Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition

The Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition is an annual competition which confers awards of recognition to the most outstanding units of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in combat readiness, operational proficiency and administrative excellence. Besides encouraging the above, the award also seeks to promote esprit-de-corps and camaraderie among participating Army, Air Force and Navy units through friendly competition.[1]

The assessment factors of the competition are:

  • Combat Proficiency Test
  • Marksmanship Test
  • Individual Physical Proficiency Test
  • Standard Obstacle Course
  • Unarmed Combat
  • Security
  • Manpower Matters
  • Logistics Readiness Inspection
  • Vehicle State
  • Training Safety

The competition was started for active SAF units in 1969, before being extended to the reservist units (now known as NS units) in 1993. These units are conferred their awards at the annual Singapore Armed Forces Day parade.

The types of units that participate include:

Past active unit winners

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Active Army units

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The 1st Commando Battalion has won the Best Combat Unit for an unprecedented 38 times since the award was launched in 1969, and for 21 consecutive years since 2004.[3]

YearBest Army Units
CombatCombat SupportInfantry/GuardsArmourArtilleryEngineersSignals/C4ICombat Service Support[4]
19691 SIRNot contestedNot contestedNot contestedNot contestedNot contestedNot contestedNot contested
1970
19713 SIR
19724 SIRGEB
19732 SIR1 SIB
19741 CDO BN
197530 SCE
1976
197736 SCE1 SIR41 SAR24 SA36 SCE
197841 SAR1 SIG4 SIR35 SCE1 SIG BN
197942 SARSAFPU6 SIR42 SAR160 BN38 SCE2 SIG BN
19807 SIR7 SIR41 SAR1 SIG BN
19813 GDS2 SIG3 GDS46 SAR22 SA2 SIG
198242 SARSAFPU42 SAR23 SAGSMB
19833 GDS2 SIG46 SAR25 SA35 SCEOSB
198441 SAR40 SAR40 SAR22 SA1 SIG
19851 CDO BN1 CDO BN41 SAR
19865 SIR5 SIR40 SAR23 SA36 SCE1 TPT BN
19871 CDO BNSAFPU6 SIR24 SA-OSB
198820 SA5 SIR20 SA35 SCE
19892 SIR41 SAR36 SCE
199024 SA5 SIR24 SA6 DSMB
19913 GDS3 GDS46 SAR35 SCEGSMB
19921 CDO BN22 SA1 GDS42 SAR22 SA36 SCE
199323 SA5 SIR23 SA
199420 SA40 SAR20 SA3 SIG1 TPT BN
199522 SA3 GDS42 SAR22 SA1 SIG
199636 SCE1 GDS23 SA
19973 SIR3 SIR40 SAR21 SA2 SIG9 DSMB
19981 SIR1 SIR1 SIG
19991 CDO BN21 SA2 SIG1 TPT BN
200020 SA3 GDS20 SA3 DSMB
20012 SIG24 SA35 SCE9 DSMB
200240 SAR20 SA1 SIR20 SA3 TPT BN
20031 GDS3 SIG1 GDS46 SAR24 SA3 SIGGSMB
20041 CDO BN3 TPT3 SIR3 TPT
200523 SA1 SIR41 SAR23 SA
20063 SIG5 SIR46 SAR36 SCEGSMB
20072 SIR40 SAR24 SA1 AMB
200824 SA3 GDS40 SAR30 SCE2 SIG3 TPT BN
200939 SCE3 SIR42 SAR23 SA39 SCE3 SIG
20103 GDS21 SA1 SIG
201124 SA3 SIR48 SAR24 SA
201211 C4I35 SCE11 C4I6 AMB
20131 SIG4 SIR40 SAR1 SIG
201438 SCE
201538 SCE1 GDS48 SAR
20163 GDS40 SARGSAB
20171 GDS48 SAR6 AMB
20183 GDS11 C4I
20193 SIR41 SAR17 C4I
20201 GDS40 SAR11 C4I
202135 SCE3 SIR41 SAR35 SCE16 C4I
202239 SCE1 SIR21 SA39 SCE10 C4I
202338 SCE1 GDS23 SA38 SCE16 C4I
202430 SCE2 SIR42 SAR24 SA30 SCE10 C4I
YearCombatCombat SupportInfantry/GuardsArmourArtilleryEngineersSignals/C4ICombat Service Support[4]

Retired award

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YearBest Army Units
Minor (1974–1976)
1974OMB
1975SAFPU
197636 SCE


Active Navy units

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Two new awards in maritime security and in naval engineering and logistics were introduced in 2015.

