SAF STRENGTHENS HR SYSTEM WITH NEW FORMATION

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) added Personnel Command (PERSCOM), a new formation that promises to deliver Human Resource (HR) policies which are responsive to servicemen's needs, as well as better support for commanders to manage their units and servicemen, on 29 Jun.

"PERSCOM was established as part of the larger Ministry of Defence and SAF HR transformation efforts to strengthen our HR system to meet new challenges, which include higher demands for HR delivery and services, as well as enhancing our manpower operations capabilities," said Colonel (COL) Terry Siow, Commander PERSCOM, at the inauguration parade officiated by Chief of Army then-Brigadier-General (BG) Ravinder Singh and Deputy Secretary (Administration) Willie Tan Yoke Meng.

PERSCOM's core mission is to deliver better HR management to the SAF. It brings together key HR delivery agencies such as the MINDEF/SAF HR Services Centre, National Service (NS) Services Centre, HR Institute as well as the HR administrative elements of ground units across the SAF under a single unified command.

"As the HR system forms a key touch-point with our people and the public, a responsive and integrated system is central to our overall efforts to strengthen our commitment to defence," explained COL Siow.

In outlining key areas of focus for PERSCOM in the coming years, COL Siow said that he hopes to tightly integrate HR business procedures and related Information Technology systems within the SAF and increase the quality of service. For example, commanders and HR managers can expect to use sophisticated analytic tools to monitor the health of key HR systems and other administrative processes and systems. "PERSCOM will integrate administrative processes and systems , so as to drive the achievement of adminstrative excellence for MINDEF and the SAF," said then-BG Singh.

PERSCOM was the brainchild of the Army Human Resource Project Group (HRPG) which COL Siow headed in 2010, an appointment which he took over from COL Tan Peng Kuan.

At the ceremony, COL Siow thanked his predecessor for blazing the trail in the lead-up to PERSCOM's formation and recognised his staff's dedication in the setting up of the command.

"There are also many in the MINDEF and SAF HR community whom have worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the last couple of years, contributing to various aspects of the HR landscape and this has provided the strong foundation that we now proudly stand on going forward," said COL Siow.

In addition to then-BG Singh (who was promoted to the rank of Major-General as of 1 Jul) and Mr Tan, the inauguration was also attended by Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong, and senior SAF officers.