Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition

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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:

  • Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR)
  • Singapore Combat Engineers (SCE)
  • (OSB), the Kranji base[2]

Past active unit winners[]

Active Army units[]

The 1st Commando Battalion has won the Best Combat Unit for an unprecedented 35 times since the award was launched in 1969, and for 18 consecutive years since 2004.[3]

Year Best Army Units
Combat Combat Support Infantry/Guards Armour Artillery Engineers Signals/C4I Combat Service Support[4]
1969 1 SIR Not contested Not contested Not contested Not contested Not contested Not contested Not contested
1970
1971 3 SIR
1972 4 SIR GEB
1973 2 SIR
1974 1 CDO BN
1975
1976
1977 36 SCE 36 SCE
1978 41 SAR 1 SIG BN
1979 42 SAR SAFPU 42 SAR 2 SIG BN
1980 7 SIR 1 SIG BN
1981 3 GDS 2 SIG BN
1982 42 SAR SAFPU 42 SAR GSMB
1983 3 GDS OSB
1984 41 SAR 1 SIG BN
1985 1 CDO BN 1 CDO BN
1986 36 SCE 1 TPT BN
1987 1 CDO BN SAFPU - OSB
1988
1989 36 SCE
1990 6 DSMB
1991 GSMB
1992 1 CDO BN 42 SAR 36 SCE
1993 42 SAR
1994 3 SIG BN 1 TPT BN
1995 42 SAR 1 SIG BN
1996 36 SCE 42 SAR
1997 36 SCE 2 SIG BN 9 DSMB
1998 36 SCE 1 SIG BN
1999 1 CDO BN 2 SIG BN 1 TPT BN
2000 3 DSMB
2001 9 DSMB
2002 3 TPT BN
2003 3 SIG BN GSMB
2004 1 CDO BN 3 TPT BN
2005
2006 GSMB
2007 1 AMB
2008 24 SA 3 GDS 40 SAR 24 SA 30 SCE 2 SIG BN 3 TPT BN
2009 39 SCE 3 SIR 42 SAR 23 SA 39 SCE 3 SIG BN
2010 3 GDS 42 SAR 21 SA 1 SIG BN
2011 24 SA 3 SIR 48 SAR 24 SA
2012 11 C4I 48 SAR 35 SCE 11 C4I 6 AMB
2013 1 SIG BN 4 SIR 40 SAR 1 SIG BN
2014 40 SAR 38 SCE
2015 38 SCE 1 GDS 48 SAR
2016 3 GDS 40 SAR GSAB
2017 1 GDS 48 SAR 6 AMB
2018 3 GDS 48 SAR 11 C4I
2019 3 SIR 41 SAR 17 C4I
2020 1 GDS 40 SAR 11 C4I
2021 35 SCE 3 SIR 41 SAR 35 SCE 16 C4I
Year Combat Combat Support Infantry/Guards Armour Artillery Engineers Signals/C4I Combat Service Support[4]

Retired award[]

Year Best Army Units
Minor (1974-1976)
1974 OMB
1975 SAFPU
1976 36 SCE


Active Navy units[]

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
Year Best Navy Units
Fleet[5] Maritime Security Naval Engineering & Logistics
1981 (Fast patrol craft) Not contested Not contested
1982 RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1983 (Fast patrol craft)
1984 (Fast patrol craft)
1985 (County-class LST)
1986 RSS Swift Archer (Coastal patrol craft)
1987 RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1988 RSS Sea Hawk (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1989 RSS Sea Wolf (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1990 RSS Sea Dragon (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1991 RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1992 RSS Vigilance (Victory-class corvette)
1993 RSS Valiant (Victory-class corvette)
1994 RSS Sea Hawk (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1995 RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette)
1996
1997 RSS Sea Dragon (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1998 RSS Sea Lion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1999 RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette)
2000
2001 RSS Vigour (Victory-class corvette)
2002
2003 RSS Vigilance (Victory-class corvette)
2004 RSS Vengeance (Victory-class corvette)
2005 RSS Resolution (Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank)
2006 RSS Vengeance (Victory-class corvette)
2007
2008 RSS Formidable (Formidable-class frigate)
2009 RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette)
2010 RSS Stalwart (Formidable-class frigate)
2011 RSS Chieftain (Challenger-class submarine)
2012 RSS Valiant (Victory-class corvette)
2013 RSS Intrepid (Formidable-class frigate)
2014 RSS Formidable (Formidable-class frigate)
2015 RSS Tenacious RSS Resilience Systems Readiness Engineering Centre (Weapons)
2016 RSS Vigour RSS Bedok Systems Readiness Engineering Centre (Networks and Sensors)
2017 RSS Steadfast RSS Resilience Ship Superintending Engineering Centre
2018 RSS Stalwart RSS Daring Systems Readiness Engineering Centre (Weapons)
2019 RSS Formidable RSS Independence
2020 RSS Vigour Ship Superintendent Engineering Centre
2021 RSS Conqueror RSS Fortitude Systems Readiness Engineering Centre (Weapons)
Year Fleet[5] Maritime Security Naval Engineering & Logistics

Active Air Force units[]

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.

