SAF promotes first female to Brigadier-General rank

FireIce SG

SINGAPORE - Colonel Gan Siow Huang has smashed the "brass ceiling" to become the first female general in the Singapore Armed Forces.

The 40-year-old was among seven who headed the SAF's annual promotion list, receiving their first star on Friday as they moved up to the rank of Brigadier-General or Rear-Admiral.

The other six were: Colonel Lam Sheau Kai and Colonel Kenneth Liow from the Army; the Republic of Singapore Navy's Colonel Lew Chuen Hong and Colonel Frederick Chew; the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Colonel Kelvin Khong; and the Military Security Department's Colonel Paul Chew.

With that, they ascended to the top echelons of SAF, which will now have more than 20 generals or admirals.

Colonel Gan, one of four women who were the first to receive the SAF Merit Scholarship in 1993, said it had been a "tough journey" rising through the ranks in the last 22 years fraught with tough choices between career progression and family.

"I think it's about managing priorities, knowing what you really want...but with each choice, I accept the outcomes," said Col Gan, who served in numerous appointments such as commander of the RSAF's 203 squadron, and Air Surveillance and Control Group. Now the head of SAF's joint manpower department, she will take over as RSAF's head of air intelligence and director (Special Projects) next month.

Besides paying tribute to her supportive colleagues and bosses, Col Gan said strong family support was "absolutely critical" while she pursued her career.

The mother of three girls, aged 3, 8 and 12, said her parents-in-law as well as her husband, who left the the navy for the private sector in 2006, help take care of the children while she is at work.

In all, 413 officers, 74 military experts and 34 warrant officers from all three branches of the military earned promotions. Comprising regulars and operationally-ready national servicmen (NSmen), they were presented with their certificates at a ceremony at the Defence Ministry on Friday.

They will wear their new ranks from SAF Day on Wednesday, when the promotions take effect.

Yolandfry19 SG

http://www.ns.sg/nsp/web/content/saf-dress/main

Enchanter SG

The public image of any armed forces depends not only on its proven or potential fighting efficiency in times of war but also equally on its appearance and conduct as a disciplined and unified force. Therefore uniformity, correctness and smartness on all occasions are essential in projecting the desired public image.

Every service personnel must maintain a neat and clean appearance and be smartly dressed on all occasions while in uniform. Uniforms worn are to be neat, clean, properly fitted and pressed/ironed to portray a smart military image. The uniform must be worn properly at all times.

Our military bearing, turnout and conduct reflect the level of discipline and professionalism in the SAF. Apart from facilitating operational readiness, it is therefore crucial for us to upkeep SAF’s image with good military bearing and professionalism. Every serviceman is expected to maintain appropriate bearing and turnout, and acceptable haircut is part of it. Refer to Annex A for Acceptable Haircut in MINDEF/SAF.

Sikh personnel wearing the turban and patkas, and practising Sikhism prior to enlistment for Full-time National Service are allowed to keep long hair due to their tradition. However, they are to ensure that the hair showings below the turban are neatly tucked in and that beard and moustache are neatly groomed.

All SAF uniformed personnel (including Regulars, NSF, NSmen and SAF Volunteer Corps) are not allowed to wear the SAF uniform or any part of the SAF uniform, when overseas except when on official duties.

A Regular, NSF, NSmen or SAF VC is not to wear the uniform or any part of it except when:

The SAF Day marks the importance of defence and the role of every soldier in defending Singapore. To increase public support for defence and NS, all NSmen are encouraged to wear their SAF uniform to work on 1st July.

Temporary excuse from wearing uniform may be given to service personnel for medical reasons certified by SAF Medical Officers.

The authorised numbered order of dress in the SAF is as follow:

Generally, the SAF uniform is to be worn for the following occasions:

Any clarification to the SAF Dress Instructions can be directed to SAF SM Office through Services' R&D or Unit RSM.

1. Acceptable haircut for male.

Moustaches are permitted. If a moustache is kept, it has to be kept neatly trimmed and of moderate length. No portion is to fall below a line parallel with the bottom of the upper lip or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corner of the mouth.

iveco SG

something tells me BG Gan may be tapped by the pigs in white as a possible candidate for future elections.

