Commando unit barred from SAF competition
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,195040,00.html?
Some in the battalion, which has won the Best Combat Unit title 17 times, doctored storekeeping records and fitness scores
By David Boey
THE crack Commando unit has been barred from competing for one of the military's top honours because of cheating involving record-keeping and fitness scores.
Several personnel from the 1st Commando Battalion are also facing disciplinary action.
This is believed to be the first time a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) unit has been booted out of the competition for the Best Combat Unit award. It is a major blow to the Commandos, who hold the record for having won the annual award 17 times, since the contest started in 1969.
The battalion last won it in 2001. Last year, it was edged out of the top spot by the 40th Singapore Armoured Regiment. The red berets' bid to reclaim the honours, given out every year during SAF Day celebrations on July 1, ended late last year.
In response to The Straits Times' queries, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) yesterday confirmed that irregularities were uncovered in late 2002 in the logistics or storekeeping records of one of the sub-units of 1st Commando Battalion. There were also discrepancies in the individual fitness test scores reported by two of the unit's specialists, who handle the stores.
A ministry spokesman said: 'The SAF takes a serious view of such matters. As a result, the unit was disallowed from participating in the Best Unit Competition for the year. This is to uphold the integrity and high standards of the competition.' Disciplinary action is being taken against the individuals concerned.
Word of the Commandos' ban has been making its rounds in defence-linked Internet chatrooms.
It is believed that storekeepers, who are tasked with managing all supplies from light bulbs to spare tyres, doctored some paperwork to account for missing items.
Army inspectors unmasked the cover-up during a logistics readiness inspection at the battalion. The inspection, which assess the level of competence of storekeepers in SAF units, is part of the selection process in the best-unit competition.
The year-long assessment also grades SAF units on matters like battle readiness, administrative efficiency, marksmanship, manpower issues and the way the unit handles security matters.
The unit with the highest overall score receives the Best Combat Unit trophy from the President during the SAF Day parade on July 1. The winning unit also gets to safeguard the SAF Colours - a top honour reserved for the best unit in the SAF.
The 1st Commando Battalion, based at Hendon Camp near Changi Point, has traditionally been regarded as the leading contender for the trophy because some of the fittest and most motivated national servicemen are selected for commando training. -
couldn;t believe it..the commando could easily clinch the honour, wat for they cheat..haiz..
Givache 
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Must be because of pressure. Damn! The pressure of losing face.
Where's the sportsmanship? -
must be more bloody REMFs threatening to sodomise the no.1 commando with a cactus if he fails to win..
bloody all these semi-literate bozos are giving the armed forces a bad name, as if the regular REMFs aren't already suspected dregs of humanity, they have to go and prove it!
idiots all.. does the armed forces still have firing squads for bringing disgrace to the name of the country? -
you can do anything just dun get caught
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Such things happens all over SAF. Some units did it just didn't want to get an extreme low position in the ranking while some did it to fight for the "honour". It is just pure unluckiness that the Commandos get caught this time round.
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they r suppose 2b be physicaly better than most units, y they still wan to cheat.... smore cheat still get caught...
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disgrace...
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they got caught becoz they got inspected.
only 1 word. suei. -
The phrase "you can do anything just dun get caught" dun really apply to the 1st Commando unit lah.
They jolly well should know that they themselves are bound to be inspected quite thoroughly cos expectations are high for them to be the best. Fitness wise, I dun have doubts abt them. -
aiya it's expected in life mah, no one does everything by the book 100% of the time, if that were the case, singapore's NSmen would be a bunch of sissies liaoz, imagine 1 day only 20 push ups
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well this also happen in ranges.....1 marksmen is 200.....i help u shoot u help me shoot we share money go lim kopi
anyway it will reflect badly if commando chief cant equal or better last yr records....they will get farked upside down by cdf....
and it helps in their promotion...