SAF Honours Its Best Units

Servicemen from the 1st Commando Battalion - a unit which specialises in airborne operations, reconnaissance, and raid missions.

The Singapore Army's 1st Commando Battalion (1 Cdo Bn), the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s RSS Valiant, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s 143 Squadron (SQN) have clinched the Best Combat Unit, Best Fleet Unit and Best Fighter Squadron awards respectively in this year's Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Best Unit Competition. In total, 18 active units and 12 National Service (NS) units are recognised for being the best in their respective formations. President Halimah Yacob and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen will present the awards to the winners at the SAF Day Parade on 1 July 2023 at the SAFTI Military Institute.

1 Cdo Bn achieved the Best Combat Unit in the SAF Best Unit Competition for the 20th consecutive year, winning the award a record 37 times since the introduction of the competition in 1969. Trained to operate deep within enemy territories, the SAF Commandos are renowned for their high proficiency in specialised competencies such as airborne operations, reconnaissance, and raid missions. Commanding Officer (CO) of 1 Cdo Bn, Major (MAJ) Tan Rui Lin said, "I feel proud that the unit continues to maintain its standard of excellence, and that we are able to uphold the traditions that have been passed down through generations of Commandos. It is the brotherhood and family spirit within the Commando fraternity that motivates every Commando to give his best. When such a group of talented and competent individuals are united in pursuit of a common goal – that of becoming the best they can be – the battalion as a whole is able to achieve amazing things."

The year's Best Fleet Unit goes to the Victory-class Missile Corvette, RSS Valiant. This is the ship's fourth win, with the first in 1993 and most recently in 2012. RSS Valiant safeguarded our sea lines of communication, and demonstrated excellent warfare competencies and professionalism in key exercises such as the 20th edition of Exercise Singsiam and the 30th edition of Exercise Malapura in 2022. The Commanding Officer of RSS Valiant, MAJ Choy Seng Tuck attributed the achievement to the ship crew's dedication and perseverance. He said, "2022 was a demanding yet fulfilling year for us. As we entered a new normal post-COVID 19 pandemic, we ramped up our training tempo progressively, remained steadfast in our service, and flew the nation's flag high as we resumed large-scale exercises with face-to-face interactions. In these deployments, we continued to enhance defence relations, build friendships, and maintain our sharp edge. This win speaks volumes of the crew's valiant efforts and commitment to excellence. I am immensely proud of each and every crew member, and thankful for the personal sacrifices they had made with their families in defence of our nation."

The Republic of Singapore Air Force's 143 Squadron has won the Best Fighter Squadron for four consecutive years since 2020. It is the Squadron's seventh win in total, and their fifth while operating the F-16 multi-role fighter aircraft, including the upgraded version of the F-16, which the RSAF took delivery in June 2021. 143 Squadron conducts a wide spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, and maintains a high state of operational readiness and standards to support Singapore's 24/7 air defence operations. Commanding Officer of 143 Squadron, LTC Ng Joel, said "Winning the best fighter squadron award four times in a row is a tremendous honour and a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team. Beyond the squadron, I also want to acknowledge the wider RSAF team that have made this possible, including the engineers at 5 Air Engineering and Logistics Group, as well as the various Air Power Generation units at Tengah Air Base. Last but not least, I would also like to thank our families for their unwavering support, which allows us to give our 100% to our mission. As we celebrate our win alongside RSAF55, a significant milestone, 143 Squadron will continue to remain capable to defend Singapore's skies."

The annual SAF Best Unit and Best NS Unit Competitions were introduced in 1969 and 1993 respectively to recognise units which have excelled in the areas of combat readiness, operational proficiency and administrative excellence. The units are assessed based on a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process over the past year. The competitions also serve to enhance mission excellence, professionalism and camaraderie among servicemen in the SAF units.

Crew of the Republic of Singapore Navy's Victory-class Missile Corvette, RSS Valiant closed up at the ship's bridge.

Servicemen and woman from the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 143 Squadron, in front of the F-16C multi-role fighter aircraft.

More Resources

Fact Sheet: Winners of SAF Best Unit Competition 2023