[email protected] SG

These instructions set out the method of wearing medals, their miniatures and ribbons.

Only the following medals (including its miniatures and ribbons) may be worn:

Permission to wear any foreign or non-military award must be sought from Chairman, SAF Dress Committee except when permission has been granted. Service personnel may seek permission through their Services' R&D or Unit RSM.

Medals are worn on the left side of the uniform, in accordance with the order of precedence. Full-sized medals are worn with the No.1 and No.5 dress (Enhanced). The medals are worn centrally on the left side of the jacket showing the obverse face. The base of the medals should be just above the pocket button.

Singapore awards will take precedence over foreign awards. Foreign medals will be worn according to date of award based on the date receipt, i.e. the earlier award on the wearer’s right just after Singapore awards.

Miniature medals are to be worn with the mess kit (No.2 dress).

Ribbons are worn on No.3, No.5 (S), No.5 (T) and No.5 (J) dress without the orders, decorations and medals. They are worn immediately above the left chest pocket flap. The senior ribbon is worn on the wearer’s right and in the top row when more than one row is worn. Ribbons are worn to a maximum of three in a row. Ribbons in excess of this number are to be worn centrally above the completed row.

The loss of any insignia awarded/issued is to be reported to Chairman, SAF Dress Committee through their respective R&D. The replacement process is in accordance to the medal rules stated in the gazette. Replacement of losses of individual awards is entirely the responsibility of the owner.

Lalalalaboy SG

In military tradition, all Commissioned Officer (including NSF and NS officers) are eligible for military wedding. All applicants are required to seek approval from their respective Services' R&D.

The term military wedding is generally used when the groom and the groomsman are in military uniform and the bride and groom pass through under the traditional Arch of Swords. The tradition of the military wedding inherited from the British is usually the choice of the bride and groom who wants both colour and ritual ceremony. It can be a spectacular memory for those who are authorized to be married in a military wedding.

A military wedding follows the same custom and format as a civilian wedding with the exception that the groom/bride is in military uniform and there is an Arch of Swords formed by officers. A military wedding is usually the choice of the bride and groom who want a ceremony with military decorum.

As a military wedding follows certain aspects of military decorum and drill, the wedding proceedings should not breach military protocol and regulations. Only commissioned officers are entitled for a military wedding.

Military wedding is a privilege presented to the Officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Donning No. 1 Dress accompanied by Sword Bearers forming the Arch of Sword makes the event memorable and adds to the military grandeur. Traditionally the bride and groom walk through the arch of swords, signifying the couple's safe transition into their new life together.

The principal considerations for this ceremony are:

¹Applicant in Army is to submit their request to G1 Army through their Unit S1, at least one month before the wedding.

The sequence of this ceremony is:

The composition of this ceremony is:

The attires for this ceremony are:

Any clarification to the SAF Dress – Military Wedding can be directed to SAF SM Office through their Services’ R&D or Unit RSM.

MadeEasy4U SG

The principle of wearing the SAF badges is that the vocation badge or the badge of highest precedence will be worn closest to the heart and above all others when more than one badge is worn. All SAF badges, except for Identification badges are to be worn on the left side of the uniform. A maximum of three badges can be worn on the left chest area and a maximum of two tabs and two badges on the left shoulder sleeves.

Approved foreign badges are to be worn in accordance with how they are worn on the awarding country/foreign armed forces’ uniform, except that they are worn on the right side of the uniform. A maximum of three foreign badges may be worn on the right chest area, two foreign badges may be worn on the right pocket flap and one foreign badge may be worn on the right beast pocket of the uniform. A total of three badges including Identification Badge may be worn on the right chest area and a maximum of three foreign badges may be worn on the right side of the uniform at any one point of time. One foreign skill tab may be worn on the right sleeve.

SAF badges are categorised into the following groups:

Within each category, the order of precedence is according to Service, for example, Army personnel will wear the airborne wings ahead of a diver's badge while Navy personnel will wear them vice-versa.