State Colours and Regimental Colours of the SAF
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ColoursÂ’ refers to banners and flags. The history and traditions of military Colours date as far back as the Middles Ages. They served as a rally point and a powerful factor in maintaining morale.
Their origin lies in the need for a mark of distinction between families, tribes and fighting formations throughout the history of warfare. Colours, therefore, served as conspicuous rallying points during battle.
However, with the advancement of modern warfare, Colours are no longer carried into the battlefield for identification purposes. Nowadays, Colours are significant symbols of unit cohesion and esprit de corps, inspiring a sense of pride and unity in the servicemen.
The history of Colours in the SAF dates back to 1954. There were then two Colours: the QueenÂ’s Colours and the Singapore Volunteer Corps Colours. The QueenÂ’s Colours and the Singapore Volunteer Corps Colours were presented to the Singapore Volunteer Corps in 1954 at the Padang by the then Governor of Singapore, Sir John Nicoll, to mark the centenary of the Volunteer Corps. With the re-structuring of the Singapore Volunteer Corps after the independence in 1965, these two Colours were retired.
In the SAF, there are two classes of Colours: the State Colours and the Regimental Colours. These Colours are awarded in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of combat, training, administrative efficiency and service to the community.
Regimental Colours symbolise the pride and loyalty of the soldiers to the unit while State Colours symbolises the pride and loyalty of the units and their servicemen in service to the nation. Colours are always consecrated by religious leaders before they are presented by the President of Singapore. Every year, the SAF State Colours is presented to the Best Combat Unit. This is a much coveted prize which SAF units work hard to win. -
The Regimental Colours of the SAF are,
SAFTI MI
HQ Commando
1st Commando Battalion
1SIR
2SIR
3SIR
4SIR
5SIR
6SIR
1Guards
3Guards
40SAR
41SAR
42SAR
46SAR
HQ Singapore Artillery
HQ Singapore Combat Engineers
HQ Signals
HQ MES
HQ S&T
SAF Medical Corps
SAF Provost Unit
RSAF Tengah Airbase
RSAF Paya Lebar Airbase
RSAF Sembawang Airbase
RSAF Changi Airbase
RSAF Air Defence Bridge
RSAF Air Force Systems Brigade
RSAF Tatical Air Support Command
RSAF Divisional Air Denfence Artillery Brigade
RSN HQ Fleet
RSN Naval Logistic Command
RSN NDU
RSN Coastal Command -
The Colours will be carried by officers and escorted by specialists. Normally the Colour bearer will be the most promising junior officer and the Colour Escort the best sergeant in the unit.
It is also important to note that every soldiers regardless of rank must salute when the Colours marches pass. We must also salute for the whole duration of the casing and uncasing of the Colours, as long as u are in the vicinity of it. -
my unit flag dropped during the ndp preview sigh.............
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3 sir?Originally posted by Geforce3:my unit flag dropped during the ndp preview sigh............. -
luckily the colour escort caught it just in time. any news of that junior officer from your side?Originally posted by Geforce3:my unit flag dropped during the ndp preview sigh.............
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My Encik told me that the colours of any formation are blessed by holy men of the main religions of Singapore prior to their commision.
Is there any truth to what my Encik said? -
didn't u read my 1st post the last paragraph?Originally posted by fudgester:My Encik told me that the colours of any formation are blessed by holy men of the main religions of Singapore prior to their commision.
Is there any truth to what my Encik said? -
The process of removing the covering (cases) of the Colours is called "Uncasing", and the reverse is "Casing". Not casting.
The ceremony is thus known as "Uncasing / Casing of the Colours".
For information on the Colours, visit http://www.geocities.com/inescutcheon/FlagsMilitary.HTML -
hey thanks. i go change it asap.Originally posted by EXCO:The process of removing the covering (cases) of the Colours is called "Uncasing", and the reverse is "Casing". Not casting.
The ceremony is thus known as "Uncasing / Casing of the Colours".
For information on the Colours, visit
http://www.geocities.com/inescutcheon/FlagsMilitary.HTML
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Here're all the State Colours and Regimental Colours of the SAF. i have consolidated them all courtesy of EXCO's website. thanks, great site btw.
