Terrific achievement by the 1st CDO; my congrats.
SOCT is part of the Formation, rather than the Battalion
itself.
The earlier ban occurred last year; here's the news report.
Commando unit barred from SAF competition
Source: THE STRAITS TIMES
Source date: 2003-6-17
By DAVID BOEY
DEFENCE CORRESPONDENT
THE crack Commando unit has been barred from competing for one of
the militarys top honours because of cheating involving
record-keeping and fitness scores.
Several personnel from the 1st Commando Battalion are also facing
disciplinary action.
This is believed to be the first time a Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF) unit has been booted out of the competition for the Best
Combat Unit award. It is a major blow to the Commandos, who hold
the record for having won the annual award 17 times, since the
contest started in 1969.
The battalion last won it in 2001. Last year, it was edged out of
the top spot by the 40th Singapore Armoured Regiment. The red
berets bid to reclaim the honours, given out every year during SAF
Day celebrations on July 1, ended late last year.
In response to The Straits Times queries, the Defence Ministry
(Mindef) yesterday confirmed that irregularities were uncovered in
late 2002 in the logistics or storekeeping records of one of the
sub-units of 1st Commando Battalion. There were also discrepancies
in the individual fitness test scores reported by two of the units
specialists, who handle the stores.
A ministry spokesman said: The SAF takes a serious view of such
matter. As a result, the unit was disallowed from participating in
the Best Unit Competition for the year. This is to uphold the
integrity and high standards of the competition. Disciplinary
action is being taken against the individuals concerned.
Word of the Commandos ban has been making its round in
defence-linked Internet chatrooms.
It is believed that storekeepers, who are tasked with managing all
supplies from light bulbs to spare tyres, doctored some paperwork
to account for missing items.
Army inspectors unmasked the cover-up during a logistics readiness
inspection at the battalion. The inspection, which assess the level
of competence of storekeepers in SAF units, is part of the
selection process in the best-unit competition.
The year-long assessment also grades SAF units on matters like
battle readiness, administrative efficiency, marksmanship, manpower
issues and the way the unit handles security matters.
The unit with the highest overall score receives the Best Combat
Unit trophy from the President during the SAF Day parade on July 1.
The winning unit also gets to safeguard the SAF Colours a top
honour reserved for the best unit in the SAF.
The 1st Commando Battalion based at Hendon Camp near Changi Point,
has traditionally been regarded as the leading contender for the
trophy because some of the fittest and most motivated servicemen
are selected for commando training.
