SAF JOINT STAFF CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AND BEYOND

Given the relatively short span of Singapore's independence, 25 years is no small number for the country's military organisations.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Joint Staff's journey started in 1980 as the Joint Operations Committee (JOC), comprising the three Service chiefs.

From its modest beginning, Joint Staff has undergone various structural changes to achieve its aim of generating greater synergy and co-ordination across the Army, Navy and Air Force.

In 1983, it transformed into the Joint Operations and Planning Directorate (JOPD) under the leadership of its pioneering Director, then-COL Lee Hsien Loong.

Starting out with a lean team of staff officers, it has grown steadily through the years to include the formation of several new departments, including the Military Intelligence Organisation, SAF Ops Hub and SAF Capability Development, that were established under its ambit last year.

Some of Joint Staff's key achievements include its involvement in various national operations such as the cable-car incident in 1983, the Hotel New World disaster in 1986 and the evacuation of Singaporean nationals from Cambodia in 1997.

These milestones were highlighted in a video presentation shown at a dinner held on 11 Jul. Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean was present, together with special guest, Lieutenant-General (LG) (Ret) Winston Choo, Singapore's first Chief of Defence Force (CDF).

To commemorate the occasion, the current CDF, LG Desmond Kuek, unveiled the Joint Staff Silver Jubilee Commemorative Coin, launching the charity sale of the coin set. This coincided with the annual Joint Staff Charity Drive where some 300 Joint Staff personnel completed a four-kilometre run to raise funds for the President's Challenge 2008 and the SAF Benevolent Fund.

History of SAF Joint Staff

1975:
The Republic of Singapore Air Force and Republic of Singapore Navy were stood up as independent Services.

1980:
A Joint Operations Committee was set up.

1982:
The Joint Services Committee, Joint Intelligence Committee and Joint Plans Committee were added.

1983:
Then-COL Lee Hsien Loong formed the Joint Operations and Planning Directorate (JOPD) as its pioneering Director.

1984:
The Joint Intelligence Directorate was established.

1986:
A review of the JOPD resulted in the addition of the Joint Operations Department, Joint Plans Department and Joint Communications and Electronics Department.

1987:
The Joint Medical Committee was formed as the SAF Medical Services became a tri-Service headquarters.

2000:
The Joint Manpower Department and Joint Logistics Department were set up.

2004:
JPD was re-organised to form the Joint Plans & Transformation Department.

2005:
Director JOPD was re-designated as Chief of Staff-Joint Staff.

2007:
The Joint Staff organisation was strengthened with the establishment of Military Intelligence Organisation, SAF Ops Hub and SAF Capability Development Hub.

2008:
Joint Staff marks 25 years with its Silver Jubilee celebration.