Fact Sheet: MINDEF PRIDE Day 2012 Award Winners

(A) MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AWARD

The Minister for Defence Award (MDA) is given to the top MINDEF/SAF unit or department that has excelled in all components of the PRIDE Movement, namely productivity and innovation, organisational excellence, resource optimisation and staff well-being. The MDA this year goes to the Force Readiness Squadron (FRS) of the Republic of Singapore Navy. 

In line with the squadron's motto to "Excel in Readiness", the FRS consistently demonstrates the highest levels of professionalism, innovation, care for its personnel, and the creation of value for customers. The FRS credits its success to the desire of the squadron's workforce to find meaning in work and to constantly innovate to enhance the unit's capabilities. Additionally, the FRS' leadership constantly pushes for cross-functional sharing and collaboration, instilling in the FRS the belief that excellence in innovation can only be sustained by enabling continual learning through exchanges with and sharing with others. 

The FRS has also been awarded the MINDEF Innovation Award this year. The MINDEF Innovation Award is the top accolade presented to the unit or department that has developed and implemented projects of great innovative impact while nurturing the outstanding qualities of its people. Winning both the MDA and MINDEF Innovation Award 2012 is a testament to the FRS' core belief that people make the difference, and that excellence comes naturally when there is a reinforced commitment to excel.

(B) MINDEF EXCELLENCE AWARD

The MINDEF Excellence Award (MEA) is conferred on the unit or department that has demonstrated the highest distinction in management and organisational systems. The MEA, modeled after the Singapore Quality Class Award criteria, provides a comprehensive framework for MINDEF/SAF agencies to benchmark themselves against world-class standards of performance. The winner for the 2012 MEA is the 6th Army Maintenance Base (6 AMB).

6 AMB serves a wide range of customers, primarily the Artillery, Signals, and Intelligence Units. The pursuit of organisational and operational excellence has enabled 6 AMB to provide its customers with quality support services and to excel in areas like Leadership, Planning, Information, Processes and People.

(C) SAVINGS AND VALUE ENHANCEMENT AWARD

The Savings and Value Enhancement (SAVE) Award is conferred on the best Economy Drive project in terms of its creativity in exploring alternative solutions and achieving significance cost savings. The SAVE Award this year goes to the SAF Ammunition Command (SAFAC) for their project, "Just-In-Time (JIT) Ammunition Supply".

The JIT system represents a paradigm shift in the current stockpiling concept, without compromising on operational readiness. By leveraging on the production capability of the local defence industry and acquiring the majority of the stockpile only when required, the JIT system has eliminated huge capital outlays, inventory holding costs as well as the cost of disposing expired ammunition. The JIT system has enabled SAFAC to optimise the management of the SAF's 40mm High Explosive Dual Purpose rifle grenades, achieving significant savings of $27M in stockpile cost. In addition, it has reduced manpower effort in terms of warehousing, inventory management and ammunition testing. The successful application of the JIT methodology has also paved the way for further implementation to other ammunition items and commodities.

(D) BEST WORK IMPROVEMENT TEAM SCHEME PROJECT AWARDS

The Best Work Improvement Team Scheme (WITS) Project Award recognises outstanding WITS teams that have devised constructive ideas, solutions and improvements of significant impact to MINDEF/SAF. Two projects that won the Best WITS Project Award are listed below.

1) Locally Fabricated Triple Ejector Rack-9A (TER-9A) Field Tester

The TER-9A is the main role equipment that carries multiple bombs on the F-16 Fighter Aircraft. Bombs are first loaded on the TER-9A before they are delivered to the aircraft. Currently, the TER-9A can only be tested in a workshop environment. In addition to not being operationally viable, this is also time-consuming as the TER-9A has to be transported from the warehouses to the workshop for testing, before being sent to the pre-loading sites. Team Blue Sapphire from Air Power Generation Command designed and fabricated a TER-9A Field Tester to carry out functional checks on the TER-9A at the sites of operations. With this TER-9A Field Tester, there is now 100% confidence on the serviceability of the TER-9A for operations. In addition, a 40% and 60% reduction in munitions preparation cycle and testing time respectively have also been achieved, boosting the RSAF operational edge. The project achieved cost savings of over $13,000.

