Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

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

Active Army units

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]

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 1 SIB
1974 1 CDO BN
1975 30 SCE
1976
1977 36 SCE 1 SIR 41 SAR 24 SA 36 SCE
1978 41 SAR 1 SIG 4 SIR 35 SCE 1 SIG BN
1979 42 SAR SAFPU 6 SIR 42 SAR 160 BN 38 SCE 2 SIG BN
1980 7 SIR 7 SIR 41 SAR 1 SIG BN
1981 3 GDS 2 SIG 3 GDS 46 SAR 22 SA 2 SIG
1982 42 SAR SAFPU 42 SAR 23 SA GSMB
1983 3 GDS 2 SIG 46 SAR 25 SA 35 SCE OSB
1984 41 SAR 40 SAR 40 SAR 22 SA 1 SIG
1985 1 CDO BN 1 CDO BN 41 SAR
1986 5 SIR 5 SIR 40 SAR 23 SA 36 SCE 1 TPT BN
1987 1 CDO BN SAFPU 6 SIR 24 SA - OSB
1988 20 SA 5 SIR 20 SA 35 SCE
1989 2 SIR 41 SAR 36 SCE
1990 24 SA 5 SIR 24 SA 6 DSMB
1991 3 GDS 3 GDS 46 SAR 35 SCE GSMB
1992 1 CDO BN 22 SA 1 GDS 42 SAR 22 SA 36 SCE
1993 23 SA 5 SIR 23 SA
1994 20 SA 40 SAR 20 SA 3 SIG 1 TPT BN
1995 22 SA 3 GDS 42 SAR 22 SA 1 SIG
1996 36 SCE 1 GDS 23 SA
1997 3 SIR 3 SIR 40 SAR 21 SA 2 SIG 9 DSMB
1998 1 SIR 1 SIR 1 SIG
1999 1 CDO BN 21 SA 2 SIG 1 TPT BN
2000 20 SA 3 GDS 20 SA 3 DSMB
2001 2 SIG 24 SA 35 SCE 9 DSMB
2002 40 SAR 20 SA 1 SIR 20 SA 3 TPT BN
2003 1 GDS 3 SIG 1 GDS 46 SAR 24 SA 3 SIG GSMB
2004 1 CDO BN 3 TPT 3 SIR 3 TPT
2005 23 SA 1 SIR 41 SAR 23 SA
2006 3 SIG 5 SIR 46 SAR 36 SCE GSMB
2007 2 SIR 40 SAR 24 SA 1 AMB
2008 24 SA 3 GDS 40 SAR 30 SCE 2 SIG 3 TPT BN
2009 39 SCE 3 SIR 42 SAR 23 SA 39 SCE 3 SIG
2010 3 GDS 21 SA 1 SIG
2011 24 SA 3 SIR 48 SAR 24 SA
2012 11 C4I 35 SCE 11 C4I 6 AMB
2013 1 SIG 4 SIR 40 SAR 1 SIG
2014 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 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
2022 39 SCE 1 SIR 21 SA 39 SCE 10 C4I
2023 38 SCE 1 GDS 23 SA 38 SCE 16 C4I
2024 30 SCE 2 SIR 42 SAR 24 SA 30 SCE 10 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 RSS Independence (Fast patrol craft) Not contested Not contested
1982 RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat)
1983 RSS Justice (Fast patrol craft)
1984 RSS Dauntless (Fast patrol craft)
1985 RSS Persistence (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)
2022 RSS Tenacious RSS Fearless
2023 RSS Valiant RSS Dauntless
2024 RSS Tenacious RSS Indomitable
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 160 SADA
1989 143 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 120 SQN (UH-1H)
1990 165 SADA 122 SQN (C-130 Hercules)
1991 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 160 SADA 111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye)
1992 165 SADA 120 SQN (UH-1H)
1993 160 SADA 125 SQN (Super Puma)
1994 126 SQN (Cougar)
1995 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 160 SQN 120 SQN (UH-1H)
1996 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 3 DA BN
1997 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 165 SQN 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
1998 122 SQN (C-130 Hercules)
1999 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) 160 SQN 125 SQN (Super Puma)
2000 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 163 SQN 120 SQN (UH-1H)
2001 142 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye)
2002 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 3 DA BN 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL)
2003 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) 18 DA BN
2004 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 160 SQN 120 SQN (UH-1H)
2005 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 122 SQN (C-130 Hercules)
2006 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) 112 SQN (KC-135 Stratotanker)