RSS Intrepid (Formidable-class frigate), winner of Best Ship Award in 2013
RSS Victory
YearBest Navy Units
Fleet[5]Maritime SecurityNaval Engineering & Logistics
1981RSS Independence (Fast patrol craft)Not contestedNot contested
1982RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1983RSS Justice (Fast patrol craft)
1984RSS Dauntless (Fast patrol craft)
1985RSS Persistence (County-class LST)
1986RSS Swift Archer (Coastal patrol craft)
1987RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1988RSS Sea Hawk (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1989RSS Sea Wolf (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1990RSS Sea Dragon (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1991RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1992RSS Vigilance (Victory-class corvette)
1993RSS Valiant (Victory-class corvette)
1994RSS Sea Hawk (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1995RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette)
1996
1997RSS Sea Dragon (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1998RSS Sea Lion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1999RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette)
2000
2001RSS Vigour (Victory-class corvette)
2002
2003RSS Vigilance (Victory-class corvette)
2004RSS Vengeance (Victory-class corvette)
2005RSS Resolution (Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank)
2006RSS Vengeance (Victory-class corvette)
2007
2008RSS Formidable (Formidable-class frigate)
2009RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette)
2010RSS Stalwart (Formidable-class frigate)
2011RSS Chieftain (Challenger-class submarine)
2012RSS Valiant (Victory-class corvette)
2013RSS Intrepid (Formidable-class frigate)
2014RSS Formidable (Formidable-class frigate)
2015RSS TenaciousRSS ResilienceSystems Readiness Engineering Centre (Weapons)
2016RSS VigourRSS BedokSystems Readiness Engineering Centre (Networks and Sensors)
2017RSS SteadfastRSS ResilienceShip Superintending Engineering Centre
2018RSS StalwartRSS DaringSystems Readiness Engineering Centre (Weapons)
2019RSS FormidableRSS Independence
2020RSS VigourShip Superintendent Engineering Centre
2021RSS ConquerorRSS FortitudeSystems Readiness Engineering Centre (Weapons)
2022RSS TenaciousRSS Fearless
2023RSS ValiantRSS Dauntless
2024RSS TenaciousRSS Indomitable
YearFleet[5]Maritime SecurityNaval Engineering & Logistics

Active Air Force units

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The Best Helicopter Squadron award was introduced in 2010 to recognise the contributions of the RSAF helicopter squadrons. In 2014, two new awards in Control and Air Engineering were introduced. A new award in air logistics was introduced in 2015. 140 SQN currently holds the record for clinching the Best fighter Squadron 12 times.

