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.
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.
Past winners[]
Active army units[]
| Year | Best Army Units | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat | Combat Support | Minor | Infantry | Armour | Artillery | Engineers | Signals | Logistics | |
| 1969 | 1 SIR | Not contested | |||||||
| 1970 | 1 SIR | Not contested | |||||||
| 1971 | 3 SIR | Not contested | |||||||
| 1972 | 4 SIR | GEBdisambiguation needed | Not contested | ||||||
| 1973 | 2 SIR | 1 SIB | Not contested | ||||||
| 1974 | 1 CDO BN | 1 SIB | OMBdisambiguation needed | Not contested | |||||
| 1975 | 1 CDO BN | 30 SCE | SAFPU | Not contested | |||||
| 1976 | 1 CDO BN | 30 SCE | 36 SCE | Not contested | |||||
| 1977 | 1 CDO BN | 36 SCE | - | 1 SIR | 41 SAR | 24 SA | 36 SCE | Not contested | |
| 1978 | 41 SAR | 1 SIG BN | - | 4 SIR | 41 SAR | 24 SA | 35 SCE | 1 SIG BN | Not contested |
| 1979 | 42 SAR | SAFPU | - | 6 SIR | 42 SAR | 160 BN | 38 SCE | 2 SIG BN | Not contested |
| 1980 | 7 SIR | SAFPU | - | 7 SIR | 41 SAR | 160 BN | 38 SCE | 1 SIG BN | Not contested |
| 1981 | 3 GDS | 2 SIG BN | - | 3 GDS | 46 SAR | 22 SA | 38 SCE | 2 SIG BN | Not contested |
| 1982 | 42 SAR | SAFPU | - | 3 GDS | 42 SAR | 23 SA | 38 SCE | 2 SIG BN | GSMB |
| 1983 | 3 GDS | 2 SIG BN | - | 3 GDS | 46 SAR | 25 SA | 35 SCE | 2 SIG BN | OSBdisambiguation needed |
| 1984 | 41 SAR | 40 SAR | - | 3 GDS | 40 SAR | 22 SA | 35 SCE | 1 SIG BN | OSBdisambiguation needed |
| 1985 | 1 CDO BN | 40 SAR | - | 1 CDO BN | 41 SAR | 22 SA | 35 SCE | 1 SIG BN | OSBdisambiguation needed |
| 1986 | 5 SIR | 40 SAR | - | 5 SIR | 40 SAR | 23 SA | 36 SCE | 1 SIG BN | 1 TPT BN |
| 1987 | 1 CDO BN | SAFPU | - | 6 SIR | 40 SAR | 24 SA | 36 SCE | - | OSBdisambiguation needed |
| 1988 | 1 CDO BN | 20 SA | - | 5 SIR | 40 SAR | 20 SA | 35 SCE | - | OSBdisambiguation needed |
| 1989 | 1 CDO BN | 20 SA | - | 2 SIR | 41 SAR | 20 SA | 36 SCE | - | OSBdisambiguation needed |
| 1990 | 1 CDO BN | 24 SA | - | 5 SIR | 41 SAR | 24 SA | 36 SCE | - | 6 DSMB |
| 1991 | 3 GDS | 24 SA | - | 3 GDS | 46 SAR | 24 SA | 35 SCE | - | GSMB |
| 1992 | 1 CDO BN | 22 SA | - | 1 GDS | 42 SAR | 22 SA | 36 SCE | - | GSMB |
| 1993 | 1 CDO BN | 23 SA | - | 5 SIR | 42 SAR | 23 SA | 36 SCE | - | GSMB |
| 1994 | 1 CDO BN | 20 SA | - | 5 SIR | 40 SAR | 20 SA | 36 SCE | 3 SIG BN | 1 TPT BN |
| 1995 | 1 CDO BN | 22 SA | - | 3 GDS | 42 SAR | 22 SA | 36 SCE | 1 SIG BN | 1 TPT BN |
| 1996 | 1 CDO BN | 36 SCE | - | 1 GDS | 42 SAR | 23 SA | 36 SCE | 1 SIG BN | 1 SAF TPT BN |
| 1997 | 3 SIR | 36 SCE | - | 3 SIR | 40 SAR | 21 SA | 36 SCE | 2 SIG BN | 9 DSMB |
| 1998 | 1 SIR | 36 SCE | - | 1 SIR | 40 SAR | 21 SA | 36 SCE | 1 SIG BN | 9 DSMB |
| 1999 | 1 CDO BN | 21 SA | - | 1 SIR | 40 SAR | 21 SA | 36 SCE | 2 SIG BN | 1 TPT BN |
| 2000 | 1 CDO BN | 20 SA | - | 3 GDS | 40 SAR | 20 SA | 36 SCE | 2 SIG BN | 3 DSMB |
| 2001 | 1 CDO BN | 2 SIG BN | - | 3 GDS | 40 SAR | 24 SA | 35 SCE | 2 SIG BN | 9 DSMB |
| 2002 | 40 SAR | 20 SA | - | 1 SIR | 40 SAR | 20 SA | 36 SCE | 2 SIG BN | 3 TPT BN |
| 2003 | 1 GDS | 3 SIG BN | - | 1 GDS | 46 SAR | 24 SA | 36 SCE | 3 SIG BN | GSMB |
| 2004 | 1 CDO BN | - | 3 SIR | 46 SAR | 24 SA | 36 SCE | 3 SIG BN | 3 TPT BN | |
| 2005 | 1 CDO BN | 23 SA | - | 1 SIR | 41 SAR | 23 SA | 35 SCE | 3 SIG BN | 3 TPT BN |
| 2006 | 1 CDO BN | 3 SIG BN | - | 5 SIR | 46 SAR | 23 SA | 36 SCE | 3 SIG BN | GSMB |
| 2007 | 1 CDO BN | 3 SIG BN | - | 2 SIR | 40 SAR | 24 SA | 36 SCE | 3 SIG BN | 1 AMB |
| 2008 | 1 CDO BN | 24 SA | - | 3 GDS | 40 SAR | 24 SA | 30 SCE | 2 SIG BN | 3 TPT BN |
| 2009 | 1 CDO BN | 39 SCE | - | 3 SIR | 42 SAR | 23 SA | 39 SCE | 3 SIG BN | 3 TPT BN |
| 2010 | 1 CDO BN | 39 SCE | - | 3 GDS | 42 SAR | 21 SA | 39 SCE | 1 SIG BN | 3 TPT BN |
