighter aircraft, which is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, and is capable of carrying out air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Airmen and ground crew of 144 Squadron take pride in being operationally ready wherever and whenever.

LTA Zhang (right) and flight line crew member 1SG Saw Dong Yao making final checks on the aircraft before take-off.

In any mission, understanding one's role is crucial, said 1WO Elangovan, who oversees all aspects on the ground to ensure air-worthy jets for the pilots.
"When we understand that what we do is critical to mission success, we will do our jobs to the best of our abilities," said the squadron's Chief Warrant Officer.

In developing highly trained professionals, airmen and ground crew alike take ownership in their areas of expertise. "In the squadron, we set goals for ourselves to continually improve on training standards," said 1st Sergeant (1SG) Leong Quan Sheng, who is part of the flight line crew responsible for preparing and servicing aircraft.

"Through intensive training, I m able to ensure quality F-5s for my squadron and for the Republic of Singapore Air Force. That's why I'm proud to call myself a world-class Blackite," he added with gusto.

As seamless coordination between the air men and ground crew is critical, the squadron put much effort into building cohesion between the two groups.

Lieutenant (LTA) Zhang Zewei, a pilot, said: "The commanders conduct focus group and dialogue sessions regularly with the airmen and ground crew...this helps us gel together and excel as a team."