2007 3 DA BN 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) 112 SQN (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
2012 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 126 SQN 163 SQN 111 SQN
2013 149 SQN (F-15SG Strike Eagle) 116 SQN
2014 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) 125 SQN 122 SQN 203 SQN 807 SQN
2015 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) 126 SQN 112 SQN 206 SQN Air Force Supply Centre
2016 140 SQN 127 SQN 6 DA BN 121 SQN 208 SQN 707 SQN
2017 143 SQN 125 SQN 165 SQN 205 SQN 811 SQN Air Force Supply Centre
2018 149 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 816 SQN 706 SQN
2021 120 SQN 3 DA BN 112 SQN
2022 6 DA BN 119 SQN 811 SQN 608 SQN
2023 3 DA BN 111 SQN 201 SQN 816 SQN 707 SQN
2024 142 SQN 163 SQN 205 SQN 817 SQN
Year Fighter Squadron Helicopter Squadron Ground Based Air Defence[6] Air Combat Support[7] Control Squadron 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/C4I Combat Service Support Combat Support
1994 67 GDS / 88 GDS / 187 SIR 422 SAR 211 SA 307 SCE 6 SIG BN 9 DS MED BN Not contested
1995 514 SIR / 543 SIR / 70 GDS / 91 GDS 432 SAR 204 SA 8 SIG BN
1996 184 SIR / 188 SIR / 504 SIR / 514 SIR / 543 SIR / 70 GDS 423 SAR 265 SA 6 SIG BN 6 DS MED BN
1997 83 SIR / 188 SIR / 525 SIR / 541 SIR / 70 GDS / 550 GDS 204 SA 321 SCE
1998 184 SIR / 514 SIR / 525 SIR / 542 SIR / 531 GDS / 549 GDS 416 SAR 308 SCE
1999 185 SIR / 187 SIR / 523 SIR / 573 SIR / 531 GDS / 548 GDS 425 SAR 211 SA 322 SCE
2000 85 SIR / 187 SIR / 524 SIR / 573 SIR / 595 SIR / 548 GDS 466 SAR 323 SCE
2001 516 SIR / 542 SIR / 557 SIR / 602 SIR / 86 GDS / 90 GDS 274 SA 326 SCE
2002 652 SIR / 621 SIR / 596 SIR / 550 GDS / 86 GDS / 524 SIR 254 SA 324 SCE
2003 652 SIR / 652 SIR / 595 SIR / 550 GDS / 90 GDS / 548 GDS 271 SA 327 SCE 9 SIG BN
2004 652 SIR / 657 SIR / 596 SIR / 543 SIR / 566 SIR / 583 GDS 424 SAR 278 SA 328 SCE 6 SIG BN
2005 588 SIR / 596 SIR / 657 SIR / 682 SIR / 550 GDS 466 SAR 275 SA 324 SCE 9 DS MED BN
2006 626 SIR / 657 SIR / 596 SIR / 581 SIR / 609 SIR 442 SAR 278 SA 6 DS MED BN
2007 652 SIR / 622 SIR / 596 SIR / 609 SIR / 566 SIR 466 SAR 256 SA 328 SCE 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 282 SA 329 SCE
2010 588 SIR / 700 SIR / 720 SIR / 685 GDS / 663 SIR 280 SA 9 SIG BN
2011 688 SIR / 700 SIR / 720 SIR / 724 GDS / 693 SIR 453 SAR 282 SA
2012 778 SIR / 700 SIR / 803 SIR / 745 GDS / 747 GDS 452 SAR 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 SIR 483 SAR 289 SA 324 SCE 32 CSS BN
2015 688 SIR / 700 SIR / 787 SIR / 740 GDS / 611 SIR 485 SAR 321 SCE 9 SIG BN 8 CSH
2016 754 SIR / 772 SIR / 787 SIR / 735 GDS / 611 SIR 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 228 SA 351 SCE
2021 746 SIR / 783 SIR / 793 SIR / 737 GDS / 716 SIR 484 SAR 295 SA Not contested 38 CSS BN 351 SCE
2022 786 SIR / 783 SIR / 791 SIR / 758 GDS / 716 SIR 474 SAR 9 SIG BN / 167 C4I 61 CSS BN Not contested
2023 776 SIR / 783 SIR / 791 SIR / 758 GDS / 909 SIR 489 SAR 6 SIG BN / 167 C4I 33 CSS BN
2024 776 SIR / 794 SIR / 763 SIR / 909 GDS / 757 SIR 244 SA 391 SCE 9 SIG BN / 167 C4I 2 CSH
Year Infantry / Guards Armour Artillery Combat engineers Signals/C4I Combat Service Support Combat Support

Retired award

Year Best Army NS Units
People's Defence Force Command
1994 73 SIR / 184 SIR
1995 63 SIR / 504 SIR

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
2022 RSS Vigilance
2023
2024 3rd Flotilla - Support Group 1

Controversies

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

  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.

Press releases

Video clips

Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Armed_Forces_Best_Unit_Competition