| 2011 | 1 CDO BN | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2012 | 1 CDO BN | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2013 | 1 CDO BN | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Most times won Best Combat Unit: 27 times (1 CDO BN)
Most times won Best Combat Unit consequtively: 10 times (1 CDO BN 2004-2012)
Most times won Best Combat Support: 5 times (20SA)
Most times won Best Combat Support consequtively: 3 times (40SAR 1984-1986, 36SCE 1996-1998)
Most times won Best Infantry Unit: 9 times (3GDS)
Most times won Best Infantry Unit: 4 times (3GDS 1981-1984)
NS army units[]
| Year | Best NS Army Units | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry / Guards | People's Defence Force Command | Armoured | Artillery | Combat engineers | Signals | Combat Service Support | |
| 1994 | 67 GDS / 88 GDS / 187 SIR | 73 SIR / 184 SIR | 422 SAR | 211 SA | 307 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 9 DS MED BN |
| 1995 | 514 SIR / 543 SIR / 70 GDS / 91 GDS | 63 SIR / 504 SIR | 432 SAR | 204 SA | 307 SCE | 8 SIG BN | 9 DS MED BN |
| 1996 | 184 SIR / 188 SIR / 504 SIR / 514 SIR / 543 SIR / 70 GDS | - | 423 SAR | 265 SA | 307 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 1997 | 83 SIR / 188 SIR / 525 SIR / 541 SIR / 70 GDS / 550 GDS | - | 423 SAR | 204 SA | 321 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 1998 | 184 SIR / 514 SIR / 525 SIR / 542 SIR / 531 GDS / 549 GDS | - | 416 SAR | 204 SA | 308 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 1999 | 185 SIR / 187 SIR / 523 SIR / 573 SIR / 531 GDS / 548 GDS | - | 425 SAR | 211 SA | 322 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 2000 | 85 SIR / 187 SIR / 524 SIR / 573 SIR / 595 SIR / 548 GDS | - | 466 SAR | 211 SA | 323 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 2001 | 516 SIR / 542 SIR / 557 SIR / 602 SIR / 86 GDS / 90 GDS | - | 466 SAR | 274 SA | 326 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 2002 | 652 SIR / 621 SIR / 596 SIR / 550 GDS / 86 GDS / 524 SIR | - | 466 SAR | 254 SA | 324 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 2003 | 652 SIR / 652 SIR / 595 SIR / 550 GDS / 90 GDS / 548 GDS | - | 466 SAR | 271 SA | 327 SCE | 9 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 2004 | 652 SIR / 657 SIR / 596 SIR / 543 SIR / 566 SIR / 583 GDS | - | 424 SAR | 278 SA | 328 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 2005 | 588 SIR / 596 SIR / 657 SIR / 682 SIR / 550 GDS | - | 466 SAR | 275 SA | 324 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 9 DS MED BN |
| 2006 | 626 SIR / 657 SIR / 596 SIR / 581 SIR / 609 SIR | - | 442 SAR | 278 SA | 324 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 6 DS MED BN |
| 2007 | 652 SIR / 622 SIR / 596 SIR / 609 SIR / 566 SIR | - | 466 SAR | 256 SA | 328 SCE | 6 SIG BN | 31 FCSS BN |
[]
| Year | Best Navy Units | Best Air Force Units | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship | Fighter Squadron | Helicopter Squadron | Air Defence Artillery | Tactical Support Squadron | |
| 1981 | RSS Independence (Fast patrol craft) | Not contested | |||
| 1982 | RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | Not contested | |||
| 1983 | RSS Justice (Fast patrol craft) | Not contested | |||
| 1984 | RSS Dauntless (Fast patrol craft) | Not contested | |||
| 1985 | RSS Persistence (County-class LST) | 145 SQN (A-4S Skyhawk) | - | 165 SADA | - |
| 1986 | RSS Swift Archer (Coastal patrol craft) | 140 SQN (Hawker Hunter) | - | 165 SADA | - |
| 1987 | RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 149 SQN (F-5E/F Tiger II) | - | 165 SADA | - |
| 1988 | RSS Sea Hawk (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 149 SQN (F-5E/F Tiger II) | - | 160 SADA | - |
