CREATING THE SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES
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THREE
4. The Finance and Home Affairs Division had the dual task of managing the finances of
MID and control over the internal security of the Republic through the Police. (With the
creation of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1970, the Finance Division dealt only with
MINDEF finances.)
These foundations have stood the test of time and except for a major addition in the form
of the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), are largely intact, although in
August 1970, MID was separated into the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home
Affairs, with the latter taking over the Singapore Police Force and the Internal Security
Department (ISD).
MINDEF at Upper Barrack, Pearl’s Hill, 1970s.
VIII. A LOCAL MILITARY TRAINING ACADEMY
Prior to SAFTI, all regular officers for the indigenous military forces had been trained
abroad, mostly at the prestigious Federation Military College (FMC) at Sungei Besi in
Selangor state, peninsular Malaysia. Here, regular commissions were awarded after a two-
year course of study. There was also a Short Service Commission (SSC), which left out the
academic subjects, concentrating on a slightly modified version of the military subjects and
lasting six months. Initially, the SSC officers would sign a five-year contract of full-time
service, followed by two 3-year contracts at the end of which they would have to either
opt for a regular commission or quit.
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There were other career regulars who were selected
for the coveted commission courses in the Australian Army Officer Cadet School, Portsea,
in Victoria, Australia. No local SAF officer in 1965 had been trained at the Royal Military