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14 March 1967, the National Service Amendment Bill was passed, making registration for National Service compulsory for all males aged 18 and above. The first batch of national servicemen was drafted in July 1967 and discharged in July 1969 after performing. 2 years of full-time service. As reservists, they went on to form SAF's first reserve battalion, designated as 50 SIR.
The battalion HQ was located with 1 SIR at Guillermard Camp and the responsibility for raising this battalion was assigned to 2 SIB. Soon after, the 2nd batch of National Servicemen formed 51 SIR at Holland Road Camp. 3 SIB took charge of this battalion. When 52 SIR, the 3rd reserve battalion, was formed the following year, 50 SIR, 51 SIR and 52 SIR were then brought together to form 5 SIB, our first reserve brigade, on 29 June 1970 at Tanjong Gul Camp.
As more National Servicemen were released to the reserve, they came under the overall charge of HQ Reserve Infantry (HQ RI), established at Loewen Road
Camp in Tanglin in 1971. Following that, 6 SIB, the 2nd reserve brigade comprising 53 SIR, 54 SIR and 55 SIR, was formed at Loewen Road in July 1972 and placed under the command of HQ RI.
HQ RI eventually grew to encompass 5 SIB, 6 SIB, SAF Reserve Common Training Store (SAF RCTS) and the 2nd Logistics Field Support Group. HQ RI trained reserve units, whilst SAF RCTS provided administrative support in terms of stores, weapons and equipment.
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 |  | | | | 6 Division at Portsdown Camp | | | |
1976 - The Birth of 6 Division
As HQ RI expanded in size, it became imperative for the reserve units to be organised and trained in proper Brigades and Division HQs. The 6 Singapore Division, formed on 1 October 1976, was the 1st reserve Division HQ. As proper camp facilities for the Division had yet to be constructed, the Division HQ was housed on the premises of Portsdown Camp III, home of the SAF Guards Unit at that time.
Within 3 months of its formation, the Division HQ was ready to take charge of a brigade of its own. In November 1976, HQ 9 SIB, the 3rd reserve brigade, was formed under the command of 6 Division at Portsdown Camp.
As the 1st reserve Division HQ, the Division faced the challenge of building up the Division HQ in peacetime and the training of reservists for operations. With the basic foundations of the Division HQ laid by BG (Ret) Patrick Sim during his 1 year as Division Commander, COL Edward Yong assumed command in 1977.
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 | | | | | New Complex at Tanjong Gul Camp | | | |
1982 to 1997 The Growth of 6 Division
With more reservists released into the reserve, 6 Division raised additional brigades that were to form another Division. 10 SIB, 11 SIB, and 12 SIB were all raised by HQ 6 Division and eventually handed over to 9 Division. As 6 Division had matured in size and age, the time had come for the HQ 6 Division to be allocated a camp complex of its own. On 15 August 1997, MINDEF approved the proposal to site the HQ 6 Division in Tanjong Gul Camp.
Construction of the Tanjong Gul Camp Complex, estimated to cost more than $6.8 million, began in earnest and the buildings were ready for occupation on 20 June 1982.
6 RITC moved out of their premises at Pasir Laba Field Camp and shifted into the Tanjong Gul Camp Complex on 21 June 1985. With this new complex, all the reserve units under 6 Division were finally housed within one camp complex, thus enabling the Division to function better operationally as well as administratively.
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1991 - The Combined Arms Division
In 1991, the Army went through the first round of reorganisation. As a precedence, combat and support units were placed in the same Division to form the Combined Arms Divisions consisting the 3rd, the 6th and the 9th Division. This was a major improvement which demonstrated how the SAF had been maturing to the extent that it could operate as divisions with all the necessary support such as Armour, Artillery, Combat Engineers, Signals, Air Defence Artillery and Logistics under the command of the Division Commander.
Under this new structure, a Division need not request for any support from other formations since the formations now come under its direct command. This both allows the division to react more quickly to sudden changes and enables the various sub-units to forge closer ties. Operational effectiveness was raised holistically.
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1995 - The Reorganised CAD
After reorganisation in 1991, the Divisions were categorised in accordance to their status as active or NS battalions. 3 Division comprised solely of active units while the 6 Division and the 9 Division had NS units only. This unintentionally roused the sentiment that the 3 Div was a front-line Division (one that first enters battle) while the other two Divisions were second-line units
In truth, all NSmen are considered as front-line troops. Thus, came the second reorganisation of the Combined Arms Divisions in 1995. Active and NS battalions were placed, for the first time, in the same Division. They were also to be regarded as equals. For NSmen, this was the highest form of general recognition the SAF could give. For Singaporeans, it was reassuring to know that
the many battalions of NSmen were not second rated, but first rate troops.
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 | | | | | 6 Division in Nee Soon Camp | | | |
2000 - Relocation of HQ 6 Division
On April 2000, HQ 6 Division moved to it's new location in Nee Soon Camp. This move brings HQ 6 Div closer to its subunits. 6 Div is now just half an island away from 2 SIB. HQ 6 Div is looking forward to exciting times in the new camp.
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 | | | | | 6 Division in Mandai Hill Camp | | | |
2003 - Presently
On the 30 September 2003, HQ 6 Division finally move into its new home at Mandai Hill Camp. Mandai Hill Camp, which is SAF's first model camp, will provide the Division with an infrastructure befitting of a Combined Arms Division (CAD) of excellence and a unique opportunity to be in close proximity to our sub-units for the first time since 6 DIV became a CAD in 1992.
HQ 2 SIB, 1 SIR, 6 SIG BN and 622 SIR, united with HQ 6 DIV at a single location that will no doubt bring about greater operational and administrative efficiency.
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Last updated on 13 Nov 2006
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