| 1989 | RSS Sea Wolf (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 143 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) | - | 160 SADA | 120 SQN (UH-1H) |
| 1990 | RSS Sea Dragon (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 143 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) | - | 165 SADA | 122 SQN (C-130 Hercules) |
| 1991 | RSS Sea Scorpion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) | - | 160 SADA | 111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye) |
| 1992 | RSS Vigilance (Victory-class corvette) | 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) | - | 165 SADA | 120 SQN (UH-1H) |
| 1993 | RSS Valiant (Victory-class corvette) | 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) | - | 160 SADA | 125 SQN (Super Puma) |
| 1994 | RSS Sea Hawk (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) | - | 160 SADA | 126 SQN (Cougar) |
| 1995 | RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette) | 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) | - | 160 SQN | 120 SQN (UH-1H) |
| 1996 | RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette) | 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) | - | 3 DA BN | 120 SQN (UH-1H) |
| 1997 | RSS Sea Dragon (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) | - | 165 SQN | 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL) |
| 1998 | RSS Sea Lion (Sea Wolf-class gunboat) | 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) | - | 165 SQN | 122 SQN (C-130 Hercules) |
| 1999 | RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette) | 140 SQN (F-16A/B Fighting Falcon) | - | 160 SQN | 125 SQN (Super Puma) |
| 2000 | RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette) | 145 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) | - | 163 SQN | 120 SQN (UH-1H) |
| 2001 | RSS Vigour (Victory-class corvette) | 142 SQN (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) | - | 163 SQN | 111 SQN (E-2C Hawkeye) |
| 2002 | RSS Vigour (Victory-class corvette) | 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) | - | 3 DA BN | 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL) |
| 2003 | RSS Vigilance (Victory-class corvette) | 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) | - | 18 DA BN | 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL) |
| 2004 | RSS Vengeance (Victory-class corvette) | 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) | - | 160 SQN | 120 SQN (UH-1H) |
| 2005 | RSS Resolution (Endurance-class LST) | 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) | - | 160 SQN | 122 SQN (C-130 Hercules) |
| 2006 | RSS Vengeance (Victory-class corvette) | 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) | - | 160 SQN | 112 SQN (KC-135 Stratotanker) |
| 2007 | RSS Vengeance (Victory-class corvette) | 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) | - | 3 DA BN | 127 SQN (CH-47SD Chinook) |
| 2008 | RSS Formidable (Formidable-class frigate) | 149 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) | - | 3 DA BN | 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL) |
| 2009 | RSS Victory (Victory-class corvette) | 144 SQN (F-5S/T Tiger II) | - | 3 DA BN | 112 SQN (KC-135 Stratotanker) |
| 2010 | RSS Stalwart (Formidable-class frigate) | 140 SQN (F-16C/D Fighting Falcon) | 127 SQN (CH-47SD Chinook) | 3 DA BN | 121 SQN (Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL) |
References[]
- Factsheet: Best Unit Award Winners for SAF Day 2006
- Factsheet: Best Unit Award Winners for SAF Day 2007
- Factsheet: Best Unit Award Winners for SAF Day 2008
- Factsheet: Best Unit Award Winners for SAF Day 2009
Video clips[]
- CyberPioneer: Honour - Being The Best, 2008 on YouTube, accessed 4 December 2008.
The original article can be found at Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition and the edit history here.