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I read in M433's thread about the flag escort who fainted that regimental colours have to be destroyed once they make contact with the ground. Has this happened before to any unit?
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Oh no, its not my website. Its done up by one of my friends. Credits go to him instead please. Haha.Originally posted by Gordonator:Here're all the State Colours and Regimental Colours of the SAF. i have consolidated them all courtesy of EXCO's website. thanks, great site btw.
And you missed out one more State Colours, thats the SAFTI MI State Colours. -
I doubt it. The Colours will have to be replaced then, involving another consecration in a ceremony before SAF Day Parade. All consecration ceremonies are documented, and the age of each Colours is also recorded. Bear in mind this is the "physical" age, not when the first Colours was presented to the unit.Originally posted by iveco:I read in M433's thread about the flag escort who fainted that regimental colours have to be destroyed once they make contact with the ground. Has this happened before to any unit? -
oh u mean there's a SAFTI MI State Colours and a SAFTI MI Regimental Colour? do u happen to has a pic?Originally posted by EXCO:And you missed out one more State Colours, thats the SAFTI MI State Colours. -
4 sir, but the guy who was carrying my flag was from 3 sirOriginally posted by freedom4ever:3 sir? -
oh the guy who carried my unit flag not from my unit, cause the original guy was late , dunno what happened to himOriginally posted by Gordonator:luckily the colour escort caught it just in time. any news of that junior officer from your side? -
the colors is borne by the youngest 2nd LT in the Bn. THe escorts comprise of senior specialist .. thats why the arms escort has to be 2sg abv ..Originally posted by Gordonator:The Colours will be carried by officers and escorted by specialists. Normally the Colour bearer will be the most promising junior officer and the Colour Escort the best sergeant in the unit.
It is also important to note that every soldiers regardless of rank must salute when the Colours marches pass. We must also salute for the whole duration of the casing and uncasing of the Colours, as long as u are in the vicinity of it. -
I remember 2 section commanders were granted local 2SG rank just for that purpose during the 2001 NDP. Both from 3 SIR.Originally posted by Archtomato:the colors is borne by the youngest 2nd LT in the Bn. THe escorts comprise of senior specialist .. thats why the arms escort has to be 2sg abv .. -
erm Gord.. you made a typo in ur first post.. it's SAF Medical CORPS not CROPS.. I won't want my corps to be dealing with padi fields when we should be dealing with medical stuff..
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The SAFTI State Colours has the same design as the SAF State Colours, except that it has an added scroll beneath the SAF emblem. The scroll is inscribed with the words "SAFTI MI".Originally posted by Gordonator:oh u mean there's a SAFTI MI State Colours and a SAFTI MI Regimental Colour? do u happen to has a pic? 
The SAFTI State Colours is on the left, observe closely and you will be able to see the scroll in blue. It is only paraded during OCS Commissioning Parades (as far as I know...).
In the past, many units had both the State and Regimental Colours (Ie. 1st CDO BN). After a revision of the Colours system, all unit State Colours were retired, but the SAFTI MI State Colours was left untouched. The unit State Colours look similar to the SAFTI MI State Colour, but the scroll would be inscribed with the name of the unit. -
oh .. so you mean your flag was dropped by someone not from your unit?!Originally posted by Geforce3:oh the guy who carried my unit flag not from my unit, cause the original guy was late , dunno what happened to him -
is there any truth to this? whether most promising or youngest.Originally posted by Archtomato:the colors is borne by the youngest 2nd LT in the Bn. THe escorts comprise of senior specialist .. thats why the arms escort has to be 2sg abv ..
I tot the requirement is you must meet the height? -
thanks for pointing it out to me. i go change it asap.Originally posted by kuekj:erm Gord.. you made a typo in ur first post.. it's SAF Medical CORPS not CROPS.. I won't want my corps to be dealing with padi fields when we should be dealing with medical stuff..
at the meantime i carry on 20 1st.
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Actually in the past, a 3SG is more than qualified as a Colour Escort. But now as time changes, Colour Escorts are more of rank 2SG or 1SG.Originally posted by Archtomato:the colors is borne by the youngest 2nd LT in the Bn. THe escorts comprise of senior specialist .. thats why the arms escort has to be 2sg abv ..