First Open Mobilisation
Largest Locally-Built Naval Vessel
The largest naval vessel to be designed and built locally is the Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank (LST), which is a collaborative eff ort between the DSTA and ST Group. The fi rst such vessel was launched in 1998 and so far, four vessels have been put into operation. The LST measures 141m by 21m and has a top speed of 20 knots. It can carry 350 troops or 18 main battle tanks.
First Naval Bases
The British built the naval base in Sembawang in 1928 and completed it in 1938. It became a commercial dockyard in 1968. Construction of the Brani Naval Base began in 1972 and was completed in 1974. In 2002, the centre was closed and the fl eet was redeployed at Tuas Naval Base and Changi Naval Base.
First Air Raid Of Singapore
The fi rst aerial bombardment of Singapore occurred on 8 Dec 1941 at 4.15 am, starting the siege of Singapore by the Japanese.
First Full-Time National Service Enlistment
The fi rst enlistment for full-time National Service in the SAF was conducted on 17 Aug 1967. 900 enlistees, including 216 civil servants, were enlisted into full-time National Service on that day. The enlistees were sent off from 50 locations all over Singapore.
On 9 Mar 1985, the SAF launched the open mobilisation method of gathering military personnel. Codenames of units were broadcast over radio, television and cinemas. Prior to this, the SAF recalled its NSmen mainly through telephone and pager calls as well as physical dispatch by couriers.
Most Decorated Soldier
In LT-GEN Winston Choo’s illustrious career in the SAF, he has collected more than 27 signifi cant medals. His fi nal one as a serving offi cer was the Meritorious Service Medal (Military). He was accorded highly respected medals from USA, France, Chile, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.
First Chief Of Defence Force
First Two National Service Battalions
On 1 Apr 1967, 3 SIR and 4 SIR were formed at Taman Jurong Camp for the fi rst SAF enlist- ment. Formal training began on 11 Sep.
First SAF Training Institute
The fi rst Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) was opened on 18 Jun 1966 by the Minister for Defence, Dr Goh Keng Swee. SAFTI’s fi rst premises were at the Jurong Primary School.
First Batch Of SAF Offi cers Commissioned
The fi rst batch of 117 SAF offi cers was com- missioned as Second Lieutenants on 16 Jul 1967. The 117 were chosen out of a total of 2,000 applicants, of which 140 were chosen to attend the Offi cer Training Course at the newly opened SAFTI.
First Air Force Last Of Japanese Occupation
Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Com- mander of South-East Asia Command, came to Singapore to receive the formal surrender of the Japanese forces in the region from General Itagaki Seishiro on behalf of General Hisaichi Terauchi on 12 Sep 1945 at City Hall. A British military administration was then formed to govern the island until Mar 1946.
PAGE 120
The Air Force started in 1968 with the formation of the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC). Its fi rst task was to set up the Flying Training School to train pilots. Eight Cessna 172-H aircraft, the SADC’s fi rst, arrived in May 1969 to be used for basic pilot training. When Britain withdrew its forces in 1971, the air bases at Tengah, Seletar, Sembawang and Changi were handed over to the SADC, as well as its air defence radar station and the Bloodhound II surface- to-air missiles. In 1975, the SADC was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
LT-GEN Winston Choo joined the army in 1959 and served in various appointments in the SAF, reaching the pinnacle of the military service when he became the Chief of the General Staff in 1974 and the Chief of Defence Force in 1990.
First Sword Of Honour Recipient
Kwan Yue Yeong was awarded the fi rst Sword of Honour as the top offi cer cadet in the fi rst course conducted at SAFTI in 1967. Before his retire- ment, COL Kwan was Chief Infantry Offi cer in the army.
First Singaporeans To Register For National Service
Ong Wai Meng and Albel Singh were the fi rst Singaporeans to register for National Service on 28 Mar 1967.
First And Top US Green Beret From Singapore
Singapore naval offi cer, LTA Wong Foo Chan, was the fi rst Singapore offi cer to complete and top the United States Army Special Forces’ Green Beret Course in Oct 2001. He was named Distinguished Allied Offi cer Graduate at the end of a seven-month course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
First SAF Chief Medical Offi cer
Dr David Roy Paul was the SAF’s fi rst Chief Medical Offi cer in 1966.
First Female Navy Diver In 2000, Esther Tan became the fi rst woman to be admitted to the Naval Diving Unit. MAJ Tan regularly takes part in triathlons, marathons and adventure races.
First Female Colonel
Karen Tan, Com- mander of Central Manpower Base, was promoted to Colonel in Jun 2005.
First Female RSM
When 1WO Jennifer Tan Siang Lang became 46 SAR’s new Regimental Sergeant Major in Jun 2006, she was also the fi rst female to be appointed as an RSM in the army. Tan’s father was also an RSM in the SAF.
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