Collaborations between the SAF and the SCDF

Over the years, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) have collaborated in various areas, such as medical classification and healthcare policies for national servicemen, operations and exercises, and conducted training that boosted interoperability.

The SAF and the SCDF medical personnel have also jointly participated in multiple Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations overseas and in civil contingencies locally. From the Hotel New World collapse in 1986 to the recent island-wide counter-terrorism exercise conducted in Oct 2016, the SAF and SCDF have been working together to respond to civil contingencies and ensure homeland security.

The SAF medics and SCDF regular paramedics undergo training together in the Emergency Medical Technician (Specialist) and Emergency Medical Specialist (EMS) courses conducted at the SAF Medical Training Institute (SMTI). The National Paramedic Training and Education Roadmap, launched in October 2015, also provides both SAF medics and SCDF regular paramedics the opportunity to pursue a Diploma or an Advanced Diploma in Paramedicine and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with Paramedicine and Emergency Response.

Deployment of SAF Medics on SCDF Ambulances Pilot Project

From September 2017, 12 SAF medics will be deployed on SCDF ambulances for a three-month pilot project. The 12 SAF medics, comprising ten full-time National Servicemen and two regular servicemen, will be attached to SCDF ambulances where both SAF and SCDF medical personnel will work closely together.

The deployment of the SAF medics in SCDF ambulances will be mutually helpful in responding to civilian medical emergencies, and meet the growing demand for emergency medical services. The deployment will also allow the SAF to fine-tune its operating procedures with the SCDF, to enable an enhanced medical response during homeland security and civil contingency operations.