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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