2) Portable Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (The Eye)

Naval Diving Unit's (NDU) Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NEOD) operators are required to perform manual approaches for surveillance and disposal of water-borne explosive threats, which expose them to a high level of risk. Similar to the concept of assessing explosives on land with the assistance of EOD robots, Team Triple 'I' from NDU proposed the use of a commercial off-the-shelf remote surveillance unmanned system to achieve the same effect in a maritime environment. This unmanned system, called The Eye, can be deployed to perform the initial approach on water-borne explosive threats, with the option of delivering an explosive charge. In addition to reducing the mission's risk factor, The Eye also results in man-hour saving as only one man is required to operate the system, compared to six men being required to operate the sea boat for a manual approach. The project achieved cost savings of over $120,000.

(E) MINDEF STAR SERVICE AWARD

The MINDEF STAR Service Award (MSSA) recognises personnel who excel in their areas of responsibility and render service beyond their call of duty. By rewarding role models who have displayed exemplary performance in service delivery, it also aims to inspire other servicemen to do likewise, reinforcing the importance of providing good service. This year, the six most deserving recipients who have been selected to receive the 2012 MSSA are:

1) CPT Phang Wei Yi, Staff Officer, Human Resource Institute, Army

CPT Phang developed a new BMT programme that helped recruits better understand and adjust to National Service and military training. Units have feedback that the servicemen posted to them after BMT are able to assimilate more quickly into the units, possessed better attitude and are more knowledgeable of their roles in MINDEF/SAF.

"We would like to commend CPT Phang for his guidance and patience with our son during his BMT," says a Mother of a BMT Recruit.

2) Mr Desmond Lim Delan, Staff Officer, Air Power Generation Command, RSAF

Mr Lim went the extra mile to assist one of his servicemen who was in a vegetative state due to a service injury. Mr Lim willingly sacrificed his weekends to accompany the serviceman's family members to medical appointments and to personally ensure that the serviceman was well taken care of.

"When I first enlisted, Mr Lim helped me in many ways, arranging counselling services as well as providing me with the necessary support and understanding," says CFC(NS) Anderson Ong, ASA.

3) Mr Lum Boon Yew, Head Retrofitting Planning, Naval Logistics Command, RSN

Mr Lum went beyond his work obligations to offer help and care when an NSman under his charge was diagnosed with cancer. Mr Lum tried to extend the NSman's welfare benefits beyond his ICT period. Even though this was not possible, the effort to do so demonstrated the deep care and concern Mr Lum had for his NSman. 

"Mr Lum is a very proactive person and keeps ahead of the situation. He has good leadership qualities. Above all, he is a very honest and kind person at heart," says a Member of Maritime Community.

4) ME3 Lim Han Leong, Chief Operations Supervisor, Joint Staff

ME3 Lim was commended for his professionalism and dedication in providing excellent service in support of the RSAF's innovation movement and the projects assigned to him.

Ms Wendy Tay, DSTA Engineer, affirmed this by saying, "ME3 Lim has been responsive and supportive in our joint collaboration work and has always helped others along the way. He goes the extra mile to get the task done, which is exemplary and commendable." 

5) Mr Ervin Pang Jin Yao, MINDEF Feedback Officer, MINDEF Public Affairs, Defence Policy Group 

Mr Pang went the extra mile to allay the concerns of an anxious parent who was overseas by personally following up on a request for NS deferment.

The mother of the pre-enlistee says, "I want to commend Mr Pang for an excellent job in promptly and efficiently handling our son's application approval. Personally, I feel that Mr Pang has gone over and beyond his call of duty to help with this special case ...I am glad that you have such a dedicated, caring and responsible person in your team. Keep up the good work!"

6) Ms Betty Ho, Senior Executive Assistant, MINDEF Human Resource Department, Defence Management Group

Ms Ho has been highly commended by customers for her courtesy, professionalism and responsiveness in following up on their recruitment requests.

LTC Lee Yem Choo, Hd MINDEF/SAF HRSC, says, "I want to commend Ms Ho for her courtesy, resourcefulness and service excellence. She is quick to serve and her advice is succinct and professional. With her around, MINDEF's efficiency and professional image will be greatly enhanced. She is an asset to MINDEF. Great service!"

More Resources

• 25th MINDEF PRIDE Day – iMATTER. iCAN. iWILL.

• Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, at the MINDEF PRIDE Day Award Presentation Ceremony at MINDEF Auditorium