Specially trained soldiers take over protection of
strategic places
By David Boey
Defence Correspondent
AFTER eight months of specialised training, a battalion of
infantrymen is now ready to protect such strategic Singapore places
as Changi Airport, and Jurong Island with its chemical
plants.
Soldiers from the 6th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (6
SIR), began their mission last month, taking over the patrols of
other SAF soldiers who had been guarding these places since the
Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.
The 6 SIR is the SAF's first 'protection of installations'
battalion, said the December edition of Pioneer, the monthly
magazine of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Its commanding officer, Major Kong Kam Yean, said the training in
homeland security the soldiers received had been intensive. The
lessons ranged from how to recognise home-made bombs and booby
traps, to managing civilians in moments of crisis.
They had to undergo surveillance exercises to detect
intruders, plus drills to test their ability to protect strategic
places against saboteurs.
One of the major challenges facing his men is having to operate in
a largely civilian environment, where 'our enemy is not easily
identified'. It is a new role, quite unlike the 'conventional
hot-war scenario'.
And as the soldiers are armed with firepower in places frequented
by civilians, such as the airport's passenger terminals, each 6 SIR
soldier knows 'comprehensive rules of engagement'
governing the use of force in different situations, said Major
Kong.
However, amid carrying out their homeland security missions, the
battalion's full-time National Servicemen and regulars also
maintain combat capabilities which other SAF infantry units
possess.
Major Kong expressed confidence that his 'well-trained' men could
stand up to the elusive enemy.
'They are thinking soldiers, able to deal with civilians
confidently and look for things that are 'out of
place'.'
The training and deployment of the new SAF unit is the latest in a
series of measures taken by various defence agencies to harden
Singapore's defences.
--ST