YearBest Air Force Units
Fighter SquadronHelicopter SquadronGround Based Air Defence[6]Air Combat Support[7]Control SquadronAir EngineeringAir Base Operability[8]
1985145 SQN (A-4S Skyhawk)Not contested165 SADANot contestedNot contestedNot contestedNot contested
1986140 SQN (Hawker Hunter)
1987149 SQN (F-5E/F Tiger II)
1988160 SADA
1989143 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk)120 SQN (UH-1H)
1990165 SADA122 SQN (C-130 Hercules)
1991140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon)160 SADA111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye)
1992165 SADA120 SQN (UH-1H)
1993160 SADA125 SQN (Super Puma)
1994126 SQN (Cougar)
1995144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II)160 SQN120 SQN (UH-1H)
1996140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon)3 DA BN
1997145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk)165 SQN121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
1998122 SQN (C-130 Hercules)
1999140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon)160 SQN125 SQN (Super Puma)
2000145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk)163 SQN120 SQN (UH-1H)
2001142 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk)111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye)
2002149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II)3 DA BN121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2003140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon)18 DA BN
2004149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II)160 SQN120 SQN (UH-1H)
2005144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II)122 SQN (C-130 Hercules)
2006140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon)112 SQN (KC-135 Stratotanker)
20073 DA BN127 SQN (CH-47SD Chinook)
2008149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II)121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2009144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II)112 SQN (KC-135 Stratotanker)
2010140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon)127 SQN (CH-47SD Chinook)121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2011149 SQN120 SQN165 SQN
2012145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk)126 SQN163 SQN111 SQN
2013149 SQN (F-15SG Strike Eagle)116 SQN
2014145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk)125 SQN122 SQN203 SQN807 SQN
2015144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II)126 SQN112 SQN206 SQNAir Force Supply Centre
2016140 SQN127 SQN6 DA BN121 SQN208 SQN707 SQN
2017143 SQN125 SQN165 SQN205 SQN811 SQNAir Force Supply Centre
2018149 SQN112 SQN207 SQN817 SQN706 SQN
2019142 SQN3 DA BN119 SQN206 SQN811 SQN707 SQN
2020143 SQN163 SQN122 SQN816 SQN706 SQN
2021120 SQN3 DA BN112 SQN
20226 DA BN119 SQN811 SQN608 SQN
20233 DA BN111 SQN201 SQN816 SQN707 SQN
2024142 SQN163 SQN205 SQN817 SQN
YearFighter SquadronHelicopter SquadronGround Based Air Defence[6]Air Combat Support[7]Control SquadronAir EngineeringAir Base Operability[8]

