Why are Guards called Guards?
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Originally posted by CuteBeat:there is only 1 elite force in SAF - COMMANDOS.
enough said.
if you say so... -
Those who have served, will know where the real elites are.
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heheh...then again comes the questions, why are the other countrie's guards called guards?Originally posted by LazerLordz:It's modelled after the old British Guards formations.
1.Scots Guards(they provided the Black Watch regiment to Basra)
2.Irish Guards(Khaki beret)
3.Coldstream Guards
4.Welsh Guards
5.Grenadier Guards
They are responsible for ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace today, when they are not on active combat duty.Their history is quite illustrious and glorious in war over the last few hundred years, as rapid, elite troops.
That's what I've heard about why we call our RDF troops Guards.
where's the origin of the name? Guards?
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Like the Praetorian Guards or Ming Dynasty's 11th Battalion?Originally posted by Icemoon:So confusing. They're obviously not ceremonial guards but crack troops.
the chinese label is equally misleading .. jing1 wei4 bing1 (see http://stars.zaobao.com.sg/uweekly/pages/uweekly270901.html, search for "Bedok Camp" )
In the past .. I think jing1 wei4 bing1 refers to crack troops who guard the imperial city or something, so they don't go to war, they protect the capital and the king.
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In terms of other countries - Russia has elite Guards units as well. The guards status were givin to units that have performed well in battles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Guards
Iraq has the Republican Guards units - these units were loyal to the government (Saddam Hussein), and had better equipment.
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/iraq/rg/
India has the Brigade of Guards -
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE3-1/jagan.html -
And the Royal Red Guards in Star Wars.Originally posted by laurence82:Like the Praetorian Guards or Ming Dynasty's 11th Battalion?
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ROFL! LOL! ignorance is bliss.Originally posted by CuteBeat:there is only 1 elite force in SAF - COMMANDOS.
enough said.
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HISTORY OF THE GUARDS FORMATION
1st January 1975 marked the beginning of a new chapter in the SAF – the emergence of the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB). Two months later, it moved from its original location at Headquarters Singapore 3rd Infantry Division (HQ 3 DIV) to Seletar West Camp. At that time, there were only four officers, five specialists and a few clerks. On 24th December 1975, the first Brigade Commander of 7 SIB, COL D R Jambu, PPA, was appointed.
A year after her inception, 7 SIB took command of the Infantry Training Depot (ITD) on 1st January 1976. The 7th and 8th Singapore Infantry Regiments (SIR) came under its command on 9th February 1976.
On 1st July 1976, 7 SIB was officially declared operational. In view of its operational role, ITD was removed and the SAF Guards Unit (SAFGU) was added to the remaining 2 battalions. On 14th November 1977, President Benjamin Sheares presented the Inauguration Plaque to the Brigade Commander, then COL Kwan Yue Yeong during a ceremony held at SAFGU, Portsdown Camp. This signified the official opening of 7 SIB.
SAFGU was renamed 1st Battalion Singapore Guards (1 Guards) in 1977. A year later, 8 SIR was renamed 2nd Battalion Singapore Guards (2 Guards). 7 SIB was accorded elite status on 1st April 1978. The sub-units then included 1 Guards, 2 Guards, School of Commando Training, 1st and 10th Commando Battalions. 7 SIR was transferred to 3 SIB.
On 6th April 1979, a special parade was held at 1 Guards with the Chief of General Staff (CGS), then MAJ-GEN Winston Choo, presenting beret with the new Cap Badge Backing to 7 SIB. CGS explained that the backing was designed for the use of the Guardsmen as a symbol of elitism.
On 1st July 1980, the Commando sub-units were transferred out. 7 SIR was reverted to 7 SIB and renamed as 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards (3 Guards). On 31st July 1980, the men of 7 SIB were presented with Stable Belts, an elite symbol the men deservedly earned for their excellence in training, performance, discipline, conduct and bearing.
President Devan Nair presented l, 2 and 3 Guards with their unit colours on 11th June 1983 at Jurong Stadium. The old Colours of SAFGU. 7 SIR and 8 SIR were retired.
The presentation of the Guards Tab to the Guardsmen on 23rd June 1989 marked another milestone towards the recognition of the Guardsmen as elite soldiers of the SAF. 9th June 1994 saw the Guards vocationalists honoured with the distinctive Guards Khaki Beret.
On 17th December 1991, the 7th Brigade Training School (7 BTS) came under the command of 7 SIB. However, from September 1996, all Basic Military Training (BMT) was undertaken by Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC), and 7 BTS was closed down.
11th October 1994 marked the formalisation of Guards as a formation. A parade was held at Nee Soon Camp to mark the inauguration of HQ Guards as Senior Specialist Staff Officer (SSSO) HQ with the Chief Guards Officer (CGO) at the helm. Henceforth all Guards vocationalists, including 7 SIB, came under the administration and command of HQ Guards. -
History of 1 Guards 
SAFGU was formed on 1st June 1968, and the main role of this unit was to provide guards for vital SAF installations as well as for ceremonial duties including the provision of the Guard-of-Honour and Prestige Guard for foreign dignitaries visiting the Republic.
Eventually, besides guards and ceremonial duties, the officers and men of SAFGU were also given infantry training to prepare them for a larger operational role. It was intended for the unit to be trained in order to assume the tasks of an infantry battalion.
On 1st July 1977, SAFGU was renamed 1 Guards and came under the command of 7 SIB. It moved from Portsdown Road into Seletar East Camp in January 1979.
1 Guards ceased its ceremonial duties at the Istana as of 1st Mar 1980 to concentrate on her operational role, and the duties were handed over to the SAF Provost Unit. The old SAFGU Colours were retired and 1 Guards received her new Regimental and State Colours in July 1983.
