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Effective command and control in a military operation is crucial in ensuring its success. Without proper communication links in place, information and orders cannot be transmitted efficiently, resulting in chaos and possibly defeat. Thus the importance of the Signals formation which is tasked among other responsibilities with the role of setting up and maintaining field communication links.
This article takes a peek into the formation of Signals within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
In the Beginning
SAF Signals can trace its beginnings as a volunteer unit under the umbrella of the Singapore Volunteer Corps. It underwent a number of changes in the fifties and sixties when Singapore went through the phases of decolonization and merger.
The Volunteer Signal unit was reorganised into a squadron which included both volunteers and regulars when the Singapore Military Forces (SMF) was formed in 1954. Later, when Singapore merged with the Federated States of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963, the SMF Squadron was absorbed into the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and renamed the Fourth Malaysian Signal Squadron.
But the merger was short, lasting for a little less than two years. With the the Separation, there was an urgent need to build up an indigenous signal corps to support the rapid growth of the local armed forces. This heralded the birth of 1 SAF Signal Corps on 1 March 1966.
Key Developments in a Glance
Under a tight timeline and facing tremendous manpower and resource constraints, the Signal pioneers rose to the challenge of building up Signal Corps.
The Communications and Electronics (C&E) Department was set up within the same year of the formation of SAF Signal Corps. This was followed by the establishment of SAFTI Signal Wing to train Signal personnels soon after. With the formation of the Wing, the first Signal Officers and NCOs Course was successfully conducted in 1967, overcoming the twin obstacles of inexperience and resourcescarcity.
As the demand for Signal officers and NCOs continued to grow, the Signal Wing was officially recognised as an independent unit in 1968and was renamed the School of Signals. The C&E Department in the General Staff Division was also upgraded to a specialist staff HQ and renamed HQ C&E in 1970 to cope with the expansion of Signals and the increasing complexity of tasks. More than a decadelater, HQ C&E was renamed once more as HQ Signals.
To support the rapid build-up of the SAF, more Signal battalions were set up. The 1st SAF Signal Corps provided communications to the Ministry HQ and was renamed 1 Signal Battalion in 1982. The Static Radio Relay Unit (SRRU) was formed to provide point-to-point communication and connected all major SAF camps and installations in a single network. It was renamed 2 Signal Battalion in 1984. From the seventies, several Signal battalions were set up to support the communication requirements of the divisions that were being formed.
Besides providing communications to the SAF, Signals made significant contributions in developing C2 (Command and Control) systems as seen in the evolution from Radio Relay (R/R) to Trunk Communications before moving on to Information Systems and Knowledge Management.
Digital Revolution
Riding on the waves of information technology in the nineties and the twentieth century, Signals improved its operational capabilities in leaps and bounds. Existing equipment was enhanced and new equipment was developed. An example would be the Command and Control Information System (CCIS) which phased out dated practices of drawing maps on plastic sheets before an exercise.
Tasked to spearhead IKC2 (Integrated Knowledge-based Command and Control), Signals was reorganised to create capacity for C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers) operations and develop the capability to keep pace with SAF's transformation. The formation of 8 Signal Battalion and the Army IKC2 Office are some steps taken in its transformation .
The Signal Formation has come a long way since its humble beginnings in Beach Road Camp when it began its operations below the badminton hall. Taking the spate of new challenges posed by the information age in its stride, Signals is well-positioned to support the SAF's third generation transformation efforts.
References
1. Signal 40th Anniversary Book - The Signal Journey - Of Command & Systems launched in 2006.
2. The Singapore Artillery 100th Anniversary Book – 1888-1988.
3. Pioneer Issues: October 1990, June and October 1992, February 2008.
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