Past National Service unit winners

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Army NS units

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YearBest Army NS Units
Infantry / GuardsArmourArtilleryCombat engineersSignals/C4ICombat Service SupportCombat Support
199467 GDS / 88 GDS / 187 SIR422 SAR211 SA307 SCE6 SIG BN9 DS MED BNNot contested
1995514 SIR / 543 SIR / 70 GDS / 91 GDS432 SAR204 SA8 SIG BN
1996184 SIR / 188 SIR / 504 SIR / 514 SIR / 543 SIR / 70 GDS423 SAR265 SA6 SIG BN6 DS MED BN
199783 SIR / 188 SIR / 525 SIR / 541 SIR / 70 GDS / 550 GDS204 SA321 SCE
1998184 SIR / 514 SIR / 525 SIR / 542 SIR / 531 GDS / 549 GDS416 SAR308 SCE
1999185 SIR / 187 SIR / 523 SIR / 573 SIR / 531 GDS / 548 GDS425 SAR211 SA322 SCE
200085 SIR / 187 SIR / 524 SIR / 573 SIR / 595 SIR / 548 GDS466 SAR323 SCE
2001516 SIR / 542 SIR / 557 SIR / 602 SIR / 86 GDS / 90 GDS274 SA326 SCE
2002652 SIR / 621 SIR / 596 SIR / 550 GDS / 86 GDS / 524 SIR254 SA324 SCE
2003652 SIR / 652 SIR / 595 SIR / 550 GDS / 90 GDS / 548 GDS271 SA327 SCE9 SIG BN
2004652 SIR / 657 SIR / 596 SIR / 543 SIR / 566 SIR / 583 GDS424 SAR278 SA328 SCE6 SIG BN
2005588 SIR / 596 SIR / 657 SIR / 682 SIR / 550 GDS466 SAR275 SA324 SCE9 DS MED BN
2006626 SIR / 657 SIR / 596 SIR / 581 SIR / 609 SIR442 SAR278 SA6 DS MED BN
2007652 SIR / 622 SIR / 596 SIR / 609 SIR / 566 SIR466 SAR256 SA328 SCE31 FCCS BN
2008652 SIR / 622 SIR / 596 SIR / 634 GDS / 663 SIR442 SAR280 SA327 SCE
2009652 SIR / 622 SIR / 696 SIR / 685 GDS / 628 SIR282 SA329 SCE
2010588 SIR / 700 SIR / 720 SIR / 685 GDS / 663 SIR280 SA9 SIG BN
2011688 SIR / 700 SIR / 720 SIR / 724 GDS / 693 SIR453 SAR282 SA
2012778 SIR / 700 SIR / 803 SIR / 745 GDS / 747 GDS452 SAR6 SIG BN
2013688 SIR / 755 SIR / 720 SIR / 745 GDS / 747 GDS430 SAR287 SA321 SCE3 CSH
2014688 SIR / 755 SIR / 787 SIR / 734 GDS / 611 GDS483 SAR289 SA324 SCE32 CSS BN
2015688 SIR / 700 SIR / 787 SIR / 740 GDS / 611 GDS485 SAR321 SCE9 SIG BN8 CSH
2016754 SIR / 772 SIR / 787 SIR / 735 GDS / 611 SIR288 SA324 SCE3 CSH
2017733 SIR / 769 SIR / 788 SIR / 740 GDS / 812 SIR474 SAR289 SA327 SCE2 CSH
2018746 SIR / 772 SIR / 788 SIR / 740 GDS / 612 SIR473 SAR288 SA324 SCE63 CSS BN
2019746 SIR / 769 SIR / 790 SIR / 745 GDS / 792 SIR474 SAR267 SA327 SCE
2020786 SIR / 797 SIR / 790 SIR / 737 GDS / 792 SIR228 SA351 SCE
2021746 SIR / 783 SIR / 793 SIR / 737 GDS / 716 SIR484 SAR295 SA-38 CSS BN351 SCE
2022786 SIR / 783 SIR / 791 SIR / 758 GDS / 716 SIR474 SAR9 SIG BN / 167 C4I61 CSS BN-
2023776 SIR / 783 SIR / 791 SIR / 758 GDS / 909 SIR489 SAR6 SIG BN / 167 C4I33 CSS BN
2024776 SIR / 794 SIR / 763 SIR / 909 GDS / 757 SIR244 SA391 SCE9 SIG BN / 167 C4I2 CSH
YearInfantry / GuardsArmourArtilleryCombat engineersSignals/C4ICombat Service SupportCombat Support

Retired award

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YearBest Army NS Units
People's Defence Force Command
199473 SIR / 184 SIR
199563 SIR / 504 SIR
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A new Best Naval NS Unit award was introduced from 2015.

YearBest Naval NS Units
2015RSS Vigilance (Victory-class missile corvette)
2016RSS Vengeance Team 1
2017
2018
2019RSS Vengeance
2020
2021
2022RSS Vigilance
2023
20243rd Flotilla - Group 2

Controversies

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In 2003, the 1st Commando Battalion was barred from the competition after it was found guilty of doctoring score-keeping records and fitness test results.[9]

In 2009, three regulars from the 24th Battalion Singapore Artillery were convicted of falsifying their unit's test scores. Soldiers' results for the standard obstacle were doctored. As a result, the unit was disqualified that year and the trio were convicted and fined by the General Court Martial.[10]

References

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  1. ^ SAF Honours its Best Units
  2. ^ An example of past Ordnance Supply Base
  3. ^ "SAF Honours Its Best Units". MINDEF. 28 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b Known as "Best Logistics Unit" before 2006.
  5. ^ a b Known as "Best Ship" before 2015.
  6. ^ a b Known as "Best Air Defence Artillery" before 2010.
  7. ^ a b Known as "Best Tactical Support Squadron" before 2010.
  8. ^ a b Known as "Best Air Logistics Unit" before 2021.
  9. ^ "8th straight win for Red Berets". The Straits Times. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011.
  10. ^ Chow, Jermyn (16 December 2009). "Three altered scores for best unit contest". The Straits Times.
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Press releases

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Video clips

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