Year Best Air Force Units
Fighter Squadron Helicopter Squadron Ground Based Air Defence[6] Air Combat Support[7] Control Squadron Air Engineering Air Base Operability[8]
1985 145 SQN (A-4S Skyhawk) Not contested 165 SADA Not contested Not contested Not contested Not contested
1986 140 SQN (Hawker Hunter)
1987 149 SQN (F-5E/F Tiger II)
1988 149 SQN (F-5E/F Tiger II)
1989 143 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 120 SQN (UH-1H)
1990 143 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 165 SADA (C-130 Hercules)
1991 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye)
1992 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 165 SADA 120 SQN (UH-1H)
1993 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 125 SQN (Super Puma)
1994 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 126 SQN (Cougar)
1995 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 120 SQN (UH-1H)
1996 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 120 SQN (UH-1H)
1997 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 165 SQN 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
1998 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 165 SQN (C-130 Hercules)
1999 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 125 SQN (Super Puma)
2000 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 120 SQN (UH-1H)
2001 142 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye)
2002 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2003 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2004 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 120 SQN (UH-1H)
2005 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) (C-130 Hercules)
2006 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) (KC-135 Stratotanker)
2007 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) 127 SQN (CH-47SD Chinook)
2008 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2009 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) (KC-135 Stratotanker)
2010 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) 127 SQN (CH-47SD Chinook) 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2011 149 SQN 120 SQN 165 SQN 121 SQN
2012 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 126 SQN 111 SQN
2013 149 SQN (F-15SG Strike Eagle) 126 SQN
2014 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 125 SQN
2015 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 126 SQN Air Force Supply Centre
2016 140 SQN 127 SQN 6 DA BN 121 SQN 208 SQN 807 SQN 707 SQN
2017 143 SQN 125 SQN 165 SQN 121 SQN 205 SQN 811 SQN Air Force Supply Centre
2018 149 SQN 165 SQN 112 SQN 207 SQN 817 SQN 706 SQN
2019 142 SQN 3 DA BN 119 SQN 206 SQN 811 SQN 707 SQN
2020 143 SQN 163 SQN 122 SQN 206 SQN 816 SQN 706 SQN
2021 120 SQN 3 DA BN 112 SQN 206 SQN 816 SQN 706 SQN
Year Fighter Squadron Helicopter Squadron Ground Based Air Defence[6] Air Combat Support[7] Control Air Engineering Air Base Operability[8]

Past National Service unit winners[]

Army NS units[]

Year Best Army NS Units
Infantry / Guards Armour Artillery Combat engineers Signals Combat Service Support Combat Support
1994 / / 9 DS MED BN Not contested
1995 / / /
1996 / / / / / 6 DS MED BN
1997 / / / / /
1998 / / / / /
1999 / / / / /
2000 / / / / /
2001 / / / / /
2002 / / / / /
2003 / / / / /
2004 / / / / /
2005 / / / / 9 DS MED BN
2006 / / / / 6 DS MED BN
2007 / / / / 31 FCCS BN
2008 652 SIR / 622 SIR / 596 SIR / 634 GDS / 663 SIR 442 SAR 280 SA 327 SCE
2009 652 SIR / 622 SIR / 696 SIR / 685 GDS / 628 SIR 442 SAR 282 SA 329 SCE
2010 588 SIR / 700 SIR / 720 SIR / 685 GDS / 663 SIR 442 SAR 280 SA 329 SCE 9 SIG BN
2011 688 SIR / 700 SIR / 720 SIR / 724 GDS / 693 SIR 453 SAR 282 SA 329 SCE
2012 778 SIR / 700 SIR / 803 SIR / 745 GDS / 747 GDS 452 SAR 282 SA 329 SCE 6 SIG BN
2013 688 SIR / 755 SIR / 720 SIR / 745 GDS / 747 GDS 430 SAR 287 SA 321 SCE 3 CSH
2014 688 SIR / 755 SIR / 787 SIR / 734 GDS / 611 GDS 483 SAR 289 SA 324 SCE 32 CSS BN
2015 688 SIR / 700 SIR / 787 SIR / 740 GDS / 611 GDS 485 SAR 289 SA 321 SCE 9 SIG BN 8 CSH
2016 754 SIR / 772 SIR / 787 SIR / 735 GDS / 611 SIR 485 SAR 288 SA 324 SCE 3 CSH
2017 733 SIR / 769 SIR / 788 SIR / 740 GDS / 812 SIR 474 SAR 289 SA 327 SCE 2 CSH
2018 746 SIR / 772 SIR / 788 SIR / 740 GDS / 612 SIR 473 SAR 288 SA 324 SCE 63 CSS BN
2019 746 SIR / 769 SIR / 790 SIR / 745 GDS / 792 SIR 474 SAR 267 SA 327 SCE
2020 786 SIR / 797 SIR / 790 SIR / 737 GDS / 792 SIR 474 SAR 228 SA 351 SCE
2021 746 SIR / 783 SIR / 793 SIR / 737 GDS / 716 SIR 484 SAR - - - 38 CSS BN 351 SCE
Year Infantry / Guards Armour Artillery Combat engineers Signals Combat Service Support Combat Support

Retired award[]

Year Best Army NS Units
People's Defence Force Command
1994 /
1995 /

Naval NS units[]

A new Best Naval NS Unit award was introduced from 2015.

Year Best Naval NS Units
2015 RSS Vigilance (Victory-class missile corvette)
2016 RSS Vengeance Team 1
2017
2018
2019 RSS Vengeance
2020
2021

Controversies[]

In 2009, three regulars from the 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.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ SAF Honours its Best Units
  2. ^ An example of past Ordnance Supply Base
  3. ^ "PIONEER - Commandos clinch 16th Best Combat Unit award".
  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. ^ Chow, Jermyn (16 December 2009). "Three altered scores for best unit contest". The Straits Times.

External links[]

Press releases[]

Video clips[]

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