To her credit, in 1992, 1 Guards was the first unit in the SAF to achieve REDCON I in the training evaluation exercise conducted by the Battalion Training Evaluation Centre (BTEC), and was the Best Infantry Unit in 1992 and 1996.
Since November 1995 1 Guards has been based in Dieppe Barracks, co-located with HQ Guards. -
History of 2 Guards
8 SIR was formed on 1st April 1974 at Taman Jurong Camp. The unit came under the command of 7 SIB on 9th February 1976, and was later renamed 2 Guards on 1st April 1978. On 1st July 1979, the unit shifted to Lim Chu Kang Camp.
The old 8 SIR Colours were retired and 2 Guards received her new Regimental and State Colours in July 1983.
2 Guards shifted to Dieppe Barracks in April 1995 after seeing the men of the 7th mono-intake turn Operationally Ready. -
History of 3 Guards
7 SIR was formed on 2nd May 1972, and has had a tradition of excellence. On 1st July 1980, 7 SIR was renamed 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards and the unit has since then set itself a high standard to maintain.
3 Guards won the coveted Best Combat Unit in 1980 (then as 7 SIR), 1981, 1983 and 1991. The unit was also the Best Infantry Unit in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1991 and 1995.
Apart from military training, the men of 3 Guards had been active in numerous community projects like Ex Gotong Royong in 1983, to build a metalled road to serve the people of Woodlands. In 1986, the men answered the call of duty as they participated in the relief effort during the Hotel New World disaster. -
What 11th Battalion? How come I never hear b4??Originally posted by laurence82:Like the Praetorian Guards or Ming Dynasty's 11th Battalion? -
So misleading. Before that no one got REDCON I before?Originally posted by Gordonator:To her credit, in 1992, 1 Guards was the first unit in the SAF to achieve REDCON I in the training evaluation exercise conducted by the Battalion Training Evaluation Centre (BTEC), and was the Best Infantry Unit in 1992 and 1996. -
Originally posted by Gordonator:
Why is it silent on why they close shop?
[b]History of 2 Guards
8 SIR was formed on 1st April 1974 at Taman Jurong Camp. The unit came under the command of 7 SIB on 9th February 1976, and was later renamed 2 Guards on 1st April 1978. On 1st July 1979, the unit shifted to Lim Chu Kang Camp.
The old 8 SIR Colours were retired and 2 Guards received her new Regimental and State Colours in July 1983.
2 Guards shifted to Dieppe Barracks in April 1995 after seeing the men of the 7th mono-intake turn Operationally Ready.
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Hey .. to those who are old enuff .. what's this community project actually? Where is the road today?Originally posted by Gordonator:Apart from military training, the men of 3 Guards had been active in numerous community projects like Ex Gotong Royong in 1983, to build a metalled road to serve the people of Woodlands. -
Ohh... all the while i thought there is only 1st and 3rd Gds and 2nd Gds closed down....
seems all 3 units are doing well. -
Why misleading? How do you know if other units before that actually got REDCON 1?Originally posted by Icemoon:So misleading. Before that no one got REDCON I before?
I was from that unit, and for a number of years, that information was kept confidential. -
no la .. 2nd Guards closed shop liao la.Originally posted by nightzip:Ohh... all the while i thought there is only 1st and 3rd Gds and 2nd Gds closed down....
seems all 3 units are doing well. -
I thought evaluation started way before 1992. It is surprising no one could get REDCON I. Not even the commandos.Originally posted by bcoy:Why misleading? How do you know if other units before that actually got REDCON 1?
I was from that unit, and for a number of years, that information was kept confidential. -
Originally posted by Gordonator:
No leh...here never put 2nd Gds closed shop?
[b]History of 2 Guards
8 SIR was formed on 1st April 1974 at Taman Jurong Camp. The unit came under the command of 7 SIB on 9th February 1976, and was later renamed 2 Guards on 1st April 1978. On 1st July 1979, the unit shifted to Lim Chu Kang Camp.
The old 8 SIR Colours were retired and 2 Guards received her new Regimental and State Colours in July 1983.
2 Guards shifted to Dieppe Barracks in April 1995 after seeing the men of the 7th mono-intake turn Operationally Ready.
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2 Guards closed shop already trust me. As what the title suggested in my article i posted, it is titled "History of 2 Guards".Originally posted by nightzip:No leh...here never put 2nd Gds closed shop? -
Because the information is copied from the old Mindef website dated sometime in 1998.Originally posted by nightzip:No leh...here never put 2nd Gds closed shop? -
Originally posted by Gordonator:
what crap? so 3rd Gds and 1st Gds also closed shop? since they put "History of xx Gds"?
[b]History of 3 Guards
7 SIR was formed on 2nd May 1972, and has had a tradition of excellence. On 1st July 1980, 7 SIR was renamed 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards and the unit has since then set itself a high standard to maintain.
3 Guards won the coveted Best Combat Unit in 1980 (then as 7 SIR), 1981, 1983 and 1991. The unit was also the Best Infantry Unit in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1991 and 1995.
Apart from military training, the men of 3 Guards had been active in numerous community projects like Ex Gotong Royong in 1983, to build a metalled road to serve the people of Woodlands. In 1986, the men answered the call of duty as they participated in the relief effort during the Hotel New World disaster.[/b] hehehe... -
trying to be funny is it? bloody hell.Originally posted by nightzip:what crap? so 3rd Gds and 1st Gds also closed shop? since they put "History of xx Gds"? hehehe... -
wonder why people like to compare guards and sometimes divers also(always kana suan when comin for airborne course...froggies can never fly..) to commandos
trying to prove they are elites??