| Singapore Armed Forces
|
|---|
| Military manpower
|
| Age & obligation | 18 years of age (compulsory service)
16.5 years of age (volunteers)
conscript service obligation of 24 months
|
Availability
(males aged 15-49) | 1,292,471 (2004 est.)
|
Fit for military service
(males aged 15-49) | 934,317 (2004 est.)
|
| Military expenditure
|
| Dollar figure | SGD 8.62 billion (FY04) [1]
|
| Percent of GDP | 4.79% (FY04) [2]
|
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is managed by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), which is headed by the Minister of Defence. It comprises of three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
Legislation
Under the SAF Act [3], the president has the authority to raise and maintain the SAF. The president also has the power to form, disband or amalgamate units within the SAF.
The Armed Forces Council (AFC) administers matters relating to the SAF under the SAF Act. The AFC consists of:
- ministers who are responsible for defence matters and any other minister who has been assigned to assist them;
- the Permanent Secretaries of MINDEF;
- the Chief of Defence Force (CDF);
- the Chief of Army (COA);
- the Chief of Air Force (CAF);
- the Chief of Navy (CNV); and
- not more than four other members as the president may appoint if the president, acting in his discretion, concurs with the advice of the prime minister.
Organisation
The SAF is headed by the CDF, a three-star general, and he is assisted by the chiefs of the respective services, who are two-star generals/admirals [4]. The current CDF is Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung.
CDF
|
Joint Staff ---|
|
_________________|____________
| | | | |
FSA Director COA CAF CNV
JOPD
Defence Policy
Deterrence and diplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of the SAF's defence policy [5]. Through the years, the SAF has developed extensive links with armed forces from other countries. In recent years, there has also been an increased emphasis in military operations other than war, notably peace-keeping operations in East Timor and the Persian Gulf and disaster relief in the Indian Ocean earthquake-tsunami of 2004.
Related topics
References